Garbage collection rate to be lowered

MATTAWA - Fifty-nine cents may not sound like much, but any kind of reduction in residential garbage collection rates is good news to homeowners anywhere.

It rarely happens, and they usually go up.

According to City Clerk Robin Newcomb, the Mattawa City Council decided at its last meeting to reduce rates by 59 cents per garbage can for 2013.

It was one of the busier meetings for the council. There were two public hearings. No one from the public commented, but the hearings were held.

After the first hearing, the council decided to move the process forward in the annexation of 75 acres of land owned by Cecil Mellinger north of Hund Memorial Park. Mattawa surveyor Jeff Curtis spoke on behalf of Mellinger.

After the second hearing, the council adopted a budget of $6,358,656.23 for 2013. It is up from $5.988 million in 2012.

There was a rise in the general fund (current expense) which, among other things, supports the police department. The PD has added staff positions.

"We had to dip into reserves to balance that fund," Newcomb said.

Newcomb added that the PD rarely uses all of its budget. It's rarely up to full staffing.

Citizens who would like to review the entire budget may do so at city hall. By fund it is:

Current expense - $1,686,339.

Street fund - $849,196.

Police vehicle - $43,100.

Capital improv. - $233,850.

Water ops. - $997,385.63.

Water bond debt - $126,494.17.

Cust. Deposit - $17,000.

Water bond res. - $96,494.17.

Sewer ops. - $760,285.31.

Sewer debt - $387,700.95.

Water emer. - $58,200.

Sewer emer. - $56,600.

Sewer res. - $209,865.

Water cap. imp. - $16,700.

Sewer cap. imp. - $104,480.

Solid waste - $477,545.

Water Sys Const. - $235,999.

Library fund - $1,422.

In other business, the council authorized $1,000 from the 2012 budget for a new computer for the PD clerk. It announced the newest PD patrol car is ready to be picked up in North Bend. It signed a new contract with Consolidated Disposal Service for garbage pickup.

The council learned the city has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board for work on two Mattawa streets.

Public Works Director Gary Crowder said the funding will cover 1,200 feet (two blocks) of reconstruction of Portage and Boundary Streets from Government Way northward.

Newcomb announced that new police officer Thomas Williams will attend the police academy on Dec. 18.

She said letters of interest are being accepted for open (volunteer) positions on the civil service commission and the city council.