No more marshal in Mattawa

MATTAWA - The position of town marshal in Mattawa has gone the way of Tombstone's Wyatt Earp. It is no more.

The position was eliminated in one of two house-cleaning ordinances adopted by the city council at its last meeting on Dec. 20.

"We haven't had a marshal in years," City Clerk Robin Newcomb said. "That was back in the day."

The same evening marshal was eliminated from official city language, the council authorized Mayor Judy Esser to sign the contract for chief of police with former Grant County Undersheriff John Turley.

The council meeting was led by Pro Tem Mayor Scott Hyndman. Council members present were Silvia Barajas, Ellen Hopkins, Scott Hyndman, and Maggie Celaya. They concluded the city's business in the near-record time of 13 minutes.

The council approved a new contract for 2013 with Wilson Engineering for all city engineering work.

It passed ordinance 12-536 to repeal outdated chapters in the Mattawa Municipal Code, including job descriptions.

"Job descriptions are not part of the code in any city," Newcomb said.

The council passed ordinance 12-538 to repeal the position of town marshal.

Through its consent agenda (items not discussed), the council approved payment claims and prepaid claim checks No. 12494 to No. 12527 in the amount of $36,323.201 and payroll electronic funds transfers and payroll checks No. 30962 to No. 30963 in the amount of $9,280.00.