Mattawa opts for farmers market

MATTAWA - Backyard gardeners may have a place to sell flowers and vegetables this summer to earn a little extra spending money.

At its last meeting, the Mattawa City Council voted to operate a farmers market, perhaps as early as this summer. It had considered re-opening the flea market from years past.

Still to be decided, City Clerk Robin Newcomb said, is whether the city will operate the market or whether it will ask a non-profit entity to do so.

Newcomb said City Attorney Katherine Kennison at first said it would be okay for the city to operate the market. Last week, Public Works Director Gary Crowder said Kennison suggested it not be operated by the city.

The Big Bend Community College I-Dea Class recently did a trash pick-up around the community. Four members of the class wrote later to comment about what they saw as they toured the town.

They noted potholes in streets, garbage in the streets, that burning is not allowed and poor working conditions for farm workers.

Newcomb wrote back to all four students with suggestions on where they might take their complaints, including the Department of Ecology and the Department of Health.

Police Chief John Turley reported that the department's clerk, Maybelline Pantaleon graduated recently from the Reserve Police Academy. MPD Corporal Tony Valdivia will be her field training officer as she continues to work toward being a full-time officer.

Valdivia reported that citizens are not reporting graffiti as it appears. He said it is important they do so and not be afraid of calling police.

The Council decided to have a flag pole installed to the side of the city hall building. A Citizen recently donated and American flag to the city. The Council agreed to start the MRSC Rosters bid process for street striping contractors.

City Planner Darryl Piercy reported he was having problems getting emails sent to contractors from the MRSC Rosters list. Newcomb sent the emails to the contractors from this list on April 16. The bids are due to City Hall on May 7.

The Government Road Improvement Project can move ahead, according to Committee for Government Road Chairman Lars Leland. He noted the city has received a planning grant of $52,000 from the Grant County Strategic Infrastructure program.

Leland announced he would like the Government Road Committee to start having public forums so that individuals can express the improvements they would like to see.

The Council voted to apply for a Paul Lauzier Foundation grant for the purchase of playground equipment for Hund Memorial Park.

Nancy Wetch of Gray & Osborne Engineering of Yakima explained two grants the city has received for improvements at the city's wastewater facility. She said the facility has issues with its clarifier and inefficient operation.

The city has received a grant of $24,000 from the Community Block Grant Program for planning. Also for planning, the city has received a $96,000 forgivable principal loan from the Department of Ecology. Wetch said the planning could take one to one and a half years.

The Council approved for payment payroll EFT and payroll checks #31245-31246 in the amount of $11,300.00 and claims EFT and claims checks #14323-14359 in the amount of 72,081.77.