Chief Turley proposes changes

MATTAWA — Police Chief John Turley proposed promoting officers in the department and/or increasing their salaries at the City Council meeting of Sept. 17.

Turley plans to move Corporal Valdivia to Sergeant at a pay rate of $4,827.33 per month. He wants to raise Officer Mike Stump’s salary to $4,017.87 per month.

In addition, Turley is requesting to send Maybel Pantaleon to the police academy. This would increase her wage to the base officer wage of $3,900 per month.

“After the academy, she will be a line officer, and she will continue to be the office clerk,” Turley said. “But she has the office in good shape now, and she doesn’t need to be here as much.”

Turley’s hope for the long term is an agreement with the Wahluke School District making Pantaleon a resource officer, perhaps for lower grades.

The Council liked the move for Valdivia. But it agreed that in order for Corporal Valdivia to go to the sergeant position, the promotion would need to be approved through the Civil Service Commission.

The Council would like to see a budget plan on the three percent raise for Officer Stump. It asked the Chief to review his budget to see if Officer Pantaleon’s increase would need a budget amendment.

In another matter, Turley told the Council that when Officer Jordan Miers goes to the academy in late October, his father may be able to fill in for him. The elder Miers has been an officer with the MLPD.

“Whether he’s available or not, we will hire a provisional officer while Jordan is gone,” Turley said.

In other police business, the Council agreed to ask the taxpayers for higher financial support for the MPD. It will ask a one percent hike in the sales tax. The voters will have a chance to approve or reject it in the April elections.

In non-police business before the Council, Public Works Director Gary Crowder is working on getting the park toys installed at the park. The installation turned out to be more than he anticipated, and his crews are busy with regular work. Progress has been slow.

City Planner Darryl Piercy told the Council the City Hall remodeling project should be completed by the end of October.

The Committee for Government Road Update announced its next meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on Sept. 24. The community is invited to share its ideas.

Columbia Bank, which recently moved into a new building on Government Road, asked for an event permit for an open house, and the Council approved.

As of September 17, the Council approved for payment a 2015 payroll EFT and payroll checks 31297-31299 in the amount of $11,300. It approved for payment 2015 claims EFT and claims checks 4631-14664 in the amount of $48,997.95.

In public comment, Grant County Fire District No. 8 Chief Dave Patterson related his concern about speeding cars on city streets while children are walking to and from school. He asked the Council to consider making Government Way a school zone.