Mattawa City Council discusses park toys, police promotions, equipment
George Hernandez and Kevin Webster (distant) work last week on the installation of the children's playground toys at Hund Memorial Park. One new piece, the swing set, was yet to be installed. With a kid's gleam in his eye, Public Works Director Gary Crowder said: “This is really going to be nice for the kids.”
All of the toys in the expanded playground area at Hund Memorial Park are new, except for the Spin Racer, which looks so new that it fits right in.
MATTAWA — There was news to please city and police department employees at the Oct. 1 meeting of the Mattawa City Council.
But the best news first. It goes out to the children of the community. The new playground at Hund Memorial Park is just about ready for you to use.
Nearly all of the new toys were in last Wednesday. All that was missing was the swing set. It should be in place now.
Public Works Director Gary Crowder told the Council that gravel for the surface would be ordered yesterday. So by the end of Tuesday, all of the toys should be up.
Crowder announced that the Mattawa-Desert Aire Lions Club has donated four benches for the park.
In other news, the Council voted to approve the purchase of two work stations for city hall personnel. The one for City Clerk Robin Newcomb will cost $1,199.99 plus tax. Deputy Clerk Anabel Martinez will cost $789.99.
Mayor Scott Hyndman said the units will be purchased at Costco. He said two quotes by Office Depot were turned down.
The Council approved some measures by Police Chief John Turley that will cost some money but will beef up the department.
MPD Clerk and reserve officer Maybel Pantaleon will attend the police academy in December. She will be bumped up to a starting officer salary of $3,900 per month.
Turley said Doug Barger will work on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the police office and Leslie Gonzalez will work on Fridays.
Turley said Officer Jordan Miers will be attending the police academy at the end of October. The cost will be reimbursed through the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).
Ray Appling will help fill in while Meira is at the academy, Turley said. He added that the city would have to buy him a uniform. Turley announced that Carlos Morales, Fernando Flores, and Cody Clark will be attending the police reserve academy starting Dec. 2. There is no civil service requirement, and the cost is $250 per reserve.
“We’ll have new reserves,” Turley said.
City Planner Darryl Piercy told the Council the slab has been poured. So the walls should be going up next.
Ignacio Navarrete Construction, the contractor for the city hall project, has asked the city for a partial payment of up to $10,000. Newcomb told the Council she was unaware if the city could do that and would seek legal counsel.
Newcomb sent an email to the city attorney but has not received a response as of last Friday. The contract is worth $66,000.
The last Committee for Government Road Update meeting was held on Sept. 24 at city hall. WSU’s Robert Krikac attended.
The Rural Communities Design Initiative (RCDI) Group from WSU will be help organize public meetings and with the conceptual design of this project.
In its consent agenda, the Council approved for payment a 2015 payroll EFT and payroll checks Nos. 31300-31307 in the amount of $72,253.09. It approved 2015 claims EFT and claims checks Nos.14665 - 14682 in the amount of $13,090.51.
The Council heard from Julio Silva of Sunnyside. He encouraged the Council to bring the farmers market back to Hund Park in Mattawa. A teacher from the school suggested that maybe the Wahluke Booster Club nonprofit organization could run the farmers market. She will check into it and get back to the Council.
The Council agreed that it would be a good idea to have food vendors in the park.