Mattawa Police Department matters dominates Mattawa city council meeting

MATTAWA — It appears the Mattawa Police Department will have a sergeant in the near future. The Mattawa City Council created the position at its Oct. 15 meeting at the request of Chief John Turley.

At the same time, Turley told the Coucil that the Mattawa Civil Service Commission has met to discuss the promotion of Corporal Tony Valdivia to sergeant in January.

Turley told the Council that Reserve Officer Ray Appling will fill in for Officer Miers when Miers checks in at the police academy at the end of October. Mayor Scott Hyndman paved the way for Appling by administering the oath of office.

Turley informed the Council that there will be a new Wahluke school resource officer. He said current WSRO Harris is moving on.

And Turley announced that he will be attending the Law Enforcement and Community Engagement Conference in Ellensburg.

In other business, the Public Works Department announced it will be purchasing a ram for the snow plow blade at a cost of $600.

City Planner Darryl Piercy informed the Council that the city hall remodel continues.

The Committee for Government Road Improvements announced it has tentatively set Saturday, Dec. 3, as the date for a workshop related to the redevelopment of the street.

The workshop will go from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. It will include the committee and the RCDI Group from WSU.

The groups are looking at having the meeting either at the school library or the Wanapum Heritage Center. They hope to collect ideas and suggestions on Government Road improvements from the Mattawa public.

The Council approved the annual agreement for support of the Grant County Health District. The contribution for 2016 will be $500.

The Council approved purchasing a U.S. Government Bond with the State Treasury Local Government Investment Pool in the amount of $701,042.40.

The Council approved a partial payment for the contractor who is remodeling City Hall. Navarrete Construction will receive $12,500 contingent upon the contractor providing invoices for this amount.

The Council approved for payment a 2015 payroll EFT and payroll checks Nos. 31308-31310 in the amount of $11,300 and 2015 claims EFT and claims checks Nos.14683 - 14720 in the amount of $51,768.48.

In public commentary, Brian Berghout would like to contact the artists that painted the murals around town. School teachers in negotiations with the school district asked if they could picket on the streets of Mattawa.