Sun Tribune selected as Othello's official newspaper

OTHELLO — The Othello City Council unanimously agreed Monday to select the weekly Sun Tribune as the city’s official newspaper of record.

The Othello Outlook newspaper closed in July, resulting in the city accepting bids for the job. The Hagadone-owned Columbia Basin Herald and Sun Tribune newspapers each submitted bids for $8.15 per column inch. The rates are the same the city paid the Othello Outlook, according to a council agenda memo.

In years past, the Herald had served as the town’s newspaper of record, according to Debbie Kudrna, city clerk. City staff recommended the council award the bid to the Sun Tribune because it intends to become Othello’s community newspaper.

Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said he recently attended a community forum about the Sun Tribune’s future in the town and explained the newspaper will be using a “band-aid approach” to serve readers with existing staff until an Othello-based publisher/editor is found.

“Eric is committed to giving us a community newspaper again,” Logan said of Herald publisher Eric LaFontaine.

In other business, the council:

• Heard concerns from Manny Martinez of the Othello Soccer League about team access to Lions Park because of field maintenance and scheduling issues. He explained coaches were fine with teams playing on a smaller field to avoid access problems.

Eight local teams play there and help the community by purchasing food locally, Martinez said. He asked the city to honor its contract with coaches.

City staff had to close the field due to overuse and move playing areas when they didn’t hear from League officials, explained public works director Terry Clements, who said he sent texts to Martinez to discuss the issue in advance. Martinez said he didn’t receive the messages.

“With field conditions, we closed them because they get a lot of wear,” Clements said. “We moved them to play somewhere else.”

After discussion, it was decided a solution would be to lock the goal posts during the week to prevent field overuse by non-league members.

• Amended a contract with Consolidated Disposal Service for garbage collection service to reflect a consumer price index rate adjustment of less than 1 percent (.65 percent). The Solid Waste fund is adequate to absorb the increase for the remainder of 2016. No budget amendments are expected.

• Awarded a contract to Century Link to add a new land base Internet link solely for voice calls. The city is experiencing dropped calls, pauses during phone conversations and line static. The new line has a monthly savings of $358 before tax. There is a $400-$700 charge for the delivery and installation work. There are adequate funds in the new system phone budget to cover the costs.