Grant County owes Royal City $5,800

ROYAL CITY — Grant County owes the City of Royal City $5,800, Grant County discovered during an audit of the past three years.

The Royal City City Council was apprised of this at its meeting of Jan. 19. Finance Director Greg Pike informed the council the city and the county are working out a payment arrangement.

Last week Pike said the payment will occur this year. He just doesn’t know how soon.

According to Pike, the property taxes were levied properly. Royal City simply didn’t receive its proper share. The $5,800 will go into the general fund.

In other Council news regarding the finance department, Deputy Clerk Sherrie Rodriguez was approved expenses for overnight travel and attendance at the annual BIAS Software conference in Spokane on February 16-18.

Royal City Police Chief Darin Smith told the Council Josh Fitzhugh will be the newest officer in the department. He emerged from oral boards on Jan. 15 and the interviews of four candidates.

Fitzhugh will take over for Jose Rivera, who was recently sworn in as a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy. According to Pike, Fitzhugh will join the force on Feb. 15. He will start police academy training the next day.

The Council heard an update on the on-going challenges at city water well No. 1. The well serves as a reserve, but the pump is in need of repairs and an upgrade.

Public Works Director John Lasen told the Council that he and pump repair specialist Del Boyce are still determining the best course of action.

Lasen has learned that it would be best to add a filtering system to the pump, but it needs to be determined if the pump area is large enough for one to be added or if more space needs to be made.

The Council authorized expenses for overnight travel for Lasen and Public Works employee Keith Hebdon to the Evergreen Waster Conference on Feb. 23-25.

The Council approved a consent agenda that included the minutes of the Jan. 5 Council meeting.