Mattawa PTO donates $500 for park repairs

MATTAWA — It was announced at the Mattawa City Council meeting of June 2 that the Mattawa Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization has donated $500 to the city for use in “fixing up” the cook shack in the park.

At the same meeting, Public Works Director Gary Crowder informed the Council that siding has been installed on the building and painted. He added that the water fountain in the park has been repaired.

Speaking to the Council about Mattawa’s rise to No. 3 safest in the state, Police Chief John Turley said his highest priority since he was hired was to build trust between the police department and the citizens. The people have made it a safer city, he said.

City Planner Darryl Piercy told the Council he is still waiting for the WSU Rural Communities Design Initiative report on Government Road upgrades that will be passed on to the city’s engineers.

Piercy told the Council that the final Taylor Orchards Plat should be submitted to the Council at its next meeting. The tract in question is about 37 acres in the southwest quadrant of the Highway 243 roundabout.

The platting calls for four tax parcels. One would be about 22 acres, and three would be about five acres each. The city believes one of the 5-acre parcels will be dedicated to housing.

The Council approved an event permit for the annual Vacation Bible School in Hund Memorial Park. There is a condition that the sponsoring group provide proof of insurance.

The Council voted to authorize Mayor Scott Hyndman to sign an engineering agreement between the city and Gray & Osborne for the 2016-17 year.

It also authorized Hyndman to sign a supplemental agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation regarding the sidewalk project on the west side of Williams between Government and Fourth.

The Council approved a consent agenda that includes the Council meeting minutes of May 19, payroll in the amount of $72,016.53 and claims totaling $140,135.71.