Mattawa adds sergeant position

MATTAWA — Mattawa Police Officer Mabeline Pantaleon was promoted to the rank of sergeant during a regular city council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 2.

The promotion was approved as part of the Mattawa’s 2020 budget. The department has never had a sergeant position before. Currently, there are five officers in the Mattawa Police Department.

Pantaleon has worked for the City of Mattawa for 10 years, starting as the city’s police clerk and accounts payable clerk for the city clerk. She became a reserve officer at the end of 2014 and a full-time officer on Jan. 1, 2016. She has an associate of arts degree. Over the past three months, Pantaleon has been acting as the officer in charge. Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris described Pantaleon as a natural leader with “quite the success story.”

In other business, Harris told the council that the police department’s new phone system has gone live. Now, someone who calls the police department can be transferred to MACC Dispatch instead of having to write down a phone number and make a second call. It allows callers to leave a message for an officer if someone is on the phone. The switch in phone systems is saving the department $120 or more a month.

Harris also told the council that the department will be testing potential applicants on Jan. 11. He is expecting approximately 25 recruits to show up. The Mattawa Police Department has three open positions that were created as part of the 2020 budget.

City of Mattawa Public Works employee Chris Schmidt reported that animal control has taken six dogs to the Grant County Animal Outreach in Moses Lake over the past two weeks. He said that a German shepherd/husky mixed dog that they took in gave birth to 11 puppies two days after she was moved. He expressed appreciation that she didn’t have the puppies while she was in Mattawa’s possession. He also reported that the fences at the dog holding kennel have been fixed after having been vandalized. Heat lamps have also been installed.

Schmidt said that city workers have also been installing lights around city buildings. The old and burnt-out lights are being replaced with LEDs.

“It was a ghost town down there,” Schmidt said referencing the now-lit-up area around the city shop.

When asked about having lights along city streets replaced, Mattawa Mayor Scott Hyndman said that residents should write down the number on the pole and give it to the public works department. The pole number will go on a list for the Grant County PUD to repair.

Schmidt was also asked when the potholes around town would be fixed. While he didn’t have an exact date, he figures that city crews will start working on filling them soon.

Hyndman told the council that Jazmin Hernandez has been hired as the deputy clerk/treasurer and Edger Villa has been hired as the customer service clerk. Anabel Martinez had previously been known to replace Ann Hastie as city clerk/treasurer.

Wahluke School District Superintendent Robert Eckert address the council concerning the levy that the school district is running on the February ballot. Eckert said that the levy will maintain programs, such as athletics and ASB, that are already existing in the district. It will also help pay for utilities and maintenance, school safety and the student resource officer, as well as some substitutes, student transportation and technology. The rate for the levy will be $2.50 per $1000 or assessed value. A simple majority is required to pass the levy.