Ephrata appoints officers, talks water rights and billing

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council appointed new officers including a new mayor pro tempore during the board’s regular Jan. 17 meeting. They also received an update on the city’s new water rights and water utility billing and approved stopping service cancellations while residents and city staff adjust to the new system. 

“We’re still going to take your payment (but) we still can’t post it to (residents’) accounts,” said City Clerk Leslie Trachsler. “So, we’re going to be handwriting customer’s receipts, keeping it on a spreadsheet … and when we go live (with our new billing system) we’re going to be posting that in the system.”

Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said the new system has been long-awaited and will allow more conveniences for those who pay utility bills to the city for water, sewer and trash. 

Residents paying in cash and check can still do so at City Hall or via mail. However, according to information released by the city, credit cards will not be accepted from Jan. 22-31. Autopays were processed on Jan. 22. 

In light of the inconveniences caused by the new system’s launch, council members, after a strong recommendation from Trachsler, voted unanimously to suspend all cancellations of service while the new web portal and account software is being launched. Messaging regarding the change was sent out via mail and posted to the city’s social media channels prior to the change. 

According to the city’s website, the changeover will affect the way water bills look and residents are encouraged to review their bills carefully and contact the city with any questions or concerns. The city can be reached at 509-754-4601.

When it came time to appoint new board members and select a mayor pro tempore, someone to take over mayoral duties in the mayor’s absence, council members selected Matt Moore, a longtime council member. Kathleen Harris had also volunteered for that role, but members voted in favor of Moore taking the position. 

Other appointments included reappointing Reim to represent the city as the liaison with the Grant Transit Authority, making Moore the Grant County Economic Development Council liaison, and Beau Laimons to the Board of Volunteer Firefighters. Alan Key, a resident, was also reappointed to the Civil Service Commission at the mayor’s request and with a unanimous vote.

Water was also discussed with City Administrator Ray Towry advising the council that the city had received good news regarding water rights. The Department of Ecology has approved adjustments to the city’s water rights that will allow it to rehabilitate or replace Well 6 and replace Well 1, Towry said. Requirements under the updated water rights require the city to begin construction by the end of 2026, have that construction completed by 2032 and full use of the expanded rights by 2035, which Towry said was possible.

“It vastly improves the volume of water that we can supply the community as we continue to grow, (and) allows us to add some wells and shift volumes around as well,” Towry said. 

    Council Members Sarah McDonnell and Beau Lamens review documents during last week's Ephrata City Council meeting. City staff are working through upgrades to the city's payroll and utility billing systems this month.