OTHELLO CITY COUNCIL POS. 1: Genna Dorow

OTHELLO — Genna Dorow said she’s running for a new term on the Othello City Council because she wants to see Othello grow in a way that doesn’t cause problems in the future, and thinks she has the skills to help do that. 

“I care about the future of Othello,” Dorow said. “As our city continues to grow, I want to make sure we do the right things the right way, with strong infrastructure, affordable housing, smart sustainable planning (and other things). I have a passion for service (for) the city, and there are reasons for that, because of my background. I bring a unique combination of know-how to lead Othello forward. I want to do my best for the people of Othello, and I want Othello to be its best.” 

Dorow is being challenged for her seat by Kelli Camp. 

Othello’s water and wastewater treatment systems are in need of upgrades, Dorow said. City officials have been working on both problems, and Dorow said she thinks her qualifications will help with those projects. 

She was employed at a sewer treatment plant while her husband Chris was in dental school, and began working for the city of Othello when the family moved back to town. She took continuing education courses that allowed her to obtain certifications in both water distribution and wastewater treatment. Eventually, Dorow earned the highest certification available in Washington in both categories. 

A project to alleviate pressure on the city’s declining aquifer has been ongoing for more than a decade. Surface water from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District will be treated to drinking water standards and used either to fill the city’s reservoirs or pump into the aquifer.  

“We went through the feasibility phase; we’ve gone through the engineering phase, and we’re going to be one of the first in Washington to use this type of system,” she said.  

The city’s sewer treatment facility is aging. 

“In the near future we’re going to be looking at having to replace our wastewater (facility). We have done some upgrades (to the sewer system) to prepare for this,” she said. Upgrade or replacement of the city’s wastewater treatment plan is the next phase. 

“We have, as a city, saved a lot of money towards this,” she said, but it’s an expensive project, which will require breaking it into phases. Dorow said those two projects show why her qualifications are important. 

“Before serving on the city council, I worked for the city of Othello maintenance crew. I worked in every department – I operated street sweepers, backhoes, jackhammers, dump trucks, snowplows,” she said. 

She was the wastewater treatment facility manager and did all the water testing required to meet state requirements, she said.  

“I am uniquely qualified to help move (water and wastewater) projects forward, and having that kind of expertise on the council without the cost of outside experts is a huge benefit to Othello,” Dorow said. 

She also has a lot of experience with city government, she said, learning about almost every task in city government.  

She is a member of the committee working on a plan for a new or refurbished Othello Community Pool. The pool was closed in 2024 after serious structural damage was discovered in the spring. 

“The most difficult part of the pool situation (was) just how long it took to get the answers we needed to responsibly move forward,” Dorow said. “The decision to close the pool was driven by public safety. We didn’t know what was going on – we knew it had lost a lot of water.”  

She was concerned that erosion under the existing pool could’ve led to collapse, she said. 

“Once that decision was made, we had to follow a very careful process. We worked through the insurance claims and appeals,” she said. “We considered and evaluated the possibility of litigation (with the contractors that built the pool), but it was so far back that I believe it beyond the statute of limitations.” 

Four options have been identified for rebuilding or replacing the pool, and Dorow said the committee members are working on community outreach. The first time the information was given to Othello residents was during the July 4 celebration. 

“We’ll continue to engage in public outreach and make sure that we’re headed in the right direction,” Dorow said. “We’re going to do it several more times.” 

The city needs more housing, she said, and there’s a role for the city council in the development process. Dorow said in her opinion, Othello needs all kinds of housing, but especially multifamily housing. 

“We need a variety of different housing options for people in Othello,” she said. “We need a clear vision for future housing. What we don’t want is to focus on just one type of housing.” 

More housing will require more commercial development, too, she said. 

“Housing alone isn’t enough. We need more commercial properties and services to support our growing population. We’re already seeing (activity on) Columbia Street, and momentum in that area, and (proposals to) expand business along Highway 26, and we just need to continue,” she said.