Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
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RITZVILLE – There isn’t a lot more that can be said about the COVID-19 crisis which we have all been living under since March 2020. Federal, state and local governments have had their lives turned upside down, the same as yourselves, and we still struggle to cope with this issue. The good news is the City of Ritzville has received a federal grant known as the CARES Act funds, whereby funds are made available to those affected by the economic impact of COVID-19, which was signed into law by the president on March 27, 202...
With all the things going wrong with our lives this spring, COVID -19 has been the most prominent. The city of Ritzville scheduled a much-needed rehabilitation of the large water tank located in the golf course more than a year ago. Work started on cleaning and re-coating the inside in early March, with anticipated completion around May 1. During this time, we've all experienced low water pressure, which was anticipated. It is critical to the city to have the tank back online prior to summer, when irrigation of our lawns is...
We’ve just finished up our latest election cycle in Washington State. In the City of Ritzville’s mayor’s race, I received approximately 78% of the vote, returning me for a second term. I’m very humbled by your continued faith in me as a public servant. There are unfinished projects and future plans and I realize some will take priority over others. I suspect I could serve you for decades and there would always be something we couldn’t complete. My intent during the last four years was to make our city attractive to residents...
Summer is nearly upon us. Where does the time go? Memorial Day weekend is a special time for the Ritzville community, with the annual alumni celebrations, car show, concerts and Art in the Park. It seems fitting that I send out an appreciation for those who have helped make this possible. First, Chad Hoeft and crew from Columbia Bank volunteered their time and resources to refurbish the planters downtown for the summer. They spent hours cleaning out and replacing needed potting soil and other things to prepare them for the...
Let’s go over it again. I have submitted several “City Hall’er” articles over the last couple of years asking city residents to be respectful of neighbors and keep their properties presentable. Out of town folks travel through Ritzville occasionally, looking to relocate a business or buy a home, with the same complaint: “I don’t want to buy next to a junky neighbor.” As a result the community misses economic and additional resident opportunities affecting employment, schools, businesses and other impacts. What should the ci...
The City of Ritzville is responsible for using your money, the public rate payer, for the most efficient use that benefits the community. When we have a need for funding such as water and sewer, streets, etc, we try to get the “best deal” on loans, grants and internal funding. We recently hired Evergreen Rural Water of Washington to conduct an income survey of Ritzville, which allows us to apply for certain grants. Obviously grants don’t need to be paid back, which leaves us the best use of your money. You may have recei...
Memorial Weekend in Ritzville had many alumni and visitors from other communities. Most of those folks appreciate the small-town atmosphere and cultural advantages that residents of Ritzville enjoy. We can all agree that we have assets most small towns lack, including historic downtown, museums, water park and parks, golf course, ball fields and skateboard park. We travel east, west or south to large cities and back the same day. We retain the small town feel because we are just far enough away from those large towns. How do...
As the City of Ritzville, our function is to provide you with police, fire, water, sewer, streets, garbage, parks, and other services. We are also asked by you, the taxpayer, to pass and enforce certain laws that provide general safety and welfare of Ritzville’s citizens. To continue our public service obligations, there are certain charges and fees that we must collect. These include utility fees, building permits, animal licenses, business licenses and so forth. We are currently struggling with businesses and property o...
Of course the holiday season is on all our minds. We should’ve seen it coming but always seem to ask where the summer went. Several key people are promoting and celebrating the season for Ritzville. These include Kylie and staff at the Library, Karen, Debbie, Marsha, Donna and Mary with the Chamber of Commerce, Dave, Wayne, Mike, Nate and Justin of Larry’s city crew and Kris, Julie and Michelle in City hall. This coming Saturday the festivities continue downtown with a gingerbread house contest, bonfire on the plaza and hay...
If you’ve exited I-90 from Spokane or driven down Baumann Road or Weber Avenue in the last couple of days, I’m sure you’ve seen the latest addition to the metal sculpture collection: the stagecoach and six horses made entirely of horseshoes. The Ritzville City Public Works crew poured a concrete pad earlier this month in preparation for the display. Scott and Theresa Fitch generously donated the project to the city in 2015, and Willard and Pat Hennings provided funding with guidance from Linda Kadlec. Colonel Colley spent...
There are many things in this community that are being done right but there still needs to be a bigger push to get us over the next hill to successfully grow our city. It’s time to put political self-interest aside and join the positive movement to grow our city. The community is invited to a Harvest Party on Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Plaza for the new branding reveal. While this reflects our strength as a community there is much that still needs to be done. Community leaders, including some local elected officials have a...
The prospect of a car accident, regardless of how remote or rare is still an unnerving thought to us all. We all make mistakes from time to time and can remember situations when we were very lucky that nothing happened. Insurance rates, our driving record and emotional stress are all less important than personal injury of course. Since we can all agree that even a “fender bender” would be extremely unpleasant and costly, we need take care to make sure our city streets are as safe as possible. We’re well into the summer and o...
It always surprises me when community feedback to the city, albeit rare, comes in the form of complaints. We’ve received complaints from local citizens about the condition of the city cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. These include grass too high, grass too brown and possible “scars” in the grass. There are some things folks aren’t aware of. The city staff takes great pride in their jobs and it’s a personal affront to those that work every day to make this community better. Every city employee has buy-in: from the...
I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on recent city issues. First, last week with the new branding process for the City of Ritzville was a smashing success. Julie Flyckt of the Adams County Economic Development Council (ACDC) has been the driving force on this effort and deserves everyone’s thanks. This branding also included a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and the City. Five roundtable discussions and a public meeting involved many of you in the community, and your input was appreciated and critical...
In agricultural areas, such as Ritzville, the term branding usually gets a nod of understanding that you are talking about cows. Ranchers are certainly approaching the branding season for this area. Branding in this case is entirely different. Branding is a marketing strategy that creates a unique name and image, including a color palette, logo and other promotional items. The city is coordinating with the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce and the Adams County Development Council (ACDC) to bring Arnett Muldrow and Associates...
After 70 some days of snow covered ground it is inevitable the snow will melt and with that comes the horror of what’s been buried for the last few months. Chunks of coal and an occasional carrot or two are the only remains of your once proud snowman. Other items may also emerge such as those spare car keys, your wallet or that left handed work glove. This annual melt also reminds us that it’s time to clean our yards of debris that was there when it started snowing last fall. As you know, the city sends out cleanup let...
I have fielded a lot of questions lately about the City’s role in enforcement of current ordinances. As in all government, there are laws on the books that for one reason or another are not being followed. First, how did those ordinances become ‘law’? If a city ordinance forbids spitting on the sidewalk there was undoubtedly a reason some past council thought it necessary to address. Second, does it apply today? If not, it should be modified, removed or replaced. Third, if an ordinance is applicable and needed, how shoul...
9 is finally in our rearview mirror and the start of a new year is always an opportunity to be optimistic about the future. I think we all look forward to a “better” year, regardless of how we define that individually. Changes have taken place at the City of Ritzville as well. Articles from time to time in this paper have informed (and perhaps amused) you on the arduous budget process we must go through each year leading up to Jan. 1. For 2017 the City Council, finance committee, city staff and myself have all exp...
Our beautiful fall weather inevitably gave way to winter, which finally reared its’ ugly head with freezing temperatures and six inches of snow on Dec. 5-6. It seems everyone must ‘re-learn’ driving habits to avoid insurance deductibles until spring weather returns. There are other dangers as well. Each year folks slip on the ice, trip on a snow bank or shovel their sidewalk without proper precautions. If you must shovel snow remember it’s hard physical labor, and you need to be in shape. If you’re not used to the effort, p...
The Ritzville annual Holiday Festival will take place this Friday and Saturday. Local businesses will offer specials and are encouraged to be open Friday evening during the tree lighting. This year the tree is located at the Carnegie Library with lighting taking place at 5:30 p.m., accompanied by Christmas Carols and refreshments in the library. Saturday will be a local shopping day with the annual AAUW Holiday Bazaar at the Grade School, and a free children’s movie at the Ritz Theatre at 2 p.m., followed by treats provided b...
It’s annual budget time at the City of Ritzville. This happens every year, and is always a challenge. Like everyone who must create budgets, it creates a plan for the next year, and just as importantly let’s us see how we did in 2016. We had some inevitable surprises for this year. We helped the golf course with a new (used) gator for maintenance, public works got a new trailer and all the equipment thankfully operated with only minor repairs. Our new well is still not operational, but we have a reasonable expectation for...
My wife and I recently had the opportunity to work at the local Food Pantry here in Ritzville. Each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. a group of volunteers receives foodstuffs, stocks shelves, inventories, repackages and distributes those products to folks in town. All food is provided to the food bank by donation and is handed out free of charge. The products vary greatly from week to week, including produce that’s in season. There seems to be a “core” group of volunteers that show up consistently each week. They have exper...
It seems like the norm these days when watching the news is that we find events are both shocking and disgusting. We keep asking ourselves “how did things get this way?” or “In my day these things never would have happened”. We might remind ourselves that this is a big reason we choose to live in a small town. You are right of course. Ritzville is a rare example of a small town with plentiful law enforcement and other services. We have City Police, County Sheriffs Department and Washington State Patrol all stationed here. A...
You’ve probably heard the cliché “It’s like herding a bunch of cats”. That’s certainly something I relate to at the City. First, please don’t call City Hall and complain that I think everyone is a cat. This community is, in my opinion, on the verge of greatness. Our resources are substantial and varied. We have 20,000 or more cars each day traveling right past our front door. We have the potential of 1,800 locals as “built in” tourists and volunteers. We have an historic downtown, beautiful golf course, water park, muse...
In the normal course of social endeavors, governments are formed to serve the welfare of the public, standardize rules, laws and policies for the greater good and keep the peace. Society wants and needs these things so everyone may go their merry way and pursue a quality of life. We all want to have a good job, make a little money, maybe save a little, raise kids and hope our fishing boat makes contact with the water occasionally. The City of Ritzville has a process that requires businesses from out of town to obtain an annua...