Neighborhood Watch highlights Lind Council discussion

The Lind Town Council met to discuss the nearly completed well project and updates on the new Neighborhood Block Watch program during the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, July 28. Mayor Jamie Schmunk called the meeting to order promptly at 7 p.m. beginning with approval of minutes and claims.

The council read over the prior meeting’s minutes with only one issue for correction pertaining to council workshop to establish the ordinance 15-02, Council Rules and Procedures. Mayor Schmunk presented the written ordinance to council during a regular meeting in late April.

The council had met earlier in the year with a professional to establish proper council rules and procedures in an effort to make council meetings more professional and run smoothly. Since the original meeting, the subject of setting the ordinance has been an ongoing discussion with no resolve.

The presented Ordinance 15-02, Council Rules and Procedures, had been opted for acceptance and to be postponed indefinitely, both motions failed without a second. The council members have chosen to table the motion four times before coming to a decision of a needed workshop for the members to discuss the ordinance entirely.

A tentative date for the workshop was scheduled for Aug. 25 at the Lind-Ritzville Middle School cafeteria. At the regular town council meeting Tuesday, April 28, the council members discussed further the tentative date with concerns of attendance. The council agreed the date of the workshop would be determined during the regular town council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25, for a date in September.

Once the minutes had been corrected and approved, Alan Gay from Stantec updated the council on the current project on Well No. 6 with a request for additional parts and operation, estimated at $2,000. Gay reported the pump for Well No. 6 has been put in and the contractor is waiting for the delivery of pipes. The system has two separate pump valves, one potable, and will allow, if needed, two trucks to be filled at one time.

Councilperson Kindra Haase made the motion to approve the requested parts and operations with the budgeted amount of $2,500.

The council unanimously passed the motion with a second made by Councilperson Kathy White. Gay expects the contractor to be finished the first week of August, with project completion expected by the end of the month.

Gay also updated the council of his expectation to have already received an offer letter for the Storm Water Project. According to Gay, he anticipated the offer letter to have been received by the end of July allowing recipients time to make a decision by Sept. 1.

He presented the council with an estimated summary of the latest set of scenarios for the project. Gay reintegrated the importance of the Storm Water Project for the safety and protection of the newly renovated treatment plant, the businesses of the Town of Lind and the homes affected by storm water each year.

In the prior months, members of the Lind community have come together to form a Neighborhood Block Watch program. Rob Robideau, presented council with request to hold future meetings at Lind Town Hall and to waive the $25 fee to use the facility.

Robideau, with 34 years of police and corrections officer experience, has taken on the leading role of the Lind Block Watch with plans to maintain a safe community.

He has goals of holding meetings with guest speakers and trainers, who have helpful ideas to make residents’ homes and businesses safe and secure.

Councilperson Tom Strohmaier moved to accept the Block Watch request made by Robibeau and to waive the $25 fee to use the Lind Town Hall facilities during the Block Watch meetings. Haase provided a second and a unanimous vote from all members of council approved the motion.

Prior to adjournment, Mayor Schmunk made a follow-up statement regarding an issue with a community members’ utility bill, brought in by Councilperson Paula Bell at the previous council meeting. The utility bill brought issues with a tab added last October to each customer’s bill for past-due dog licensing.

As a method of grabbing the attention of utility holders, the dog fines added to the bills have no negative effect on the utility account. Schmunk reiterated that customer’s utilities will never be shut off due to an overdue dog fine, but will change the total amount due on an invoice, which has proven an effective method in receiving past due payments and upholding the dog ordinance.

Schmunk went on to state the bill brought in had no account information, therefore it was impossible to see what, if any, issues needed to be addressed. Once the customer came in with their account information, Schmunk was able to evaluate and explain any issues the customer had.

Schmunk again reminds utility customers to call or visit Lind Town Hall if there are any questions on the utility statements. Schmunk and/or Clerk Denise Snead are available to handle any issues regarding bills for the Town of Lind and may be reached by calling Lind Town Hall at 509-677-3241.