Lind Council discusses delay of stormwater project

The meeting of the Lind Town Council occurred on Tuesday, March 8, at 7 p.m. beginning with the council hearing updates from Alan Gay from Stantec.

Gay advised he has not heard back from the Department of Ecology (Ecology) and has been advised to not move forward with the excavation of the culverts within the Town.

As of now the bid process for the culvert cleaning could take place, but it is contingent on the project in its entirety being approved by Ecology.

The project will be at a stand still until it is approved.

Gay also explained the secondary plan he sent to Ecology after the basalt layers were found shallower than expected for the original plan to take place.

Gay plans to use an area north of the railroad tracks and south of the coulee as a catch basin. This plan will require much more piping to be placed for drainage but according to Gay the total cost will equal about the same as the original plan.

The swale will be relatively inexpensive to build but the piping will account for the majority of the funds, which were to cover infiltrators.

The piping will require streets to be torn up in stages to install the new piping, including E Street and L Street from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.

This will be done in stages to minimize the inconvenience to residents.

After this presentation Mayor Jamie Schmunk then addressed the Council.

She advised the Town had purchased six new stop signs to replace the signs that have been fading over the years.

Schmunk contacted Skone Irrigation in regards to the sprinkler project at the Town Park. They will begin after Easter celebrations are complete on March 28 and the park will be closed for four days while the project is completed.

The Mayor then polled the council to see if they would be interested in completing training through the Town’s insurance company. The training, entitled True Colors, will identify the varying personality types and how best to communicate with each personality style.

The training has a cost of $6 per person and the council stated they would be willing to participate in the training if it could take place on a weekend, which worked best with their collective schedules.

In addition to the council’s training all town staff will take part in communication training on March 16.

The Mayor also advised Town Hall now has permits available for those who would like to utilize the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. These permits are also needed for camping at the camp ground recently built by the John Wayne Pioneer Wagon and Trail Riders Association.

The Council was then presented with Resolution 16-02. This resolution is for the Town of Lind’s support of the naming of Highway 395 after Thomas Stephen Foley.

Foley was a Washington State native and served on the House of Representatives for thirty years.

Many members of the council wondered why the entire highway needed to be renamed; they saw this as creating confusion for drivers.

They collectively stated they thought a smaller portion might be okay but the renaming from the Oregon border to the Canadian border was too much for them to agree to.

The council also felt passing a resolution implied they would have to enforce the renaming process in someway.

Councilperson Tom Strohmaier made the motion to not approve resolution 16-02. The council unanimously rejected this resolution.

The Council was then polled for any further business, councilperson Craig Cooper asked about the letter the Town received from the County in regards to bridge inspections. The Mayor advised she was following up with the County as they already completed their bridge inspections through the State.

Councilperson Paula Bell asked about having the shoulders of Highway 21 cleaned prior to the Combine Derby as there is garbage seen along the road. Schmunk advised she would speak with the state and see if this is something they will take care of.

Bell also inquired about the form for disconnecting water and sewage services for the residents who do not want to pay the monthly fee of $40 for being connected to both the Town’s sewer and water utilities.

Mayor Schmunk advised the draft was done and they are waiting to have the attorney approve the form. She stated the form should be available at the next council meeting.

The last item presented was from P.J. Jacobsen who is the President of the Lind Chamber of Commerce.

She advised the chamber would be donating $1,000 to pay the utility fees from the lanterns that were installed during the winter holiday season.