Cook to represent Ritzville on SWAC for another term

The Ritzville City Council went through a light agenda at the Jan. 4 meeting with one of the items being a council consensus for Mayor Gary Cook to sit on Adams County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) for another four-year term.

Cook said council did not have to approve his appointment to the committee, yet Adams County officials wanted the meeting minutes to include the council’s agreement of him serving as the City of Ritzville’s representative on SWAC.

He said he enjoyed serving on the committee because it allows him and the city to be informed about solid waste matters happening in the county.

Council discussed the proposal from Varela and Associates for the design work regarding the project for deepening the channel on the northwest side of the wastewater lagoon cells.

Cook said Varela is proposing to complete the design work for $16,800.

Council member Mark Weigand voiced his concern about the proposal’s cost and believed it is an excessive amount to pay for design work.

Councilpersons Dede Rawlings and Mike Schrag suggested Cook could research other potential contractors to bid for the project.

Cook said the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Dam Safety Office has endorsed Varela’s proposal, which he noted was a part of the city’s plan for the project.

However, the city could use the same criteria from the proposal and research other contractors.

He said the city could also utilize the small works roster agreement with the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) to help find other prospective contractors and make the project’s bidding process more competitive.

After the discussion, Cook asked council if they would also like him to contact Varela to potentially negotiate for a lower price on their proposal, to which they agreed.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Barry Boyer requested update on wells No. 8 and No. 9.

Cook explained Well No. 8 is not operational because the city cannot pump water due to the hole in the well being crooked.

After Weigand asked if a new hole could be drilled, Cook said Public Works Director Larry Swift was received a quote of $500,000 to complete the work.

He added the previous drill hit water at about 720 feet. Cook said he thought drilling to 1,000 feet would provide the city with additional water, but he felt the $500,000 cost was excessive for a 12-inch hole at 1,000 feet.

Cook added the issue with Well No. 8 could be a matter the city looks into in the future.

As for Well No. 9, Cook said contractors are still working on the noise issue associated with the operation of the well. The cost for the work is being covered by the warranty.

Swift said he was contacted by the contractor and he hopes crews will be in Ritzville to examine Well No. 9 on Jan. 22. The contractor ordered new parts for the well, which is also covered in the warranty.

In regards of the vacant Council Ward 2 position, Cook said he and council members Dennis Chamberlain and Michelle Plumb will review the applications and interview candidates.

Rawlings asked about the status of the vacant Clerk-Treasurer position. Cook said he reviewed the Clerk-Treasurer description and plans to advertise the position for 3-4 weeks.

He added it will likely be the end of February when he is finished interviewing candidates. Although Cook does not want to waste time in finding a candidate for the Clerk-Treasurer position, he does not want to rush either.

Cook also read a letter from Planning Commission Chair Layne Iltz, who resigned from the city’s Planning Commission, effective immediately.

Cook said Iltz’s resignation brings the Planning Commission’s membership down to four people.

When asked about the commission’s recruiting process, Cook said he appoints members to the commission.

He has not pursued finding new people for the commission at the moment because Iltz recently resigned and the commission still has a quorum with four members.