City of Ritzville to participate in hazard mitigation plan discussions

The City of Ritzville will be one of the municipalities participating in discussions to develop a hazard mitigation management plan for Adams County.

During the March 20 Ritzville City Council meeting, the Council voted to draft a letter stating they will participate in the Adams County Hazard Mitigation Plan development process.

They also voted Police Chief Dave McCormick as the City of Ritzville’s contact and Council Member Michelle Plumb as the alternate.

Prior to the vote, Adams County Emergency Management Director Jay Weise said there will be several meetings with representatives from the municipalities to discuss preventive measures for disasters and emergencies.

After the meetings are finished, the county will hire a consultant to consolidate the data and formulate the plan.

In other action items, the Council voted to appoint Donna Perelli-Matlock to the Planning Commission with Council Member Dennis Chamberlain abstaining.

Mayor Gary Cook informed the Council he attended the Planning Commission meeting on March 15. He explained the Planning Commission is requesting to the City to place a 90-day moratorium on large containers within city limits.

Cook explained the moratorium will provide the Planning Commission time to draft an ordinance on large containers within the city.

Cook said he informed the Planning Commission the city will need to hold a public meeting before the Council can adopt an ordinance for the moratorium.

He also presented the Council with an ordinance for System Development Charge (SDC) Indebtedness fees. He explained the City adopted an ordinance in 2011 placing a sewer indebtedness fee for properties where water services were disconnected, but they still have a water meter installed on the property.

The fee is to maintain the water meter system and is $37 a month and will take effect in May. Cook said the City will send a notice about the fee in the April utility bills.

He said the fee will also apply to residents who request to have their water temporarily turned off while they are outside of the City for a long period of time.

If property owner does not want to pay the indebtedness fee, Cook said owners can have the water meter removed from the property.

However if the owner sells the property, it will cost between $2,500-$2,600 for the new owner to reinstall it.

Cook also clarified the fee will not be added to properties currently utilizing water services.

The Council voted to accept the Arbor Day proclamation for 2018. Council Member Mike Schrag provided an update for the City’s Arbor Day activities scheduled for April 27.

He said the festivities begin at 10 a.m., and 91 fourth and fifth grade Ritzville students will help plant one tree at the City Park and three more at the Ritzville Golf Course. There will be three additional trees planted at City Hall.

During Committee reports, Council Member Scott Yaeger stated the City had received three bids for the First Avenue Rehabilitation Project. The bids were from Wm Winkler Company for $280,870, the Granite Company for $295,981.75 and from Central Washington Asphalt for $275,307.50.

Yaeger said all three bids were under Varela and Associate’s estimate for the project. He noted Varela will review the bids for responsiveness and make sure they are have all the completed paperwork. They will also prepare a recommendation for who the Council should award the bid to.

Council voted on Yaeger’s suggestion to award the contract to the lowest responsive bidder upon Varela’s recommendation.

Yaeger also informed the Council the city received six submissions for RFQ’s for engineering services. He said the Public Works committee reviewed the packets and recommended two of the firms for interviews, one being Varela and the other Century West Engineering.

The Council voted to schedule the interviews for both companies on March 29.

Cook updated the Council on the process on collecting funds for past due utility accounts. He explained the City has about $4,000 in past due utilities.

He is working with City Attorney John Kragt to develop methods on collecting the money, one being establishing payment plans for delinquent accounts.

Cook added he may potentially look at collections, but that “would be down the line and more of a last resort.”

In his department report, Swift informed the Council Oscar’s Racing inquired about possibly holding a drag racing event at the airport.

He explained the company holds racing events in Royal City and they have their own insurance and will provide outhouses for the event.

Swift added the owner would be willing to attend a future council meeting and answer questions if they are interested.

The Council recommended Swift look into the City’s insurance risk pool before responding to the company.