Lind Council discusses engineering agreement, income survey

During the Aug. 14 Lind Town Council meeting, Mayor Paula Bell presented a draft of the consultant agreement with Century West Engineering for engineering services.

The Town selected Century West from three finalists for engineering and consultation services at the July 24 meeting.

According to the agreement, Century West will provide the Town with planning, design and construction management for projects relating to water, sewer, storm drainage, streets and traffic.

The company will also perform construction surveying, consultation on various Town infrastructure policies, grant writing, and infrastructure systems and analysis.

Council Member Rose Elkington said she had not reviewed the agreement prior to the meeting. The Council tabled voting on the agreement until the Aug. 28 meeting.

In the Mayor’s report, Bell said Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) informed her they needed 19 more responses to validate the income survey for Lind.

Bell added she will contact RCAC Consultant Dan Bannier to determine the next step in the survey process.

At the June 26 meeting, Bannier said if RCAC did not receive the required amount of responses after the first two mailings, he could visit Lind and conduct personal interviews with residents who were selected for the survey.

Elkington offered to escort Bannier if he came to the town to interview citizens.

In other business, Bell presented a contract amendment between the Town and Consolidated Disposal Services Inc. (CDSI).

She explained the amendment relates to annual adjustment rates, which were agreed upon when the Town entered into a contract with CDSI last year.

Bell and Clerk-Treasurer Kylie Buell compared the current rates to adjusted amounts, and none of the increases are over $1.

She added the amendment does not increase solid waste rates for Lind residents, nor can the Council approve a rate increase without passing an ordinance. She noted the adjustment rates in the contract apply to the rates the Town pays to CDSI.

In regards to infrastructure projects, Bell said Century West’s Steve Nelson is seeking project ideas for the Complete Streets grant. She also provided the Council with Nelson’s report on current projects.

The first phase of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) street improvement project is in the closeout phase.

Nelson will also identify potential funding sources for second phase of the FEMA project’s second phase.

Bell announced the Town received grant funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Division for airport apron repairs.

She added the Town’s grant match requirement was partially covered, and Century West will complete the project design and bid the project in the fall.

In other business, Bell announced Barbara DeVore signed a one-year lease for the Community Garden.

Council Member Richard Baldwin later asked why the Town dump was closed. Bell explained several railroad ties were found in the dump.

She said the matter is being investigated, and town staff has recommended residents take solid waste to the Ritzville transfer station.