Ritzville Council approves My Farm, Your Table street closure

At the Sept. 4 meeting, the Ritzville City Council approved a request from the East Adams Library District (EALD) and the Washington State University Extension Office to close traffic on Main Avenue, from Adams Street to Washington Street, on Sept. 29 from 12-5 p.m.

The street closure is for the My Farm, Your Table event, which is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. In a letter to the City, EALD Director Kylie Fullmer said the additional closure time allows organizers to set up and clean up the event.

Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick said he saw no issue with the street closure.

In other business, the Council received an update about the City joining the Washington State Department of Revenue Business Licensing System.

Council Member Michelle Plumb explained the City will need to adopt an ordinance establishing a model business license and licensing threshold.

One component of the ordinance includes a definition of “engaging in business” and examples of what constitutes as business practices in the city required for a business license.

The document will need to include a minimum threshold is $2,000 per year for out-of-town businesses operating in Ritzville.

Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt will bring a model ordinance for the Council to approve at a future meeting. The Council can discuss whether if they want to establish a minimum threshold at $2,000, or increase the amount.

Flyckt added the Council will need to adopt the ordinance by the end of the year.

In priority items, Mayor Gary Cook read a proclamation declaring September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Ritzville.

During department reports, Public Works Director Larry Swift said Varela and Associates submitted the operation and maintenance plan for the channel modification for one of the city’s lagoon cells to the Washington State Department of Ecology Dam Safety Office (DSO).

Swift noted the DSO had not contacted the City, or Varela regarding the plan prior to the meeting.

McCormick said the Ritzville Police Department completed 11 hours of DUI emphasis patrol from Aug. 24-31.

He noted officers issued 31 contacts, 18 citations and 19 warnings. Officers also arrested an individual for physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated.

He noted the Police Department received a $2,000 donation, which he said will be used to purchase four new chest cameras.

Regarding department policies, McCormick said he had researched information on Lexipol, a nationwide company that develops policy management software for police and fire departments.

He hopes to utilize the software for adopting policies for the Police Department modeled after state and federal laws.

McCormick noted the city’s risk pool could potentially reimburse the City for the software cost because they see Lexipol as a valuable tool for the Police Department. He will provide Cook and Flyckt with more information after he contacts the risk pool.

In the Mayor’s update, Cook said the City is will distribute 110 fund applications to businesses and organizations with a potential application deadline in October.