Mayor signs reopening letter

RITZVILLE - The city has signed onto an Adams County Commission letter requesting a variance from Gov. Jay Inslee's quarantine orders.

Mayor Gary Cook explained the letter to the City Council during a May 5 meeting.

The letter requests a variance from the state Department of Health allowing for Phase I of the governor's plan to reopen the economy here.

As of Monday evening, only eight counties - Adams, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Columbia, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Skamania and Garfield - had successfully been granted a variance.

As of press time, they had not yet received an order from the state on how to proceed.

Under the governor's reopening strategy, counties would have to jump through four phases to return to normal. Each would last a minimum of three weeks.

Cook recapped the letter:

With Adams County being a low-incidence, low

population county with no deaths from COVID-19, commissioners were requesting the governor to allow Adams County to advance to Phase II, which would allow limited dining in restaurants and taverns, reopen all construction, allow hair and nail salons to reopen, camping and more.

Cook said he was the first mayor to sign the letter, which was also signed by Adams County Commissioners Roger L. Hartwig, Terrance J. Thompson and John N. Marshall; Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner; Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden; Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt; Othello Mayor Shawn R. Logan; Lind Mayor Paula Bell; Washtucna Mayor Brian Hille; Hatton Mayor Brittany Baldwin; and Port of Othello Deena Vietzke.

The letter was delivered to the governor's office by 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, May 6, McFadden said.

"We got on board to try and loosen things up in a county that maybe hasn't had as many problems," Cook said, adding there were several counties in the state eligible immediately for Phase II but Adams County was not on the initial list.

"Whether the governor heeds this letter, or has other requirements, or it's a flat 'no' remains to be seen," Cook said.

City Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt said there's a lot a city needs to accomplish and submit proof of to the Secretary of State, who is responsible for approving a city moving forward in the phases.

"One of the requests is a letter from the commissioners stating approval. So, that is one thing we can check off the list, but it is quite the list," Flyckt said.

"Kittitas County just submitted 30 pages of documentation they need to move to Phase II. There's quite a lot we have to accomplish before we go to Phase II."

Councilman Scott Yeager said he found it interesting Adams County has had 48 cases test positive, with just four currently active cases in the whole county.

"But I know those came just in the last four weeks, and one of the criteria is no cases in the last three weeks," Yeager said.

Karen Potts of the Adams County Health Department announced one new Othello case last Tuesday, bringing the total to 49. The number of patients who have recovered sis 45.

Additionally, the council discussed the reopening of the city golf course last Tuesday with certain regulations, including pre-registered tee times.

The city opened parks, as well.

"The reason we closed it is there were a group of four women sitting and having lunch at a single picnic table," Cook said. "It was an obvious disregard for social distancing."

So, he asked Police Chief Dave McCormick to monitor the parks.

"They're going to cruise by once in a while, and if they see people congregating," Cook said. 'We will track that and they'll say something to them; and if that doesn't work out, we always have the prerogative of closing it back up."

McCormick reported seeing kids playing at the main playground in the big park Tuesday.

"The kids were playing as kids do, and the adults there watching their toddlers were sitting on opposite sides, not on the same bench," McCormick said. "So, I didn't see anything that concerned me."

Public Works Director Dave Braezael reported with the city parks opening, he had staff open city restrooms; including those downtown.

In other business, the council:

Approved a $5,000 one-time increase in compensation to the Adams County Development Council for delivering Emergency Business Assistance to small area businesses.

The council has raised $80,000 so far for direct grants in the amount of $1,500 to area businesses, many of whom have had to close or cut back services while under quarantine.

Flyckt said the donation, which will come from the current expense fund, could potentially be reimbursed to the city through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

As a business owner, Councilman Scott Yeager abstained from the vote.

Flyckt said she and Cook were researching how to apply for funding.

The state has announced plans to distribute almost $300 million to cities and counties with a population of fewer than 500,000, she said. Funds will be based on $30 per capita, with counties receiving a minimum of $250,000 and towns a minimum of $25,000.

Preliminary data shows Adams County is projected to receive $1,108,250; Ritzville $49,800; Lind, Hatton and Washtucna $25,000; and Othello $250,350.

"We're still waiting for some guidelines to come out from the Department of Commerce," Flyckt said. "Right now, it's set up more as a reimbursement, not like a grant. If we receive money and we don't use it, we have to give it back. It's very specific."

Cook said city staff has been careful to document any expenses that may apply.

In other business, council members heard an update on infrastructure projects including Pete's Lift Station.

Flyckt said the finance committee was beginning to look at the impact on the reduction of taxes in terms of revenue.

"By the next council meeting, I will have more information on what our cash flow looks like," Flyckt said.

The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. May 19.