City approves 2010 budget, Cuff cited for service
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
Monday the Goldendale city council passed its 2010 budget, approved cabaret licenses for four city businesses, ratified union contracts, put in for a new heating system at city hall, and gave council member Tom Cuff special recognition as he ends his term on the council.
"I know we haven't always agreed," said Police Chief Rick Johnson as he handed Cuff a commemorative plaque. "But this is in recognition of your service to the city."
The plaque awarded to Cuff reads, "Presented to Tom Cuff in appreciation of service to the City of Goldendale, 2003-2009."
Toward the end of the meeting, Cuff addressed the council, saying, "This is my last night. I want to say that it's been a privilege to be on this council. As Rick said, we've had our differences, but we've all pulled together, and we've done it without hard feelings. We've got a great group in charge of our city now. And I want to welcome Len [Crawford] aboard-have a good time!" Crawford, who was present, is the newly elected council member who will take Cuff's place next month.
"We hope we'll see you around," council member Joe Abbott said to Cuff.
"You will," Cuff jovially responded.
Initial council business involved the selection of a new furnace to replace the antiquated one presently in city hall. Space heaters in the council chambers during the meeting highlighted the need for adequate heating. Proposals from two area furnace installers, D&D Refrigeration and Mid-Columbia Heating, were examined; D&D proposed a Goodman furnace, while Mid-Columbia offered a Trane. When a motion to accept the Mid-Columbia proposal was made, Cuff interjected his concern that its proposal was $1,500 more than D&D's. "How do we justify that?" he asked. "They're both local, and the other installer will wonder why he didn't get it."
Public Works Director Keith Grundei responded, "They're both good installers. It's not about the installer. It comes down to the machine." Grundei explained how he researched the furnaces and came to the conclusion that Trane was historically more reliable and in the end might make up the cost difference in maintenance savings. The motion to accept Mid-Columbia's proposal was passed.
In other regular business, the council approved an amendment to the existing janitorial contract with Mountaindale Maintenance to do minimal cleaning at the fire department for an additional $160 per month. Four city businesses-Hot Rods Bar & Grill, The Barred Rock, Top Hat, and the American Legion-were granted cabaret licenses; Hot Rods and Top Hat were each granted a license for 2010 while Barred Rock and the Legion were granted a license for the first quarter of the coming year.
Contracts were ratified between the city and the Uniformed Officers union and between the city and the Municipal Employees union. Revisions to three subsections of the city's personnel manual were also approved. Amendments to the 2009 budget were passed, as was Ordnance No. 1393, the 2010 city budget.
In department reports, Johnson reported that at the last minute the city's Santa Cop program received a substantial donation which allowed the program to continue on target to providing toys for area children. City Manager Larry Bellamy reported on meetings with economic development committees, saying that the signage and entrance committee continued to look seriously at creating a rest area just off 97, at either Broadway or Simcoe. "A rest area could really help," he said. "It has a heavy price tag, but it's kind of an exciting idea. We're really limited to signage on 97, so this would be a way to get traffic into the city." He added that the city's income looked good and that expenditures also looked "pretty much in line with what we anticipated."
Gallery acquires tax exempt status
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
The Goldendale Art Gallery-the storefront business of the Goldendale Art Guild-is now free to accept tax-deductible donations.
"We're chosen to come under an organization called Shunpike," says Guild member Ron Shelton. "It's an umbrella organization with 501(c)3 [federal tax exempt] status, and it specializes in arts groups in the state. Groups that come under Shunpike are able to receive tax-deductible contributions. That's the case now with us."
The Guild researched Shunpike, a Seattle-based non-profit organization, contacting other Shunpike members and ascertaining its effectiveness. Among its services to arts groups is assisting them in eventually acquiring their own individual federal tax-exempt status. The Guild sees that as its eventual goal.
"It's one of the things we want to do," says Shelton, "along with our other goals. We see ourselves as being closely connected to this community, and we want to be of service to it."
The Guild has a list of a dozen immediate goals, ranging from expanding its art classes and advertising to getting office and business help. It wants to provide scholarships in art and possibly music, as it expands its borders and definition of art to include the performing arts as well. Its list also includes continuing to support Chamber of Commerce events and activities, such as the upcoming bluegrass festival and maintaining the flower barrels around town; Guild members obtained the original barrels and plant their flowers or give out flower packs.
The Guild consists of 23 active members, all artists in Klickitat County except one in Oregon.
Bad judgment gets two residents felony charges
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Poor judgment landed two Goldendale residents in jail on felony charges in separate incidents last week. Officers attempted to stop Nicole Bromley, 22, on the evening of Dec. 16, after she was observed failing to stop at a stop sign. Bromley decide to flee, turning a misdemeanor into a felony. When she was finally stopped, Bromley failed the field sobriety test and became uncooperative. She was also found to be driving on a suspended license, which itself is a misdemeanor. Things escalated in the jail where Bromley spat on officers and attempted to bite one officer. She was subdued with a taser and is being held on a $20,000 bond.
The second incident occurred on Friday when Stephen Powers, suspecting his girl friend was seeing another man, smashed all the windows of a vehicle parked in front of the girl friend's house. The vehicle was actually owned by a neighbor, across the street. Powers returned to the residence and vandalized the Christmas lighting on his girl friend's house and left the scene. Police were nearby when he again returned. Upon his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a crow bar and he admitted damaging the car. Powers was arrested for felony malicious mischief.
In other action, Chief Rick Johnson reports that there has been very good compliance with the parking ordinance on South Schuster Street in the area of Head Start and the primary school. They did, however, receive a complaint from a resident who expected to get a warning ticket for his illegally parked vehicle. The Chief explained that it doesn't work that way. The ordinance has been in effect for more than two months and the time for warnings has passed.
Officers have also responded to several complaints about vandalism to Christmas yard displays. No arrests have been made. |
