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DAYTON-Blue Mountain Counseling recently added a substance use disorder/abuse counselor to their staff. Greg Hall comes from Yakima where he just retired from serving at the Veterans Administration. He said, “I love what I do. That’s why I came out of retirement to go back to doing it. It’s all about purpose…I found out a long time ago that the only service that human beings can offer one another is helping one another, so if we’re not doing that, what else are we doing? And that’s why this en...
DAYTON-Losses reported of $416k for Columbia County Health System in November were recovered in December with a net income of $887k according to the January 25 report during the monthly meeting. An end of the year financial analysis was provided by CEO Shane McGuire who also gave updates on progress towards obtaining the licensing to open Rivers Walk Assisted Living, as well as next steps for the Childcare Project. He also spoke about several facilities maintenance issues that occurred in Decemb...
DAYTON-The Board of County Commissioners voted to approve several items during the January 30 special meeting including the purchase of six sheriff vehicles; a budget amendment for solid waste; the sale or disposal of surplus property including the EMS truck; the contracts for indigent defense attorneys and to join the Resource Advisory Committee. A public hearing to amend the solid waste fee schedule was scheduled, as well as an agenda item was added for the February 6 regular meeting to fill t...
DAYTON-Comments began back in August and continue to be heard by the County Rural Library District (CCRLD) Board of Trustees about content in the children's library. The January 23 meeting was no exception. For months now, those who object to the materials have claimed the content is inappropriate for children. Others have supported the materials and have pointed out that most of the challenged materials are written by or are about people who are LGBTQIA+ or are of a racial minority, and that...
DAYTON–Elementary student representatives made a show of their appreciation to the Dayton School Board at the regular meeting on January 18 for School Board Appreciation Month. The Board approved to extend the contract with Rich Stewart as Interim Superintendent for another school year, and the retirement of long-time Dayton teacher Audrey Franklin. Public comment was heard from someone with concern about dissolving the athletic combine and from a local pastor to appeal the Board to vote to prot...
DAYTON-During the brief public portion of the work session held on January 23, the Board of County Commissioners and Sheriff Joe Helm discussed Columbia County services for the Town of Starbuck with Mayor Zonia Dedloff and Town Council Members. County Prosecutor Dale Slack was able to join the meeting and contribute after some initial discussion to clarify that the issue going forward is there needs to be a civil authority in place for their jurisdiction for such things as enforcing ordinances...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners approved the sale of Port lots to Table Rock Meat Co. during a special meeting on January 11, 2023. After some discussion, amendments to the contract were made, then approved at a special meeting January 17, 2023. A public hearing was advertised and scheduled during the regular Port of Columbia meeting on January 11 to consider authorizing the sale of two vacant lots in the Port's Rock Hill Industrial Park on Cameron Street at the request of Tab...
DAYTON-The Dayton City Council heard discussion on the franchise agreement from Charter Communications for cable and broadband services; and flood hazard mitigation was also presented; and the position of mayor pro-tem was appointed for 2023 at the January 10 meeting. A representative from Charter Communications presented a franchise agreement to Council for review to the Council. Mayor Weatherford acknowledged that he has heard community concern about the timing of the project when the other br...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) welcomed new Human Resources Director Kristi Zinn as a number of jobs with the County will be needing filled in coming weeks. Introduced to the heads of County departments were Commissioner Jack Miller and Human Resources Director Kristi Zinn by Chair Ryan Rundell. Zinn said she is taking the first weeks of her employment to gauge the needs of the departments. Environmental Health Generalist Ray Abramson was introduced by Public Health...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) accepted a contractor for construction of the Broadband project here; reviewed and approved several policies approved the Capital Facilities Plan, elected new officers; and heard a local economic update from Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson during the meeting on January 11. ZerodB Communications presented the lowest bid within budget of just over $2 million including taxes which was approved by the Commission for the Dayton...
DAYTON-A public hearing was held for 2023 budget amendments and there was discussion about planning for new State requirements for a county coroner at the special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on January 9. Chairman of the Commission Ryan Rundell said the purpose of the 2023 budget amendments was to clean up what was already adopted. Chief Accountant Deputy Sadie Gregg gave a summary of the changes for various budgets that were out of balance or incomplete. A salary cost of...
DAYTON–Columbia County Commission Chairman Ryan Rundell welcomed newly elected Commissioner Jack Miller to the board, then expressed gratitude for Charles Amerein's service at the first commission meeting of 2023 on January 3. Commissioners were informed that dispatch is fully staffed, of grant issues, that plans are in the works to be submitted, and the REA building is being considered for county and city offices use. New Director of Emergency Management Tina Bobbitt presented several brief u...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees heard from Director Todd Vandenbark that Chromebooks are available for check out, numbers were down for Discovery Kids program, but a good crowd attended the Humanities Washington presentation at the meeting on December 19. They were also informed of a new paid holiday for employees, and reviewed possible changes to the existing policy for use of cannabis during working hours. Vandenbark reported to the Board a successful turn-out of...
DAYTON– All but one inspection has been completed and a remediation is being made to fulfill the requirements of another before the Rivers Walk Assisted Living can be licensed to operate as was reported during the December 21 Board meeting for Columbia County Health System. Columbia County Health System Commissioners also heard discussion to transition Booker Hall 2 rooms to house childcare; were updated on Booker Hall 1 plans; and the continued struggles finding beds available to transfer p...
DAYTON–The School Board decided on board assignments for 2023, had discussions about changes to how meeting information is provided to the public and to the format for public comment, as well for deciding criteria for a permanent superintendent at the December 21 meeting. The Board was also provided the monthly reports from the athletic director and the administration. A representative from the firm chosen to aid in the search for a permanent superintendent attended to learn what the district i...
DAYTON–Responding to citizen complaints voiced in November, Sheriff Joe Helm addressed the concerns to the Dayton City Council December 13. Also on the agenda was the City’s portion for contract services in 2022; flood zone updates; broadband updates; and approved budget amendments and 2023 budget. Comments were heard by several Dayton residents at the Council meeting in November about being pulled over and issued a large ticket for speeding in the school zone. A number of citizens com...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Commissioners heard public comment in opposition to the proposed meat processing facility on lots within the Rock Hill Industrial Park. Those concerns were addressed by the business owners of Table Rock Meat, Co. Michelle Shoun and Cheyanne Reed. The board also heard from tenant and business owner of Cedar Spirits and his plans which includes expanding into the rest of the Blue Mountain Station (BMS) Building No. 2. Paul Didelius, owner of Columbia Walla Walla (...
DAYTON-The Dayton School Board approved the consent agenda which included the reassignment of Sam Korslund from the athletic director for DW Combine to being solely the director of Dayton Middle and High School at the meeting on December 7. The Board also voted to select from two firms to aid in the search for a permanent superintendent, and heard two brief presentations from McKinstry with updates on funding and the capital improvement plans, as well as one from Jana Eaton who gave a food servi...
DAYTON–Columbia County Sheriff Joe Helm informed County Commissioners that his office is in "dire straits" and they are in a "horrible situation with patrol cars right now," Commissioners heard during a December 12 Special Meeting. Helm said two cars have been in the shop for two weeks while the department juggles cars to cover shifts. Other cars in the fleet are older with high miles and are having issues as maintenance has been deferred. Most counties switch out at 120,000 miles or every f...
DAYTON–Columbia County Commissioners held the first Flood Control Zone District meeting since August 1 ahead of the regular meeting on December 5, during which County Engineer and Public Works Director Grant Morgan discussed dissolving it. During the Flood Control Zone District meeting, Morgan discussed with the BOCC that a resolution will be needed to dissolve the district, and any funds will be dispersed to appropriate departments. Morgan also presented the public works special budgets d...
DAYTON–Delay in transitioning to assisted living due to inspections was one of the factors contributing to a net loss of $292,000 for the Columbia County Health System in October, with contract labor counting as another major contributor. The loss is largely attributable to the delay in moving residents into the assisted-living facility as they work through inspections to get licensed, according to CFO Matt Minor, at an impact to inpatient revenue of $126,000. Another factor is operating c...
DAYTON–All requests for reconsideration of materials have been completed, none were found to be in violation of the Dayton Memorial Library's collection development policy and have been returned to the shelves, Library Director Todd Vandenbark informed the Library Board at its November 28 meeting. An accommodation was made to shelve educational picture books in a new section of the children's library away from other early reader books intended for parents to read together with their children o...
DAYTON–The Friends of the Dayton Memorial Library is a non-profit corporation dedicated to making contributions, grants, and gifts to benefit the Dayton Memorial Library and its patrons. The organization relies on volunteers to help with events and fundraising. Established in 1982, the group currently has eight members who meet monthly to discuss the budget, including providing funds, materials or resources for programs and projects and to consider any specific requests made by the library d...
DAYTON–The City Council held an executive session to discuss terms of agreement for the purchase of property for the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) during the second meeting this month on November 22. They also reviewed the preliminary 2023 budget and voted on whether to take the 1% increase and funds from new construction. A public hearing was held for the annexation and zoning of Jasper Pines, and Council heard comment and had discussion about the speed limit signs in the school zone. M...
DAYTON–The Dayton School Board reviewed agenda-item proposals to dissolve the combined sports program and consider the resignation of Dayton-Waitsburg Athletic Director Sam Korslund before unanimously approving both action items at its November 16 meeting. Korslund stated that he previously gave his two-week notice as the DW Combine Athletic Director and presented some recommendations for the Dayton Board to consider. He summarized the letter he sent to the superintendents of both school d...
