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DAYTON-Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson had a preliminary budget review with the Commission during the September 14 meeting. She also provided updates on Port assets including the Oktoberfest Family Fall Festival which will be held September 24 at Blue Mountain Station. Public comment was heard from Theresa Eier regarding the social media conduct of Commissioner Seth Bryan. Commissioner Johnny Walker was absent. Dickinson shared the estimated ending reserve balance for 2022...
DAYTON-The District School Board was advised that student registration is up higher than anticipated for the year; a proposal made to have legislative student representatives; and heard updates on other program business during the first work session of the 2022-23 school year. Interim Superintendent Richard Stewart announced that, "We budgeted at 330 students...as of today we have 357...which is a celebration!" He added that relational and cultural growth is happening rapidly in the district....
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the permanent position of Interim Columbia County Engineer; approved an acting County Auditor; heard revisions of broadband franchise agreement; and a proposed job description for Human Resources Director and Risk Manager position during the meeting September 6. Interim Columbia County Engineer and Public Works Director Walter Grant Morgan, has entered into a permanent employment agreement for those positions. The contract is effective N...
DAYTON-The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a work session on August 22 which began with a few public comments addressing concerns about materials in the County Rural Library children's section. The Commissioners first heard from community member Theresa Eier who commented to express concern that first amendments rights of freedom of expression could be violated by the removal of materials from the library. Even though said did not attend the meeting, she claimed that at the county...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Health System board (CCHS) was advised that a grand opening for the Rivers Walk Assisted Living has been scheduled on September 8. The Grand Opening for Rivers Walk Assisted Living and ribbon cutting is scheduled for September 8 at 11 a.m. The facility will remain open until 4 p.m. Unit C (Palouse) is the first to reach completion and will have an open house. The unit is already staged and a virtual tour has been created and is available for viewing. Unit B (Patit) i...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed applicants for the Director of Emergency Management position, as well as the County departmental budgets during the meeting on August 22. Sheriff Joe Helm and Fire Chief Jeromy Phinney provided input on interviewed applicants for the Emergency Management Director position for the Commission to consider. Helm expressed some reservation about one of the applicants who would be moving from across the country with a work history of moving f...
DAYTON–The Dayton School District has decided to proceed with the Dayton-Waitsburg Athletic Combine intact with no changes for the coming school year. Superintendent Rich Stewart said the subject will be examined again as the year proceeds. Superintendent Stewart led the August Dayton School Board meeting on August 17, providing updates about the Dayton and Waitsburg (DW) Athletic Combine, establishing a sex-ed curriculum committee and professional development for the staff. A budget status w...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees heard public concern over content in the children's library; were advised of the receipt of $20,000 for COVID recovery; and heard a program review during the monthly Columbia Rural Library District Board of Trustees meeting on August 15. Concern over content on display in the children's library was brought to the attention of the library board by two patrons, Seth Murdock said his wife, Paula. Recently, they checked out over 15 books f...
DAYTON–Auditor Anne Higgins and Assessor Chris Mills both informed the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of their plans to resign Monday, August 15. Higgins informed commissioners that her resignation will be effective at the end of the month. Mills’s resignation will be effective September 30 with plans to retire. Commissioners responded that both were expected and they expressed appreciation for their work for the County. Higgins updated that the departmental budgets were due and tha...
DAYTON–Mayor Zac Weatherford and city staff met with Anderson•Perry and the city attorney about the proposed property for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, currently working through county zoning and land-use issues and hope to have an agreement in the next month with the property owner to present to Council. The monthly interagency meeting had been held earlier that day to discuss progress on the project. Two resolutions were presented and approved by Council. One was to authorize the mayor to...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia board of Commissioners approved a resolution to declare a 1.3-acre parcel of property as surplus; lease extension; a proposal to improve rail crossings; and continuing with broadband and Blue Mountain Station updates, during the public hearing at the regular monthly meeting on August 10. The Port held a public hearing to review and approved a resolution declaring a 1.3-acre parcel of property as surplus that is adjacent to the rail line next to the Dayton elevator....
DAYTON–A new business, Columbia River Detailing, owned by Nathan Resnald and family, held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their grand opening on August 12. Port Commissioner Genie Crowe and husband Fred Crowe were an integral part of the celebration-they held the ribbon which was cut by Elizabeth Resnald, to mark the grand opening of the new business. The company Columbia River Detailing, located at 521 Cameron St., at the Rock Hill Industrial Park, specializes in extensive cleaning, s...
DAYTON–October, 2021, was the groundbreaking for the Rivers Walk Assisted Living Project, consisting of four cottage-style units to be constructed when the Columbia County Health System (CCHS) partnered with Tri-Cities developer Ron Asmus and his company, REA Commercial, LLC, along with architect John McLean, AIA, NCARB, of Blue Room Architecture. Now, less than a year later, the project is scheduled for a Grand Opening in September Despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, CEO Shane M...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed the Flood Zone District consulting contract for a flood mitigation plan; approved changes to the 2023 budget; heard a proposal for a new extension office during the August 1 regular meeting; and a presentation by Interim Engineer Grant Morgan at the August 8 special meeting, of public work action items including reorganization of the department and salary schedules. The Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) met ahead of the regular BOCC m...
DAYTON-The Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution for a metropolitan park district to be placed on the November General Election ballot during their special meeting on July 25. They also heard a quarterly update the Chamber of Commerce and about vehicle needs for the Sheriff’s Office. Resolution 2022-22 was approved for a ballot measure entitled Proposition No. 1 to establish a metropolitan park district, pending the approval of a matching resolution by the City of Dayton. The p...
DAYTON-A budget hearing was held on July 20 for the Dayton School District and the Board adopted the 2022-2023 school year budget. The revised Codes of Conduct for athletes and parents was each approved. Public comment was heard about continuing a full middle school athletic combine. Former Assistant Director to the Superintendent Jana Eaton who is assuming the Business Manager position, presented information to the Board, Superintendent Rich Stewart and Veronica Perez, the post contracted...
DAYTON–City Council appointed Jim Sueuga to the Position No. 2 vacancy; heard Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP) updates; presentations for a Columbia County Metropolitan Parks District, and Shoreline Master Program for Southeastern Washington at the meeting July 13. The Council appointed Jim Sueuga, one of three applicants interviewed for the vacancy of Position No. 2, an opening created when Misty Yost resigned last month to accept the position of Deputy City Clerk. He applied because he t...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) approved three new Board of Health positions and Resolution 2022-23; heard discussion on a change of venue for certain courthouse offices; update on drone project; and fairground borders vacate premise a few weeks prior to the Columbia County Fair during the July 18 meeting. After holding several interviews during the July 11 meeting, the County Commissioners had one final interview July 18 by the County Commissioners for three new positions to t...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board reviewed a budget report, Comprehensive Plan, and advised four new businesses in town during the recent meeting July 13. A budget report was given by Dickinson indicating a year-end balance for net cash and investments of almost $715,000. Set aside from the total amount for the Broadband Project was $410,000 which was carried over from last year. Reviewing the Comprehensive Plan was discussed briefly, and the Commissioners approved moving forward with r...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) appointed an interim county engineer; held interviews throughout the day relating to the Director of Emergency Management and three County Board of Health positions; and finished with an evening meeting with the Planning Commission on July 11. The BOCC approved the appointment of Garfield County Engineer Walter Grant Morgan as acting interim engineer for Columbia County. Morning interviews were held on July 11 in executive session for the Director...
DAYTON-The new interim Superintendent Rich Stewart presided over the School District No. 2 Board work session on July 6. The board approved staff changes and discussed setting priorities for the district including the budget, scheduling the Board retreat and topics for future study. The Board approved the hire of Jacob Crawford as the High School Science teacher who will be replacing Doug Yenney as well as the resignation of recent hire Kindergarten Teacher Sue Ellen Butler who said in her...
DAYTON-The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed applications to fill the Director of Emergency Management and discussed filling the County Engineer position as well as scheduling interviews for the Board of Health applicants. Also requested was drafting a resolution to be presented on July 18 for approval for placing on the ballot the formation of a metropolitan parks and recreation district. Seven applications have been received for the open Director of Emergency Management position....
DAYTON–A favorable financial report was conveyed to the Columbia County Health System Board Commissioners at the meeting on June 29. They also approved an investigation in to housing childcare on campus, transitioning health records, were advised of a Hall 1 Acute Care Project grant and new providers. Financials reported at the monthly Board meeting for the Columbia County Health System (CCHS) reflected a favorable net income of $304,000. Five million dollars in Medicare prepayment funds r...
