Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 451
DAYTON-The Columbia County Hospital District Board were advised of a grant; updates on River’s Walk Assisted Living; RoseMary’s Place Childcare; presented with the results from a quality improvement survey; and heard other business during the April 24 meeting. The hospital district was given a $1.13 million grant for distressed hospitals, according to CEO Shane McGuire. March revenues for both in-patient and out-patient services were under budget though the acute care/swing bed census was str...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD) Board of Trustees met on April 16 with new Board Member Dale Walling, and voted on new officer positions for its members. Library Director Ellen Brigham reported on library operations and programming, as well as the financial report for March. Dale Walling was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners last month, to replace Karin Spann whose term was up. During the April meeting, the Board held the election of officers. All votes w...
DAYTON–Local resident Dale Walling was chosen from among seven candidates for the open Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees on March 15 by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The BOCC spent most of the business day interviewing the applicants for the open position, including incumbent Karin Spann who completed a five-year term. Board trustees can serve up to two terms. Other applicants were Thomas Utt, Kaye Eaton, Ken Graham, Peggy James, and Joann Patras. The i...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees (CCRLD) heard a report from Charlie Oribio who spoke on the Washington Library Association Conference; were updated on upcoming programs; and other regular business at the abbreviated meeting on March 18. Following the public meeting, the Board would go into executive session to review Ellen Brigham's time as interim director. Charlie Oribio reported about the Washington Library Association Conference that he attended early in...
DAYTON–The Friends of the Library hosted a Community Civility Café with grant funding from the INATAI Foundation, at the Fairgrounds Pavilion March 7. Some 100 attendees came to listen, discuss, and break bread. Sandwiches, cookies, and beverages were offered while engaging in the question of "Which books should be available in our school and public libraries?" As the community has experienced, differing positions have caused divisions in this community and many communities around the na...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board stated Ellen Brigham was offered the Library Director position; heard the director and financial reports; completed the collection development and internet policies; and heard public comment during the February 26 meeting. Ellen Brigham, who has been in the position of interim library director following the vacancy left by Todd Vandenbark last July, was offered a two-year contract late last month. The board held executive session to address the c...
DAYTON-The School Board gave oath to returning and new elects and assigned positions; update on permanent superintendent application process; interim Superintendent planned levy meetings; and reviewed policies during the December 20 meeting. The oath of office was given to those Board members who were re-elected – Grant Griffin and Aneesha Dieu, as well as to Zac Fabian who was elected following his appointment to the position. Jeff McCowen was voted in as chairman for a second term and Fabian w...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees heard reports from Interim Director Ellen Brigham and finished working through Chapter Three of the Collection Development Policy during the December 21 meeting. To review the bids for the digitization of the Dayton Chronicle archives, as well as the applications for a permanent library director, a special meeting was scheduled for December 28 at 7 p.m. The Board completed the review of Chapter Three of the Collection...
DAYTON- The Columbia County Rural Library 2024 budget hearing was held during the regular monthly meeting on November 20 for the Board of Trustees to review and approve the draft for the 2024 budget. Included in the budget was the allowed 1% increase of the county tax levy. The 2024 Budget Hearing took a good part of the meeting on November 20. The draft budget did not include the beginning fund balance because according to Brigham the amount is unknown until the end of the year. Last year the...
DAYTON–The City Council met on Election Day November 7, approved Resolution 1525 - a 1% tax levy increase; and Resolution 1524 -an increase in utility rates and tax. Council is also working through the preliminary 2024 budget of $13.2 million. A public hearing on the budget in on the agenda for the November 21 meeting. The board also heard from Wash. State. Rep. Joe Schmick, Colfax, R-9 concerning public record policy. Council had some discussion before approving Resolution 1525 for the a...
DAYTON-The School Board held a special meeting on November 7 to discuss an EP&O (Education, Programs and Operations) Replacement Capital Levy to go on the ballot in 2024, as well as priorities for facility projects. Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart facilitated the discussion. Other staff and community members were present and contributed. Stewart focused on garnering public support for a levy through gaining and maintaining trust. This can be done through communication about projects and...
DAYTON–The Dayton School Board interviewed and appointed Paulson to Position No. 1, which had been vacated by Korinda Wallace in June of this year, at its November 1 meeting. Also discussed were two administrative models for the 2024-25 school year; and heard other elementary and high school business. Paulson replaces Wallace, who had been elected to the position in 2022. Paulson was the only potential candidate interviewed since Wallace left. He moved to Dayton about two years ago and works a...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board began the 2024 budget review, the collection development and volunteer policies; and heard from Washington State Librarian Sara Jones during the meeting October 16. Preliminary 2024 budget review discussions began with briefly going through each budget line. A special budget meeting is scheduled for November 8. No significant concern was brought up during the review. "Overall, we are in fine shape," said Chairman Jay Ball. Chapters One and...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Board was advised Broadband project is complete; heard a continuing budget discussion at the monthly Port of Columbia meeting on October 11 specifically the salary for Executive Director Jennie Dickinson. The Commission reviewed the comprehensive plan including assets specifically the Columbia Walla Walla (CWW) Rail short line and whether they would sell to operator Paul Didelius who was present and contributed on the subject. Another discussion was about the...
DAYTON-The City Council began 2024 budget discussions and heard from County Assessor Tammy Ketterman regarding the county money they have available to them. Mayor Zac Weatherford gave an update on amending the interlocal agreement with Columbia County for law enforcement, dispatch, and municipal services. He also reported about progress on the Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP). There was discussion about continuing to have monthly workshops. There were notable reports from Finance Committee...
DAYTON–Candidates running for various positions in the November 7 General Election were presented at the community forum hosted by American Association of University Women on October 4. The event was facilitated by AAUW member Leah Stockton at The Liberty Theater. Candidates running unopposed included recently appointed Auditor Will Hutchens and City mayoral candidate Roger Trump. Both candidates for Port Commissioner No. 2 attended – Mike Spring and Randy Schafer. Joann Patras, who is run...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees initiates collection development policy review; and were advised of other library regular business during the September 18 meeting. The collection development policy was introduced, and board members present agreed to review the first two chapters over the next month to be prepared to discuss and revise during the October meeting. The original policy was adopted in 2008 and some revisions were made in 2013 regarding digital collections....
DAYTON–The Dayton School Board was advised to consider options for a permanent superintendent by interim superintendent Rich Stewart; advised of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS); change to meeting time from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and other district business reports at the meeting on September 20. Stewart presented his self-review to the Board based on the State's standards for superintendents. He rated himself in the middle two categories as basically or proficiently meeting standards f...
DAYTON–The City Council heard an update on the Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP), and discussion on the possible dissolution of the county library district. Key updates were provided by Public Works Director Ryan Paulson and Councilmember Teeny McMunn for the Chamber. Mayor Zac Weatherford informed Council the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) is moving forward. Two ground monitoring wells have been installed to draw the required samples. The geo-technical tests will test ground filtration r...
DAYTON– Consultant Abbi Russell from Maul, Foster and Alongi presented the Comprehensive Plan to the Port Board of Commissioners; introduced the new Economic Development Coordinator Jill Essency; and were updated on the broadband projects, and the Fiber Lighting Ceremony on September 20. The preliminary 2024 draft budget was presented from Executive Director Jennie Dickinson to the Commissioners for review. The expenses calculated will leave a $400k reserve. Revenues are expected to increase b...
DAYTON–The School Board heard a broad discussion on initiating a capital levy; and reviewed Washington Standards-Based Superintendent Framework and specific goals during the meeting on September 6. Superintendent Rich Stewart began with a chart that showed taxpayers have been paying the lowest rate per $1000 of assessed property value from 2021-23. Under consideration is a four-year capital levy of $0.50 which would total $1.7 million; a $1.00 totaling $3.4 million; and $1.50 which would b...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees (CCRLD) were briefed on the process for parental notes on library cards; acknowledged the Library Dissolution proposition is now on the ballot; heard discussion on setting a time to review the policy of collection development; discussion on employee weapon policy; suspending book buying during the August 21 meeting. Enlightening discussion and suggestions were made by local residents through the public comment period. CCRLD Board...
DAYTON–The City Council was advised of $50,000 improvement grant recipients; the Main Street tree project; Water Waste Treatment Project (WWTP) progress; review of National Night Out; approved employment agreements with city staff, and other business at the meeting August 8. The Dayton Development Task Force acquired $50,000 in grants that went to making improvements for Main Street businesses. Belinda Larsen, Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director, told Council that the recipients included My D...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia discussed budget; approved broadband contract; approved a sale advocation letter; and other Port business during the meeting August 9. Budget talks began with Port Director Jennie Dickinson advising the board the Port will need to budget $1500 to insure their fiber network. However, the Port will begin to receive revenue from broadband operations. She suggested with the added revenue a salary increase or at least Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) considered in line...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library District Board (CCRLD) of Trustees called a special meeting on August 2 to vote on placing the Library Dissolution Resolution on the November ballot. The board was brought together to acknowledge and vote on a certified petition, authenticated by Columbia County Auditor Will Hutchens, that it does contain the required signatures to be placed as a resolution to dissolve the library district on the November ballot. "I have here a certified petition with t...
