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DAYTON–Mayor Zac Weatherford reportedly fired three City of Dayton salaried employees Wednesday, June 16–Public Works Manager Jim Costello, City Administrator Trina Cole and Planning and Community Development Director Meagan Hayes. Repeated attempts have been made to reach the mayor for a statement following the terminations. Weatherford did not respond to messages and requests for a return call and he is now reported to be on vacation this week. Mayor Pro Tem Dain Nysoe confirmed the terminatio...
DAYTON–The School District hosted the second of four planned forums on June 17. The topic was special education. Contributors to the forum was Superintendent Guy Strot, Middle and High School Principal Kristina Brown and School Board Chair David Bailey. Special guests were Education Service District (ESD) representatives Jeffrey Niece, who is the Executive Director of Special Education; Daniel Barnhart, who is a Behavior Specialist with ESD 112; as well as Emmy Kirk, who is the Assistant S...
DAYTON-The Columbia County department heads met and updated the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on June 21. Janet Schmidt from Washington State University Extension told the Commissioners that in talking with the director of Extension, it is strongly being considered continuing with someone in a dedicated position in the County as it had been since the agreement originated in 1986. The Commissioners previously expressed concern over the Extension's plan to regionalize the area, Extension...
DAYTON-The City Council met June 9, a day after the Eagles Club was on fire acknowledging the collaboration of city, county and outside departments. Mayor Zac Weatherford allowed those who put in long hours dealing with the emergency to go first and leave the meeting to get some rest. Ashley Strickland of Columbia County Emergency Management updated on the most current expectation at that time that Main Street would be open for All Wheels Weekend this weekend. "Hopefully by All Wheels Weekend...
DAYTON–Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson and the board of Commissioners reviewed the 2018 approved plans for Lyons Ferry Marina RV Park as part of the Comprehensive plan acknowledging Lyons Ferry has come a long way since the time she took her position with the Port 14 years ago. According to Dickinson, "The Corps of Engineers told me on Monday that this is the best facility that they inspect every year." The Port leases the property from the Corps and in turn, the Port s...
DAYTON-The Dayton School District Board met a day ahead of the scheduled community forum on June 2 for their regularly scheduled work session. During this session, two candidates for the vacant at-large board position left by Katie Leid were interviewed. One candidate was lifetime resident and alum Jeff McCowen who has two children in Dayton schools and is active in the Touchet Valley Little League serving on their board and as a coach. He presented his understanding of the board as being in...
DAYTON-The Columba County Health System (CCHS) $420,000 Dental Clinic project is nearing completion under Nelson Construction and is scheduled to open this month. The space will have the medical equipment installed this week. Two dentists will be serving Medicaid patients. One is local dentist Michael Strang who will be devoting Thursdays at the new clinic. The other who will be announced soon is someone who has experience with Medicaid and in particular working to get patients in to be seen...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System (CCHS) Board appointed Barbara Miller as interim board member during the regular meeting on May 26. Miller will fill the vacancy previously held by the late Wes Leid, who served on the Board for about six years. Miller is a resident of Waitsburg and has been serving on the finance committee for which the Board is seeking to find a replacement by someone not on the Board. She has filed to seek election to the seat. Director of Nursing, Katie Roughton...
DAYTON-Several parents of high school students spoke out at the School Board meeting on May 19 expressing concern over perceived discipline issues within the school, after threats caused an emergency closure of the school while the situation was investigated. The meeting was one week after school was closed due to the investigation into a credible threat to safety found on campus. The investigation concluded with finding the high school student responsible for the threat and determining that...
DAYTON-The City Council approved Ordinance 1981, which is a 12% utility tax increase to mediate the budget deficiency, at a special meeting on May 19. The budget shortfalls are a result of the increased cost to the County per the interlocal agreement for law enforcement, dispatch and municipal court services to Columbia County totaling $612,500, as well as an increase in pull from the retirement benefit. Mayor Zac Weatherford discussed four plans to rectify projected budget deficits that would...
DAYTON–The City Council did not pass an 18% utility tax increase ending in a tie at the meeting May 12. A thorough presentation was made by Mayor Zac Weatherford addressing the current expense shortfalls anticipated this fall due to the increased cost of law enforcement, dispatch and municipal court services to Columbia County totaling $612,500, as well as increase in pull from the retirement benefit. Weatherford said beyond just avoiding a deficit, a 60-day current expense reserve of $...
DAYTON–During the monthly Port of Columbia Commissioners meeting on May 12, opponents of the Touchet Valley Trail again gathered outside of the Port office along the road with signs of protest. But they weren't the only group gathered that day. About a dozen supporters of the trail marched downtown holding signs of support for the project. Dayton residents Dr. Michael Luce and wife Mary were among them. "As we've studied the Touchet Valley Trail proposal, and discussed and listened to legitimate...
DAYTON-Columia County Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman advised the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) that there is recent change to COVID restrictions relating to mask wearing put out by the CDC, acknowledging data reflecting the decreasing COVID cases and growing number of fully vaccinated people, rescinding the mask mandate. According to Lanman, Gov. Jay Inslee announced those who are fully vaccinated can remove their masks for indoor and outdoor activities, and to anticipate full...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) approved Resolution 2021-20, Acknowledging the Supremacy of the Constitution, passed during the May 10 work session. The Resolution's purpose is, "Acknowledging the supremacy of the Constitution of the United States of America and affirming the fundamental rights of Columbia County Citizens' right to free speech and peaceable assembly, to keep and bear arms, and maintain essential liberties and freedoms protected in the Bill of Rights to the U.S. C...
DAYTON–The School Board was received great news regarding the budget during the recent work session May 5. The District's minimum fund balance has an end-of-year balance close to $1 million–a number far larger than they've ever seen. This is due to FEMA money. Former Vice-Chair Dave Bailey suggested setting aside a reserve of the annual balance for emergencies. The rest of the surplus could go towards capital improvements. One proposed idea was setting aside a certain amount, a minimum amo...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Board of Health met with the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) May 3, to officially appoint Dr. Lewis Neace, DO as local Health Officer for three years. This was an amendment of a motion to approve Dr. Neace made on April 19. A health officer's responsibilities are education of the district they serve as a whole for general safety, health and wellness. This can include environmental health issues. The position also requires being a liaison in coordination with s...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia held a much-anticipated Touchet Valley Trail (TVT) Public Information Webinar, presenting the 30% design by Anderson•Perry & Associates on April 26. The 9.7-mile, 10-foot-wide paved multi-use trail spanning from Waitsburg to Dayton is projected to cost $10.38 million. As the Webinar prepared to begin via ZOOM, opponents of the trail gathered outside the Port office in a peaceful protest of the meeting being held by Zoom. One participant, Columbia County resident Jud...
DAYTON–Citing personal reasons, Dayton School Board Chair Katie Leid submitted a letter of resignation to Superintendent Guy Strot, effective immediately. Leid has served the Board since 2016, and has dedicated 17 years to the school, including serving as the Dayton Elementary Principal from 2004-2013, according to Strot. School District Board Co-Chair David Bailey opened the April 21 meeting with an announcement from Strot regarding Leid's letter of resignation. In other news from the m...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners approved Resolution No. 2021-07 to renew the contract securing housing for individuals with COVID-19 and then appointed Lewis Neace, DO, as Health Officer. When Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman presented Resolution No. 2021-07 to renew the contract securing housing for COVID sufferers, Commissioner Charles Amerein objected to what he perceived as non-disclosure from the Department of Commerce (DOC) over handling this each quarter. He claimed t...
DAYTON-A Community survey is available for those interested in providing input about what citizens want in their community and the City Council Board will review that information at the end of April. Mayor Zac Weatherford said it will help the City determine financial decisions in the future. "The purpose of the survey is the help the City in the future make financial decisions based on what the community wants as a whole," said Weatherford. Citizens can go to the City of Dayton website, click...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Commissioners addressed many issues pertaining to the Touchet Valley Trail, the railroad, grants during the recent Zoom monthly meeting on April 14. Phillip McKeen, resident of Walla Walla whose parents reside in Dayton, was present for the Zoom meeting and spoke during the public comment period to say he is "following up on efforts with the trail, as well as some of the opposition. I think there is a lot of useful information, but I'm not seeing it when I look b...
DAYTON-Columbia County Commissioners adopted an ordinance which includes the intent to possess as a requirement and includes a provision for the City, unless the Council decides to draft their own. Columbia County Prosecutor, Dale Slack presented the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on April 12 with a proposed county-wide ordinance for controlled substance possession. This action came as a result of the state law being struck down as being unconstitutional in State vs. Blake in February....
DAYTON – Weinhard Hotel owners, Sev Jones and Christina Dingman are coming up on the completion of their first year of business at the end of next month. They opened last year over Memorial Weekend when many businesses were first allowed to open up after the initial shutdown due to COVID-19. Jones and Dingman bought the business from Gary and Shellie McLeod in March of 2020. Jones shared, "Considering stepping right into a full-blown pandemic, we've been very fortunate with our new endeavor." T...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) approved resolution FC2021-01, for additional funding for flood work done in the Touchet River. Administrator of the Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) Charles Eaton, sought approval from the County Commissioners during the FCZD meeting on April 5 for additional funding for flood work to be done in the Touchet River. This work had an estimated approved cost of $200,000 but with needed interagency reviews by the historical preservation and cultural...
DAYTON–Columbia County Health System has hired three new providers. Lindsay McLaughlin is a nurse practitioner and has already starting seeing patients at the Columbia Family Clinic earlier this month. Patients are reportedly very pleased with her care, according to the Administrator's Report provided by CEO Shane McGuire. This comes at the time that Andrew Park, M.D. has given his notice for leaving the practice at the end of May. According to Chief of Staff Kyle Terry, M.D., McLaughlin has a...
