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DAYTON–The monthly report on Port assets was provided by Executive Manager Jennie Dickinson during the April 12 Port of Columbia meeting. For Rock Hill Industrial Park, the Commission heard from the General Manager of Columbia County Public Transportation David Ocampo who came with a request to purchase their facility that was constructed for their use. Dickinson said they would continue the discussion, review the financials, and request an appraisal of the property. For Lyons Ferry, they h...
DAYTON-The Dayton School Board held a special meeting on April 5 at the recommendation of Superintendent Rich Stewart to approve a Reduced Educational Program for the 2023-24 school year. This would allow the Board to begin the process to provide adequate notice to affected employees and in time to draft the budget for next year. Several factors affect next year's budget including predictions of enrollment and legislation, a review of current staff considering seniority, programs and what is...
DAYTON-The March 20 Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees meeting attracted another sizable group of 25 attendees and another 12 online. Director Todd Vandenbark gave his monthly reports before the meeting opened to several public comments beginning with comment from Trustee Chuck Beleny who suggested the Board consider updating the collection policy about content to prohibit obscene materials. Beleny referred to the previous month's Board meeting when the Board was asked by...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System rescheduled the March meeting to April 6 to review reports for February. A financial loss was reported of $268,000. Project updates were given for the childcare project and for Rivers Walk Assisted Living. The Board also heard from Clinic Director Kim Emery regarding quality control. A $268,000 net loss reported by CFO Matt Minor for February, with expenditures nearly $400,000 over budget mainly attributable to contract labor costs of purchased services....
DAYTON–The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed the Courthouse HVAC project with Public Works Director Grant Morgan; and the new Facilities Manager position, during the meetings on April 3 and 10. They were presented and approved two bids for hot mix asphalt supply and road stabilization. Emergency Management updates were given by Director Tina Bobbitt. Both the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Columbia requested to be designated as the Associate Development Organization (...
DAYTON-The City Council and Mayor Zac Weatherford met with the Public Works Director Ryan Paulson, Jake Hollopeter from Anderson•Perry and Cynthia Wall-Fuller from the Department of Ecology on March 20 to update and discuss the next steps for the Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP). Absent were Councilman Dain Nysoe and Councilwoman Shannon McMillen. Mayor Weatherford informed the council that the city had not yet received a signed purchase agreement from the owner of the proposed property for t...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) appointed Kevin Rust to the open Library Board of Trustees position after an executive session to vote for one of the seven applicants, including incumbent Michele Smith on March 27. The BOCC interviewed the applicants over two sessions. The Commissioners are the elected representatives of the County charged with appointing the five Board of Trustees for the Columbia County Rural Library District. Following an executive session, Commissioner Chair...
DAYTON-The City Council began the reviewing process for options to consider for the County Law Enforcement, Dispatch and Court services contract; working through next steps with the Wastewater Treatment Project; reviews a letter of support for county-wide flood hazard mitigation plan and invitation to legislators for a Touchet River Levee on-site visit; approved part time planner job description and other city business was conducted at the March 14 meeting Councilman Nysoe of the finance...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) heard reports from each of the department heads at the meeting on March 20 with a key report from Treasurer Carla Rowe about proposed legislation that would affect Columbia County taxpayers. Public Works Director Grant Morgan presented several items for adoption including a departmental organizational chart, union, and non-union salary schedules and two job descriptions–one for a facilities manager and another for road foreman. Dena Martin from P...
DAYTON-The Dayton School Board met for their regularly monthly meeting on March 15 and passed a resolution for the adoption of a reduced educational program for next school year 2023-24. An FFA presentation was given by teacher and advisor Jenn Crane and student Lila Hutchens followed by reports from the administration, athletic director, head custodian, and business manager. With the transition of administrative staff between last school year and this school year, the window was missed for...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Board heard from Consultants Maul, Foster and Alongi who facilitated another monthly workshop to discuss an identified top priority topic, the sale of a Port asset, Columbia Walla Walla Railroad. Consultants Abbie Russell and Seth Otto began first by illustrating the benefits of holding the rail as a public asset in that it provides public access, tax benefits and that it retains public interest. Being publicly owned, it can qualify for government funding for...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board discussed the Blue Mountain Station, growing the workforce and working to provide more housing; and future purchase of a downtown property. Maul, Foster and Alongi consultant Seth Otto, commended the work the Port is doing with the Blue Mountain Station sets an example for other ports. He only suggested that they look at further collaborating with farmers, colleges, and agricultural associations. Commissioner Chair Seth Bryan said that he would like to expand i...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Commission heard updates from Executive Director Jennie Dickinson, during the meeting March 8, on payments and vouchers, assets, and projects particularly regarding Blue Mountain Station, the broadband projects and the possibility of a Port supported housing project. Payments and vouchers were approved including those being made to Zero dB Communications $177,228 for the construction of the Dayton Community Broadband Project network. Dickinson reminded the...
DAYTON-Among the business the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) handled this week was acceptance of a bid for stairs and ramp for the Fairgrounds Pavilion. It was one of two bid award recommendations by Public Works Director and County Engineer Grant Morgan at the meeting on March 6. Morgan recommended the BOCC accept the lowest bid for the Fairgrounds Pavilion stairs and ramp to Conframe Construction, LLC of Yacolt, Wash. The bid came in nearly half of the estimate at $48,473. Also...
DAYTON–The Dayton School Board met for a work session on March 1 and discussed campus updates to the public-address system and implementing a new security system for the doors. They also were introduced to a science curriculum that middle school teacher Clint Reser is requesting to try out. A portion of a presentation from the MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Summit for student behavioral and academic success was shown and discussed. The Board heard and contributed to discussion about u...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees (CCRL) were greeted by a group of picketers prior to hearing their first appeal regarding a controversial book about transgender and/or nonbinary lifestyles, the policy supporting inclusion of the book in the Dayton Memorial Library being upheld by a 4-1 board vote during its monthly meeting February 27. The appeal was to discuss Director Todd Vandenbark's decision to retain the book "What's the T?" by Juno Dawson, in the wake of m...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) heard a presentation from the Board of Health on the Coalition for Youth and Family during the meeting February 27. In addition, the BOCC had a discussion with County Prosecutor Dale Slack about meeting about county jail facility safety. During the Board of Health meeting, Coalition Co-Coordinator Jasmine Helm provided some general information about the Coalition for Youth and Family. It is comprised of various parties including the...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System Board (CCHS) were advised Rivers Walk Assisted Living passed its final permitting inspection and is now open as of February 13 with 19 residents during the meeting on February 22. Losses were reported for many of the last several months due to the delay in permitting for the facility. The bottom line reported for January was a modest net loss of $3449. Rivers Walks Assisted Living Cottages B and C are up and running with hopes to have enough staff to...
DAYTON–The City of Dayton plans to purchase up to 65 acres of Touchet Valley land west of here as part of the Waste Water Treatment Project for $21,000 per acre, the City Council unanimously approved at its February 14, 2023, meeting. Resolution No. 1507 was presented to Council to authorize Mayor Zac Weatherford to enter into a purchase agreement for land for the Wastewater Treatment Plant from Douglas and Marjory Krueger. The property consists of a parcel of bottom land and hillside south of S...
DAYTON-The School Board approved Superintendent Rich Stewart's recommendation to hire Architects West to work in tandem with McKinstry and guide the Board about pursuing a levy or bond for 2024. In other business, the Kindergarten classes made an art presentation before the Dayton School Board at the February 15 meeting. The Board heard reports from ASB President Hudson Reser and school administrators. Superintendent Rich Stewart recommended hire of Architects West to work on prioritizing...
DAYTON-A petition was created and approved by the State Auditor for placing a measure on the November ballot for the creation of a Pool District. This would be a pool only district as opposed to the Parks and Recreation District that was proposed on the last ballot for a pool with potential for other recreational needs. The petition was put forth by an informal group of interested parties called Just a Pool Committee that has been meeting since the November election said one of the members,...
DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners’ meeting on February 8 was followed by the second of several workshops planned for reviewing the Comprehensive Plan with consultants from Maul, Foster, and Alongi, Inc. In addition, major updates on broadband progress. During the workshop on the Comprehensive Plan, there was discussion about the Columbia Walla Walla Rail asset. Reps from the consulting firm emphasized the value in the owning the rail including for its right-of-way. While acknowl...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners heard from the owner Mainstem Malt before considering the authorization of a resolution to move forward with an application for funding for a feasibility study from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) for craft malting industry clusters. Updates were given for the broadband project and there was much discussion about the Columbia Walla Walla Rail during the workshop. Cedar Rain Spirits now occupies the entire Building No.2 at B...
DAYTON–Public Works Director/County Engineer Grant Morgan presented Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) a resolution for work on two county roads–Kellogg Hollow Phase 3 and pavement preservation on several roads: McKay-Alto Road, past mile post 1 to 12, North Touchet just past Mile Post 1 to past 13, the start of Thorn Hollow to Mile Post 5 and from the start of Eckler Mountain Road to mile post 16. Morgan discussed a need in the Public Works Department for a Facilities Manager position whi...
DAYTON–The workload and effectiveness of school counselors was explored during the Dayton School Board's February 1 work session. Caitlin Patterson, K-12 School Counselor, and Kristie Korslund, Social Emotional Counselor for Prevention and Intervention, outlined their daily routines and the level of need in the school. The Board discussed the workload of the counselors and documenting the effectiveness of the programs used. Patterson answered that she had to reduce her daily appointments to s...
