Getting multiple agencies' approval holds up sediment removal in Touchet River

DAYTON-The City Council heard discussion on the Touchet River sediment removal; a brief update about the Wastewater Treatment Project and the Third Street Project; designated Councilman Jim Sueuga as the liaison with the Dayton School District. A preliminary presentation was given by a representative from planning firm AHBL, Inc. for the Jasper Pines annexation and zoning request; approved State lodging tax funds; and the 2023 proposed budget was presented to Council for review. Notable reports were given by County Commissioner Ryan Rundell, Sheriff Joe Helm, and Sueuga for the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Flood mitigation in the Touchet River was a topic of discussion during the City Council meeting. Mayor Zac Weatherford told Council that he recently met with several people including representatives from the Corps of Engineers, city staff, and adjacent property owners Andy Dunn and Russ Whipple. He said they discussed ideas about how to approach the problem of getting permitted by multiple agencies to remove sediment in the river. Later during the final public comment portion of the meeting, Seth Murdock suggested they take matters in their own hands and remove it. The mayor replied that though it is frustrating with the red tape, that when Dan Culley was doing the recent excavation work in the pond that he helped create originally, he was reported.

The Corps of Engineers gave him reason to believe that if they overstep the agencies, it could result in lawsuits against the city and even bankruptcy. Councilmember Laura Aukerman pointed out that if citizens step up, it would be a different situation. County Commissioner Ryan Rundell said the Commissioners will be sending a letter to various representatives to bring the situation to their attention. Councilman Jim Sueuga said he drafted a similar letter to send to them on behalf of the city.

He also suggested a community wide letter writing campaign to appeal to them to be able to move ahead with the flood hazard mitigation. He said a form letter and addresses of representatives could be provided for residents to mail or email.

The mayor designated Councilman Sueuga as the liaison with the Dayton School District in an effort to collaborate with them to which the School District agreed. Sueuga is involved with the school as a girls' athletic coach and has been participating in the Key Communicators meetings for the district. Sueuga acknowledged Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart who was present at the Council meeting.

In his report for the committee for Parks and Recreation, Sueuga shared about the issue with the City Park and the kids fishing pond during the high-water season of winter which raises the water table and a couple of water drains on the adjacent properties along the river.

Additionally, water from First and Main Streets drain into the pond on the property just south of Flour Mill Park which can flood the property. Sueuga said mitigation had been done some time ago, but the Public Works crew is kept busy working on other various maintenance situations that emerge that the drainage has not been maintained.

Currently, the rock in the river is obstructing access to the drainpipes to perform maintenance. This could have a great impact on the Main Street Bridge and the surrounding area. He suggested schoolchildren also write their own letters to representatives for help getting permission to remove the hazardous sediment in the Touchet River. He expanded on this to promote letter writing to church congregations, clubs, seniors and on social media.

Mayor Zac Weatherford updated the Wastewater Treatment Project, that they are working out the final details of the contract with the property owners including the timing of acquisition with their farming. The contract is currently being reviewed by the landowners and the mayor is hopeful he will have a contract to present to Council at the next meeting on November 22. He said the multiple agencies have continued to meet monthly about the project.

A Public Works Board Loan was approved for the City of Dayton for $880,000 for the water, sewer and bridge portion of the North Third Street Project that will be under construction next year. They plan to do South Third Street at the same time.

A representative from planning from AHBL, Inc. presented an annexation and zoning request by the property owners of "Jasper Pines" property for a 0.68-acre parcel along South Fifth Street for the purpose of building affordable housing. A public hearing will be held at the November 22 meeting for the purpose of approving it.

The Council had some discussion about the preliminary 2023 budget specifically around the topic of approving funds to the Chamber ahead of approving the budget to be given over the Chamber. Aukerman and Sueuga said Council needs more time to review the budget for final approval. City Clerk Deb Hays said that because she is training in doing the budget this year, it is later than usual, and Council and staff agreed the goal is to start the process around the end of the second quarter of the year.

A resolution was presented to the Council for approval to give State funds budgeted for tourism and promotion of Dayton to the Chamber of Commerce to do on the City's behalf. Aukerman questioned if the money can be used for other purposes or if the city can do promotion of Dayton instead.

Mayor Weatherford responded that the revenue is restricted for tourism and promotions and the Chamber already does this and it makes sense to allow them to do it for the city. Following the discussion, Aukerman seconded the motion to approve the funds to the Chamber before it passed unanimously. She clarified, "Because I have some questions, it doesn't mean I don't support the Chamber."

Commissioner Rundell provided a report for the County including the recent hires of Tina Bobbitt as the Director of Emergency Management and Grant Morgan as Public Works Director and County Engineer.

Sheriff Joe Helm responded to questions previously asked by Councilmember Teeny McMunn regarding the number of prisoner transports. There were 738 transports, but the cost is still being determined because the cost for each transport can vary depending on the pay scale of who did the transport. Helm said the two new deputies will be going to academy and once finished, the department will be fully staffed and affirmed they will not be using as much for overtime pay when Councilman Dain Nysoe questioned him about it.

Nysoe also questioned how much of what the city pays the county for law enforcement, dispatch and court services goes to each department and he lamented they have not been provided that information. Rundell answered later the amounts as laid out in the budget for 2022 that can be found online that $337,000 went to the Sheriff, District Court was $103,000, and $171,000 was allotted to Dispatch.

A budget workshop has been scheduled for November 16 at 2 p.m.