Town Council

Water line project all finished

 

Last updated 9/14/2017 at 12:05pm



A full complement of the Odessa Town Council met Monday evening under the leadership of Mayor Lois Hubbard.

Several members of the public were also on hand to either address the council or support those who were doing so.

Kaylene James, in charge of the Youth Garden and the Kid Zone for the Fest, requested help in cordoning off the space she needs at the park area where the Kid Zone will be set up. She will work with public works director Rod Webster to get it done.

HaLee Walter, ag teacher and FFA advisor at Odessa High School, asked the council to consider a zoning change within the town limits to permit small animals such as chickens, rabbits and perhaps also ducks to be raised at the ag shop by her students. No roosters, only hens, would be allowed, given the rooster’s penchant for early-morning wake-up calls. Council members agreed to consider it and draw up the proper ordinances depending on what is decided.


Dan Read, superintendent of the Odessa Schools also attended to request consideration of a zoning change for the property of Viola Els that the school district has purchased and intends to clear and use for additional school parking and eventually for a possible community garden area.

Steve Nelson, the town’s engineer from Century West Engineering in Spokane, reported that the water line project in Odessa has been completed. Nelson went on to discuss why one of the applications for funding he had submitted for Odessa projects was not accepted. One of the problems found with the application, he said, was that Odessa’s water rates charged to its customers were too low compared to other municipalities in the region. He urged the council to consider raising those rates.


The council also considered an new ordinance regarding truck routes within the town limits. Dobson Road, in particular, has been a matter of concern, particularly during potato harvesting when heavily loaded trucks use it at times to access the potato shed located just outside of town at the east end of the road.

The FEMA funding for rebuilding Dobson Road has been earmarked for the project, very fortunately for Odessa, since funding for most other projects has been put on hold after the advent of hurricanes Harvey and Irma hitting the southern part of the country. Those projects will still get funding but will be delayed because of the emergency funds needed in Texas and Florida.

Discussion of the dump station at the cemetery continued after being tabled at the last meeting. It has not yet been cleaned out, but Webster said the public works crew would get to it prior to Fest. A final decision on its ultimate fate was tabled until a later date.

The council created a new position of office assistant in the town clerk’s office. The position will be funded through FEMA administrative funds that accompany the road project. Once the project is completed, the position will be vacated.

The telemetry system that alerts the town’s public works crew to problems with the sewer systems has been generating 50 to 100 false alarms. Webster reported that up to $40,000 dollars would be required for a full replacement. However, he also added that $3,400 for new radios to connect to the system would be a helpful stopgap measure that could cut down on the number of false alarms.

An issue involving the Town Tips email system was tabled with no discussion.

Town fire chief Don Strebeck said his department would wash down the First Ave. sidewalks Tuesday or Wednesday after work. Councilman Bill Crossley reminded all present that there is currently a statewide burn ban in effect.

Author Bio

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby, Editor

Terrie Schmidt-Crosby is an editor with Free Press Publishing. She is the former owner and current editor of the Odessa Record, based in Odessa, Wash.

 

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