Council welcomes new member, hears water issues

The January 9 meeting of the Odessa Town Council began with the swearing in of the council members as they begin their new terms of office.

Newest council member Frank White was welcomed aboard by Mayor Doug Plinski. White replaces long-time council member Kim Ramm who chose not to run for another term.

GWMA

Next up was a presentation by Paul Stoker, executive director of the Ground Water Management Area (GWMA). Stoker and his group have spent the better part of the past 15 years studying the topography, geology and hydrology of the Columbia Basin area, focussing mainly on the Odessa Subarea Aquifer.

This week The Record will provide only a brief synopsis of Stoker’s presentation, with a full report to follow next week. The main points he wished to emphasize, however, were his recommendation to Odessa and other area municipalities not to make any hasty, high-priced decisions on any water issues affecting them at least until June or July of this year when GWMA’s assessments of its hydrologic models have been completed. The now operational computer models, he said, give GWMA the ability to enter various scenarios for possible rehydration efforts to see which are most likely to be effective.

The other major issue affecting GWMA, and thus the issues it represents, is money. Since both the state and federal governments will be unlikely to be relied upon to provide funding, Stoker said his group is proposing an assessment of $5 to $10 per household in the affected region, plus an escalating scale for assessment of large agricultural water users.

Public Works

Assistant director of public works, Rod Webster, told the council that an automated security gate has been installed at Odessa’s water treatment plant. Entry and exit for authorized employees is now much easier and quicker, he said.

Fire Department

Town fire chief Don Strebeck reported that a warrant has been issued for the man who wrote a check covered by insufficient funds to buy a surplused fire truck from the department last year.

The department also plans to hold another consignment auction for large equipment, this year during Spring Fling (last full weekend in April).

Police Report

There was no report from Town Marshal Mike Wren, as he was called away from the meeting shortly after it began to assist Deputy Marshal Bryce Peterson with a police matter.

Council member reports

Council members Lois Harp and Frank White reported on a workshop they attended recently put on by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) for the benefit of elected officials. Hart and White said they learned a great deal and enjoyed meeting council members from other small communities dealing with issues similar to Odessa’s.

Harp said that one of the points emphasized at the meeting was that council members should always contact one another with questions and/or comments by phone rather than by email or by texting for reasons of confidentiality.

Mayor’s Report

During a general discussion of the merits of getting together with elected officials from other communities, as happens at the workshops organized by the AWC, Plinski said he would propose to the Lincoln County Economic Development Council at their next meeting that council members from the towns and cities in the county get together periodically under the stewardship of the EDC to talk about issues of common interest and concern.

911 contract w/LCSO

Plinski reported that he and the mayors of the other municipalities in Lincoln County with their own police departments had come to an agreement with Sheriff Wade Magers on the fees charged for manning the 911 dispatch center. Magers’ initial proposal to raise the fees was met with counterproposals from the mayors. Negotiations continued until an agreement was reached.

In adopting Resolution 2012-1 by unanimous vote, the Odessa Town Council agreed to renew the existing contract, but at an annual fee of $3,500 to be followed by yearly increases of three percent.

Redistricting

Plinski told the council he would be sending a thank you letter to state senator Bob Morton and state representatives Joel Kretz and Shelly Short, thanking them for their service to Lincoln County and Odessa. Once the state legislature approves it, Lincoln County will become part of District 13, which also includes Grant and Kittitas Counties. District 13 extends all the way westward to the Cascades.