Harrington News

Harrington City Council met on March 11, at 7:30 p.m. at city hall with four councilmen present: Peter Davenport, Mike Cronrath, Rick Becker and Levi Schenk. Mayor Paul Gilliland opened the meeting. Others in attendance included Bunny Haugan, Scott McGowan, Ken Kennedy, Kathy Hoob, Sharon Schultz, Paul Charlton, Justin Slack, Marge Womach, Jay Gossett. Also attending were five high school students: Isabelle Phillips, Vanessa Larson, Jordan Tanke, Samantha Nighswonger and Jacob Montgomery.

The council tabled the discussion on Spectrum installing a tower on the northwest corner to mount an antennae. The Mayor announced his intention to run for mayor for another four years. This statement was met with approval by the council and community members present. Scott McGowan spoke briefly of current city projects which included street signs being placed and beginning the repairs on a 50 ft. sewer line which had been damaged by tree roots. Two bridges were noted as being in poor condition, one north of Glover in the alley and the other on Second Avenue.

Properties that had been identified as eyesores, nuisances, or trashed areas of town were discussed. City Clerk, Bunny Haugan, informed the meeting that she had sent friendly requests to three property owners, areas which had been identified at other civic meetings as being detrimental to the development and reputation of the town. RCW 4741 pertaining to requirements for junk yards was mentioned and the Mayor said that he and Scott would need to investigate the wording of the State law. City Ordinance No. 389 which defines “what constitutes a nuisance” and which provides for abatement was also discussed.

The ordinance contains a long list of specific definitions for a nuisance among which are: anything which endangers the health or safety of the public; anything that unreasonably offends decency; anything that unreasonably obstructs the free use of property so as to essentially interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.

Items that constitute a public nuisance included: accumulations of manure, rubbish or other solid waste; pollution of water; trees or limbs overhanging sidewalks; premises in unsanitary condition or safety hazard; abandoned refrigerators or like containers which are left exposed or accessible to children; all places not properly fenced which are used or maintained as junkyards or dumping grounds or for wrecking, etc, which essentially interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by others; permitting non-running vehicles to be deposited, left, abandoned more than 14 days; and any tin cans, bottles, glass, cans, scrap iron, wire, pipe, trash or abandoned material unless in approved containers; any unsightly or dangerous building, billboard, partially destroyed building. This ordinance is nearly eight pages in length with concerns including environmental concerns, the safety of children who might wander onto the property, fire potential, and conditions which devalue the property nearby.

Several citizens encouraged the Mayor to take action promptly to allow the owners time to remedy the concerns on their property or to allow the Mayor time for abatement with a remedy prior to the May 16 Cruizin’ Harrington attraction.

When the Mayor was asked if the city had licensed any junk yards within the city limits, he said, “not to my knowledge.” A comment was made that a junk yard needed to be licensed by the State. The city has a junk vehicle ordinance, but this was not read in the meeting.

Several comments were made regarding how long this deplorable condition has continued in Harrington with no progress being made. Mention was made of those on the council in 2006, which implies that the city has shown ample patience. Several on the council admitted the recurring nature of the complaint but that the city has not been aggressive in forcing compliance. It had been hoped that those in violation would remedy the situation before abatement notices were necessary.