Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
The dawn of a new year always promises to bring new directions for local municipalities. Only time will tell which direction those cities will head.
Davenport mayor Brad Sweet.
Reardan mayor Gail Daniels.
The calendar has flipped, and a new year is facing Davenport and Reardan. The Times spoke with Davenport mayor Brad Sweet and Reardan mayor Gail Daniels to discuss their cities and towns looking to 2021.
Sweet: Locals hopes 2021 is "return to normal"
City residents would prefer that 2021 brings a return to life as normal: A time where businesses are open, people can gather and community events can bring locals together.
That was the sentiment shared by mayor Brad Sweet when discussing the city’s outlook heading into the new year.
“I think it’s been tough not being able to have our social gatherings,” Sweet said. “People are missing out on our booster club auction, our fair, our community days. I think what people probably want most is somewhat of a normal life where we can still have our get-togethers and go out to have dinner, go out and support our local businesses.”
Popular community events like Pioneer Days and Hometown Christmas were cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.
Sweet said the city’s FAA-grand-funded mission to expand, relocate and create new taxiways at the airport was the biggest project in 2020 and likely will be again in 2021.
“We’re planning on one taxiway (being constructed) this year, and then hopefully the whole runway toward the end of the year,” Sweet said.
Additions to city parks systems, including continued development of the sports complex on the northeast side of town, are also on the horizon this year.
“We’re going to be adding some adult exercise equipment,” Sweet said. “We’re looking at, hopefully, some future lighting out there.”
The city is hopeful for a new business at the eastern end of town.
“The city purchased the DOT right-of-way at the east end of town,” Sweet said. “We are currently in talks to sell that property to a retail business.”
The Chamber of Commerce hasn’t met since February due to shutdowns. Future meetings are currently up in the air, as Gov. Jay Inslee’s restrictions on in-person gatherings have yet to be eased.
Sweet said city council hopes to resume in-person meetings soon, but will remain virtual until there is updated guidance from the state.
Housing development is stagnant in town right now, Sweet said. Planning for 150 houses on the north side of the city has occurred for 10 years, but no construction has occurred, he noted.
“We’ve had a few houses built in town, but not enough to sustain the growth, unfortunately,” Sweet said. “Folks are really hurting for housing.”
There is one eight-apartment complex “hopefully” beginning construction this spring in the north-central area by the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter Day Saints. Council recently approved a group to buy the old clinic to eventually be turned into 12 houses for elderly populations, as well.
Daniels shares 2021 projects, outlook for Reardan
REARDAN—Several miscellaneous projects to improve and spiff up the town are on the horizon here in 2021, both large and small-scale in size, mayor Gail Daniels said in an interview with The Times to discuss the town’s outlook this year.
The town plans to put in the next 100 radio water meters by May. 100 were completed in the fall, with 300 needed to be completed in total.
A new sign will be put in front of town hall in the spring indicating the location of town hall, the library it shares a building with and marking Reardan as the home of Joe E. Mann, a local war hero who sacrificed his life by jumping on a grenade to protect fellow soldiers in World War II.
Rick Perleberg, ag instructor at the high school, will be working with a student to create that sign, Daniels said.
The readerboard, which cars will see when entering the town from Highway 2 and is being built in partnership with the town, school district, booster club, STCU and several other partners, is expected to be installed in the next couple months.
Daniels also hopes that town hall and the library will be painted this year. Avista will be giving an evaluation for the building to inform how to make the building more energy efficient.
There is also hope for a town website to launch this year, but that is no more than a wish right now, Daniels shared. No one has been selected to design a website, and the idea wasn’t oft discussed by council last year.
The town is also applying for grants for more paved streets and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Daniels also shared town staff’s desire to continue to remove dead vehicles from the streets and identify dangerous buildings that need to be condemned and torn down.
“We’re looking at making the town more attractive and appealing,” Daniels said, adding the importance of encouraging residents to shop locally at a time where many businesses are struggling with COVID-19 lockdowns.
“We’ll also continue working with the Spokane Tribe and our police department,” Daniels said.
The tribe provided multiple grants to the department in 2020.
Morale in the town after a difficult year for many is “good,” Daniels said.
“I think people are optimistic and looking forward to 2021,” she said.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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