Lind Council accepts grant funding for airport lighting

Despite the storm that raged through the area on the evening of Aug. 12 the Lind Town Council met to discuss business.

First Alan Gay delivered an update on the Waste Water Treatment Plant. He reported that he was working to get the contractor to honor a warranty on an item. He also reported that he had given a walk through of the well project to one contractor and was in communication with two others.

Gay also reported work was progressing on the waterline project and that it should be wrapping up very shortly.

Alan also reported he was working on resolving the issues with the hydro seeding for the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Trey Dail then spoke about the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation grant Lind had been awarded. The grant, totaling $249,838.50 with the town of Lind matching $13,149.39 funding the total project cost of 262,987.89, is for the construction of new lighting for the airfield.

Councilperson Kindra Haase moved to accept the grant agreement from WSDOT. After some discussion about the funding of the $13,149.39, Councilperson Kathy White seconded the motion on the condition a plan for the funding be made as soon as possible. The motion passed 2-1.

The council then moved to awarding the contract for the airfield project. After discussing the contract the council decided to table the issue until the next meeting so the rest of the council could have an opportunity to read it.

Mayor Jamie Schmunk then gave her report.

The town had received from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office a record of all calls handled in Lind by the sheriff’s office from Jan. 1 until June 30 excluding the combine derby. During that time the sheriff’s office handled 16 arrests and 20 infractions or citations. The letter also contained a proposed contract for law enforcement services over the next four years.

Schmunk also presented the council with quotes from different security companies for surveillance cameras at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The council decided to table the issue until the next meeting so that further research could be conducted.

The council then voted to approve the July claims and then discussed a work clothing allowance for city employees.

The council agreed to reimburse town employees up to $150 for heavy-duty work boots and to purchase four short sleeve and four long sleeve high visibility shirts for each employee each year.

Denise Snead then brought forth a request for the closure of Second Street in front of Jim’s Market on Aug. 23 for a Harvest Dance. She said that the event insurance was already paid for by donations from the community and Music Magic Entertainment would be providing the music for the event. The council approved the street closure from 7 p.m. to midnight.

After the council approved transfering from Umpqua Bank to Columbia Bank, Phil Kent brought forward a concern regarding city workers. He said that they had not placed their warning signs far enough away to allow drivers to slow down when approaching the work site.

The meeting adjourned after discussion about how building permits were handled through the town.