Ritzville Council adopts 2015 budget

As the 2014-year winds to a close the Ritzville City Council adopted the Preliminary Budget for 2015 with one amendment to the budget on Nov. 18.

In the budget the council approved a $5 increase to water rates, which was based on the increasing costs of the operation and maintenance in addition to the unknowns with the well project completion.

The council also approved a five percent increase to sanitation fees with no increase to sewer rates.

Additionally, golf fees were increased. Weekend, nine-hole fees were increased to $20 from $18 and season passes were increased $25. Student passes were increased $5.

After closing the final public hearing for the budget the council then addressed the request from the Ritzville Public Development Authority to sign an interlocal agreement with Adams County which would allow the PDA to move forward with plans for the Agriculture Discovery Center and Ritzville Business Park.

The council voted to approve the mayor signing the interlocal agreement.

Later in the meeting Jake Youngren from Varela and Associates gave his report about projects within the city.

He said there had been an attempt made at starting the well but during the testing there was a mechanical problem with the motor. It appeared the reverse ratchet mechanism in the motor was not preventing reversing of the motor when it was shut down.

He said the start-up would be reattempted after the problem had been fixed.

The council then approved the Division Street Overlay pay request number one and change orders one and two totaling $193,138.80.

During new business, the council listened to a presentation by Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden.

The Adams County Development Council had entered into an agreement with the Boyd Company, Inc., a national site selector firm, to provide economic development services to Adams County. This would include research about the county, a recommended marketing strategy to attract new corporate investment, a county industry cost study and national business media coverage. The Boyd Company would also provide site selector support beyond the six-month agreement.

McFadden reported the ACDC and Adams County Commissioners had each pledged $25,000 in support for the $78,500 contract. He also reported that the Port of Othello had agreed to pledge $10,000.

He requested that the City of Ritzville pledge $2,500 in support of the program.

One of the targets of the program is to attract distribution and dry warehousing to the Ritzville area. McFadden also said the Boyd Company had been asked to focus on bringing in jobs that pay $18 and hour or more to try and draw employees to the area.

He would also be requesting support from Othello, Lind, Washtucna and Hatton.

The council agreed to pledge $2,500 in support, and voted to amend the 2015 budget to reflect the additional cost.

McFadden thanked the council for their support and said at the conclusion of the project the ACDC would bring all involved parties together to discuss the results.

After approving the allocation of the 110 funds totaling $55,500 and leaving $5,000 in reserve for the costs of sculpture replacement the council approved the claims of $239,638.78 and the meeting adjourned.