The Raymond City Council met for the bi-monthly council meeting where several council members were absent including: Colby Rogers, Dee Roberts, Kaley Hanson and Police Chief Chuck Spoor. Mayor Dunsmoor started the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and then lead with items from the public, where Bud of the skatepark spoke:
I just had a short statement to make about what our agenda is. We want you guys to know that we're trying to help the city. This is a group of organized people that we've called Outdoor Use Extreme Activities and Habits. We want to give the kids at the skate park a voice for what they want. We have five main missions in our statement. Child use safety is number one. Number two is child opportunities. Number three is the development of healthy outdoor activities. Number four is to create a passion and desire to preserve it for future generations. Number five is to listen and lead by example," said Bud. Bud has been coming to the Raymond City Council meetings because he has been organizing a group that is willing to help improve and maintain the Raymond skate park.
The council then moved to the next item in the meeting, approving the minutes of the previous meeting before moving on to communications. Clerk/Treasurer Hester Gilleland reported that the Raymond High School class of 2006 would like to have a class reunion. The class is calling it the "Grill n' Chill" and is slated to happen on Saturday, August 13 and would carry over to August 14. "Their proposal was to have the function at South Fork Landing Park and would have it from 1pm to 2am and they wanted to be able to set up a couple of barbecues and rent the kayaks that are there. They also wanted to get a liquor permit for beer and wine. They also wanted for the people who can't afford a motel to be able to camp at 8th Street Park," said Gilleland.
The council moved to allow the city to make arrangements for the Raymond class of 2006's "Grill n' Chill" and next opened a public hearing on a six-year street plan. "This is the same six-year street plan we go through every year so we can update and apply for grants?" asked Council Member Randy Flemetis. The hearing was closed before the council voted on the six-year street plan, which was passed.
It was time in the meeting for head of department reports, where Fire Chief Strozyk reported on some local volunteers that have gone through some training, "I've had some of my younger volunteers complete some training and had some major accomplishments for them, Cohen Hanson completed the Grays Harbor EMT class, he's taking his national registrys here within the month. He's just studying really hard and no doubt he's going to pass with flying colors," said Strozyk. There were four more volunteers that have completed a different training program aside from Hanson, "I have four of my volunteers just complete the Firefighter
One training, the individuals that have just graduated from this class are: Cameron Cogdill, Jacob Doyle, Wesley Eastham and Todd Parkins so we're just so excited to have these new trained up volunteers. Very proud of these young men for these accomplishments," said Strozyk.
The council meeting was adjourned and meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month starting at 6pm.