Help the Homeless with Donated Items

Lots of Business and stuff happened in December 2012. The city had to raise sewer rates a touch to pay the loan for the new Regional Sewer plant expected to be online March 1 2013. This cannot come too soon, as twice in the last three months we have had breakdowns at our old lagoons. If you haven’t been to the New Regional plant to check it out, call Dean Parsons at the City of Raymond and schedule a walk thru. This has been one of the largest projects in North Pacific County in years and everyone should go take a look at where there money is going. If anyone would like any of the minutes from any of the meetings that have been taking place for years, let me know and I’ll make sure they’re sent to you.

We have been in meetings recently with WDFW over the Boat Launch located at one end of town. Bob Hall, Cheryl Seals and I met with Michele K. Culver, Regional Director, Robert E Cannon (DFW), and Dan W Brinson (DFW), recently at South Bend City Hall. We talked about how we can utilize the area for the best use of the public that uses it. Look for changes, but not a lot as we tweak the launch area to be more compatible with all parties. Bob Hall and Cheryl Seals will be drawing some plans and submit to the council when completed. Bob and Cheryl are on the Parks Committee  for the City of South Bend.

The city, with the cooperation of their insurance agency, is working on a personnel policy and rewriting the old one. With changing times, this is bookkeeping that needs to be kept up. Other city news, and this saddens me tremendously, is the loss of Mr. Lucas Stigall. Lucas has accepted a job with Shoalwater Tribe. We wish Lucas much luck in his new adventure and we are surely going to miss him tremendously. Lucas was an awesome officer, dedicated and just a great guy. Good luck Lucas and Newt.

We recently adopted  Ordinance 1459- adopting the 2013 budget, Ordinance 460-Sewer Rate increase, Ordinance 1462-Water Rate Billing, changed from bimonthly to monthly, Ordinance 1463-Budget Amendments, Ordinance 1464-Budget Amendment. You may contact city hall, Dee Roberts, with any questions you may have.

The council recently heard from Jerri Hawks – General Crimes Advocate – Ms. Hawks, who spoke briefly about her position through Crisis Support Network as a Crime Victims Advocate. Her office is located at 312 Duryea Street in Raymond and she provides assistance in many areas where a person may be a victim – from arson, assaults, victims of DUI, burglary, robbery and theft, as well as a legal advocate for anti-harassment issues. This program has only been available since July 2012. They are also working with the Hispanic community to offer advocate assistance. 

The construction on Monroe and Memorial streets are almost complete. If you get a chance, stop and look. This was grant money we applied for and used. Some final things are still being done, in both projects. I recently applied for three more grants through TIB and received two. Look for that work to start this coming summer. We are going to get the exit from the hospital down the hill where it washed out fixed and a repaving job in front of Pioneer Grocery. The grant on hospital hill has a small match.

We had about 20 days of downpour and now we are getting an extended period of cold dry weather. I wanted to warn folks to please clean that chimney and change the batteries in the smoke detector. I have it on good authority the Raymond Fire Dept. has brushes.

Get out and watch those local athletes at the schools.

My special request for this period is, I have had contact with a few homeless  folks in our area. Please donate to the local food banks, Willapa Harbor Ministerial Association, the CSN will be conducting the Point in Time count for Pacific County. They would greatly appreciate any donated coats, umbrellas, and blankets to distribute to homeless individuals and families in our area.

Check out the cities website at www.southbend-wa.gov and if you have any concerns you may contact me at 875-5571 or kirk.church@southbend-wa.gov

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on www.hometowndebate.com 1/17/13. If you would like to respond to this story go to hometowndebate.com