Brewster council urges residents to get free coronavirus tests

BREWSTER – The city council approved three agenda items and set a public hearing during its regular monthly meeting held virtually on Zoom last Wednesday, August 12. The city also encouraged residents to take advantage of free coronavirus testing sites set up by Okanogan County Public Health.

Members approved the Anderson Airport Program Plan together with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Policy Statement.

The city also approved an Agreement for Professional Services with city engineers J-U-B Engineers of Spokane.

Council members also voted to accept a Severance and Release Agreement.

At the request of Public Works Director Lee Webster council members approved Sept. 9 as the public hearing date for the city’s Six-Year Transportation Plan.

In other business Mayor Art Smyth and Webster encouraged all Brewster residents who had not already been tested for the coronavirus to show up at the Brewster High School upper parking lot last Saturday, August 15 to participate in a free drive-through coronavirus testing station conducted by the National Guard.

“Come one, come all, we need to get all the negative test results we can get,” said Webster.

“Yes,” agreed Smith. “The more negative results we get the greater the spread between positive and negative and maybe the sooner we can get our schools open.”

Public health started free coronavirus testing on August 13 at sites at six sites, including in Omak, Brewster, Winthrop, and Pateros. The testing will run thru August 31. See related story on page 2 for more information.