Pateros approves 2023 EMS, property taxes, and operating budget

PATEROS – The Pateros City Council passed a pile of resolutions and ordinances among other business at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

Following public hearings on a 2022 budget amendment, the 2023 fee schedules, and the 2023 EMS, property taxes, and 2023 operating budget, the council approved each topic in turn with a resolution for the fee schedule and four ordinances for the budget amendment, EMS tax, property tax, and operating budget.

Water and sewer rates will increase by nine percent in 2023 in proportion to the CPI (Consumer Price Index) rate. Zippy Disposal rates will be adjusted in May 2023. The only new entry under fees is a $40 per hour for Movie Equipment Rental to cover costs of a city employee to monitor proper use.

Council member Megan Sherrard delivered a review of the 2022 Community Movie Night summer showings (see “Pateros Movie Nights are family friendly hits” on this page).

City Administrator Jord Wilson reported on a variety of city projects including the 2022 street chip seal/crack seal project closeout.

“We were able to use $10,220 in employee labor as our required match and was reimbursed $5,410 for employee labor and paint,” said Wilson. “Total project cost was $102,197.89. Total amount paved was 2.79 miles or about seven football fields.”

The city just completed winterizing projects by the end of October and just in time to beat the snow and freezing weather earlier this month. Downtown Christmas lights are all up.

The reservoir solar project is 90 percent done but the city is waiting on parts to complete its reservoir solar project with no known arrival time for those parts.

“We made a good start on the Winter Barn,” said Wilson. “The crew got the kinks worked out, but weather shut us down until spring.”

The grant application to fund the city’s stormwater master plan was submitted on Oct. 10. The mark up draft is expected this month for review in December.

Awards for funding the Highway 97 Pedestrian Crossing and Pathway Project are expected on May 23, 2023. Wilson said he is cautiously optimistic because Pateros is in the top tier for consideration.

There is movement on the city’s vehicle charging stations as the contractor has contacted the city about building permits for them.

Wilson explained that one of the big projects that occupied the city crew last October was the state Labor and Industries inspection of all city facilities and review the health and safety program. The list of remedial actions L&I compiled included 24 items ranging from missing exit signs to eye wash stations with required completion dates. As of the council meeting city crews had completed all but two of the L&I findings.