Thursday, March 28, 2024

Pateros Council passes temporary housing ordinance for fire survivors

Posted

PATEROS – One ordinance and four resolutions won unanimous approval at the regular monthly meeting of the Pateros City Council at its regular meeting last Monday, May 21.
An ordinance discussed at last month’s meeting to allow wildfire victims to live in temporary housing while rebuilding their homes was submitted for approval last Monday. The new measure as drafted amends the Pateros Municipal Code to allow residents who are rebuilding to live in an RV or trailer for a period of one year provided they have secured a building permit and are connected to the city’s water, sewer and trash services.
Council members also approved a resolution to renew an Interlocal Agreement with Okanogan County for solid waste services. In 2003 the city became part of the county’s Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan that is renewed as needed to allow the county to provide solid waste recycling and disposal facilities, establish a schedule of fees to be collected from all users and related services.
A resolution to approve an annual fee paid to R2 Solutions of Banks, Oregon, for use of a patented plug popper to clean service lines from meter to main passed the council unanimously. City Administrator Jord Wilson said the device saves the city time and money that otherwise would be required to dig up streets to service line blockages.
The council also passed a resolution to reduce the cost of a professional service agreement with city engineer Varela & Associates of Spokane. The original agreement calling for a payment of $26,000 to Varela for engineering assistance was not in line with the city’s sewer capital budget. The new proposal allows Wilson to assist Varela and reduce the cost to $9,640.00.
The final resolution involved a $54,000 change order for Tapani, Inc. of Battleground, the city’s reservoir contractor, to allow the installation of approximately 100 feet of PVC pipe from the city’s new well site No. 4 to the existing water main.
In other business, city fire chief Keith Zweigle previewed new Scott high-pressure oxygen tank and mask units acquired for members of the all-volunteer department through a $75,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Zweigle said he was advised by a fire equipment supplier that Pateros “is the first volunteer department in the State of Washington to have these brand-new Scott units.”
Zweigle said the department acquired 20 of the new high-pressure tanks that were divided 10 for the fireman packs and the remaining 10 for the trucks. Each truck is required to have four packs so Zweigle said the department will need to acquire five more tanks to meet the required number.
The council will host a special meeting at 7 a.m., Monday, May 29, to discuss the city franchise agreement and other issues. The regular monthly council meeting is at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of every month.

pateros, temporary housing, fire survivors

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here