| JOHN’S JOURNAL
MAY 2008
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ~ Meeting for May 2, 2008, 7:00 a.m. Friday at Feeding Station Restaurant.Their next meeting will be on Thursday May 8, at NOON at the Café Artisan. Please join us!
TEKOA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
MONDAY May 5, 2008, at 7:00 P.M.
MONDAY May 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Both meetings will be held in the City Council chambers.
DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD COMMODITIES
Do not forget that commodities will be given out on May 29, 2008,
from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
REMEMBER: City Hall will be closed on May 9, 2008, as both the clerk and deputy clerk will be in finance meetings. Also, City Hall will be closed on May 26, 2008 to observe Memorial Day.
MORNING THOUGHT:
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
WATER & SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
The plan this summer is to replace pipe and manholes from the old railroad bridge to the arena. Video camera pictures show that water flows into the sewer pipe located in the Little Hangman Creek. Replacing this section of pipe will significantly reduce the flow into the sewage treatment plant.
GRAVEL STREETS TO BE PAVED
Duane and Melinda traveled all the gravel roads in Tekoa and selected two that will be prepared to be chip sealed later this summer. The two streets are LESLIE, between Henkle and Main, and HOWARD from Poplar to Alder. The cost of the two projects will be between $12,000 to $14,000.
DON’T FORGET MOTHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY MAY 11TH
THE GUYS HAVE BEEN BUSY
Besides taking and now, retaking the “mosquito” test, Duane & Matt began reading water meters, pressure testing fire hydrants and doing necessary roadwork.
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG/UTILITIES UNDERGROUND LOCATION CENTER/UULC
The UULC provides accurate cost-effective one-call service. Through communication, education, and leadership prevent damage to underground utilities and ultimately they enhance public safety.
The reason for taking the time and effort to call before you dig is simple. It is required by Section 19.122 of the Revised Code of Washington. Keeping buried utilities safe from damage caused by digging is a responsibility shared among:
- Designers of the installation
- Owner/Operations of the Buried Lines
- Those That Locate and Mark Underground Utilities
- Anyone Digging Near the Lines
- One Call Center personnel
Simply call: 1-800-424-5555 to start the process:
Dig Safely
· Call Before You Dig
· Wait The Required Amount of Time
· Locate Accurately
· Maintain The Marks
· Dig With Care
OUTDOOR BURNING
City Hall received a telephone call from Paul Rossow from Department of Ecology in regards to outdoor burning. There had been a complaint lodged against a citizen in town for burning yard waste. We are sure that this citizen was not aware of this state law. Yard waste can be burned, but can not be any larger than a 4ft. by 4ft. by 3ft. pile. Otherwise a permit from Department of Ecology must be obtained. Please call 509/329-3400 and ask to speak to someone from the burn team if you have any questions.
TEKOA/WHITMAN COUNTY #1 FIRE DEPARTMENT
This is going to be a new section to the newsletter. Look for us each month as we state what is new and information for the public.
We are looking for volunteers to add to our department. To get an application or if you have questions call Donavon at 284-2109 or stop by city hall. This is an opportunity to volunteer in the community and have a chance to save lives, property, and structures. We provide training for all our volunteers.
The fire department has started a website that will include trainings, fire pictures, apparatus photographs, weekly burn updates (fire danger for this week is low), and many more interesting topics. Please visit the site even though it is under construction as we are working on finishing it. The website is: www.tekoafire.com
The fire department has also started a non-for-profit organization. It is called Tekoa Volunteer Fire Association. The function of the organization is to promote safety for the district, possibly scholarships for individuals going into many aspects of fire control/prevention, benefits to our volunteers, and to do some things that we have wanted to do but never before possible. As we are just starting out we have virtually no money and our first fundraiser is going to be a feed for Slippery Gulch. We will be serving hamaburgers and hot dogs with all of the fixings. Look for us in down town Tekoa.
The officers of the Fire Department are:
- Donavon Chase ~ Fire Chief
- Lee Zimmerman ~ Assistant Fire Chief
- Duane Groom ~ Captain
We recently have had the opportunity to get 2 additional volunteers; they are Daren Heer, and Kim Rambo. We have other openings so look into whether this is something that you might be interested in. Thank you. tekoafd@air-pipe.com
UNSIGNED LETTERS
Since becoming mayor, I have received two letters that did not have a signature!! My policy is to not spend my time and energy on letters that do not identify the writer. If it is important enough for someone to write a letter and then mail it, it has to be important enough to sign. I believe I am approachable and fair minded, so you are just going to have to trust me both with your concerns and your identity!!
CAROL STURMAN’S RESIGNATION
The council accepted Carol Sturman’s resignation with great reluctness. She has been a valuable source of information and stability for a city council and mayor lacking in experience. It was decided that those that applied when Melinda Wilkens was selected, will be approached to determine if they are, again, interested. From this group of applications, the council will select one to serve until election time this fall. Positions open for the November election include the naturally Carol; Melinda’s position; Debbie Groom; and the mayor.
NEWS FROM TEKOA EMPIRE THEATRE
Selected members of the Spokane Youth Orchestra, including two string quartets, will present a concert on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at the Empire Theatre in Tekoa. All of the players are students at high schools in the Spokane area. They will be accompanied by their director, public radio music maven Verne Windham.
The Spokane Youth Orchestra was founded in 1950 and continues to groom talented young people toward vocations and avocations in music. In April they displayed their virtuosity along with renowned fiddler Mark O’Connor in a program ranging from strictly classical to jammin’ fiddle tunes.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS
For the third year in a row, two years in conjunction with the Tekoa High School, students and the community held an auction to fund the Slippery Gulch Fireworks Display, and the dinner to raise money for community projects.
This has become quite the event. A pork dinner was served by the students and too many wonderful auction items to mention were auctioned off by our towns favorite auctioneer Chris Smith and Liz Smith served as Vanna. The students even hand crafted and donated 3 of the top sellers of the evening. Thank you to all who helped make the evening a success. The ticket sellers, the donations, the set up and tear down, every little bit helps many hands make lite work. Next we will be seeking our scholarship winners – good luck seniors. Everyone is welcome at Chamber of Commerce Meetings. We are always looking for fresh new ideas ~ this is your community chamber so why not become a part of it?
ANNUAL SPRING CLEANUP CHANGED TO MAY ~ FOR TEKOA RESIDENTS
The annual spring cleanup will be on May 10th from 8 to 5 , and donations and volunteers are needed A Good Will Truck will be here for items. They will be at the Gym Kanna grounds and a truck will be there for garbage. People need to get their names on a list if they can’t get the garbage and Good Will items there themselves. Any questions call Mike Bogenreif 284-2099
EMPIRE DISPOSAL RAISES GARBAGE RATES
We received notice that Empire Disposal have increased their rates. Please notice the increase on your May Statement.
Sincerely,
John Jaeger
Mayor
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