BINGEN — The bi-monthly Bingen City Council meeting began with clarification from Mayor Catherine Kiewit based on a public comment: The SDS Lumber Company is not closing. They are stopping plywood production only. Following that, the council opened a public hearing for two ordinances aimed at increasing fees.
Ordinances 772 and 773 focus on the city’s required business licenses. The cost will increase based on a tiered fee schedule, starting from $50 for three employees and ranging up to $325 for 20 or more employees. The late fee for registering a business license will also increase. In line with most municipal entities, Bingen will increase its sewer rates to $75 a month for typical residential users, with overage fees slightly increasing as well. All of these measures are part of the city’s multi-pronged effort to increase funding, based on a looming budget shortfall. With no public comment on the ordinances, both measures passed unanimously.
City Manager Krista Loney next led the council through a discussion of a code of conduct policy for city properties. After providing several examples and a drafted plan, councilors weighed the suggested requirements, including no smoking or tobacco use, no nudity, no weapons, and the like. In Bingen, these would apply to city-owned spaces such as city hall and Daubenspeck Park. After direction from the council, Loney will return with a second draft at a later date.
A project status update followed. The Alder and Cedar sidewalk is on track and progressing. The DC Fast Charger came online on April 23, and a June 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned. The city’s newly installed water meters have revealed a plethora of data. Usage analysis reveals leaks; the leaks must then be found and repaired.
One such leak was found on the SDS Lumber site, where a large pile of woodchips had to be moved for the leak to be found and repaired. This will save thousands of gallons of water and result in a lower water bill for the customer. Other businesses were found to have been “massively” under-read and thus under-billed by the old, degraded meters.
The new grant-funded bus shelters will arrive June 14 and, finally, the USDA grant-funded murals are in progress, with phase one the preparation of the buildings and the site of the art.
The Bingen City Council always welcomes and shares public comment. The Aug. 5 election also invites residents to participate in municipal leadership. As of press time, Clinton Deo has filed to run for the mayoral seat; Dale Grinstead-Mayle has filed to run for position 3, currently held by Phil Jones; and Craig Trummel has filed to run for the seat he currently occupies. Position 5, currently held by Brittany Spratt, is also open. The city also has a .01% sales tax on the ballot.
The next regular meeting of the Bingen City Council is set for Tuesday, May 19 at 6 p.m.
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