Checking In on City Councils

Northport

According to clerk treasurer Karen Baribault, the Department of Ecology is still finishing up the city park’s river front. She said public works completed a street grant over the summer. The city was also awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for a water system backup generator after pursuing the grant for seven years. However, Baribault said that the generator is back-ordered until February. 

The Northport City Council meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. 

Marcus

Clerk treasurer Angie Sphuler said that city officials have received $100,000 from the Department of Commerce for their growth management update, which is a two-year process. She said the city is also working to obtain a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board. Sphuler said that since the town received fiscal recovery funds to put in new water meters, their winterization process has become “streamlined, taking a little less work off the public works employee.”

Also a member of the Cider Fest planning committee, Sphuler said that they are “ahead of the game this year,” and set to begin the event at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. Event organizers are currently applying for a beer garden license and the permit to close the highway for the parade. They are fully booked with vendors. “We have quite a lot of volunteers this year,” said Sphuler. “We put a cry out for help because it has been slacking off, which is what has happened in the past with other festivals, and that's why they died.”

The Marcus City Council meets every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Spuhler said, “Our meetings are generally very short and sweet. We have a great council that we're working with, and things seem to be running smoothly. The town is doing quite well.”

Springdale

According to Mayor Stefany Smith, the city’s public works projects were wrapped up prior to their Showcase in the Park celebration. Between September and October, Smith said the city will drag the Lucky Duck Pond. “People throw stuff in it all the time,” she said. “We want to start over on it.” An underwater mural scene was also recently developed in the town. The city is not pursuing any specific grants at the moment, but they “are always looking for extra financial help,” said Smith.

The Springdale City Council meets at town hall on the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. However, October’s meeting is scheduled for Oct. 14.