Colville City Council Approves Fair Funding, Creates Public Safety Committee

The Colville City Council met on Aug. 11 and approved funding for performers at the Northeast Washington Fair, returned accrued interest to the Colville Public Library Improvement Club, and created a new committee focused on public safety concerns.

The council also received updates on street projects, the city’s employee salary review, the proposed recreation center design and the ongoing process for selecting a location for the Stevens County Justice Center.

After unanimously approving the consent agenda, Tony Bolles requested $4,700 from the Vinson Fund to help pay for performers and a magician at the Northeast Washington Fair, Aug. 27-30. The council unanimously approved the request.

The council also voted to return $1,088.95 in interest earned on a $50,000 donation for the Colville Public Library Improvement Club.

City staff reported that the $50,000 had been deposited in December, with interest beginning to accrue in January. The funds were subsequently released to the library, but the interest remained in the city’s donation fund. The council approved sending the $1,088.95 in a separate check to the library’s club.

Council members approved the creation of a public safety ad hoc committee to identify and review public safety concerns throughout Colville and make recommendations to the full council.

The committee was proposed by council members Roxy Spengler and Ben Cosby, and will focus on issues including:

• Street lighting and visibility

• Speed limits and speeding

• Crosswalks and pedestrian safety

• Traffic safety and signage

• Nuisance concerns

• Parks and public spaces

• Other public safety concerns raised by residents or city staff

The proposed committee would include council members Spengler, Cosby, and Katie Heck, along with a civilian member. The committee is expected to operate through the end of the year, with the possibility of extending its work if needed.

Public Works Director Dave Harper provided an update on the city’s summer street work, saying crews have received positive feedback on recent chip-seal projects.

He said the city has been using rock and emulsion treatments on several streets and has been rolling the material repeatedly to help it set, particularly on less-traveled roads where traffic provides less natural compaction.

Council members raised concerns about parked vehicles interfering with the process. Harper said crews have generally been able to work around vehicles and have contacted residents when necessary.

The city is also continuing work on Reservoir No. 2, with concrete work on the tank walls expected to continue in the coming weeks.

Harper said the city is looking ahead to larger projects on Birch and Hawthorne streets. Birch is expected to require a longer-term, phased approach that could eventually include sidewalks and a shared-use path.

The council’s recreation center ad hoc committee received three preliminary design options for review. Committee members were scheduled to meet later in the week to discuss the options and select a preferred design. 

Anthony Gorst, an officer with Colville Police Department, reported 186 calls for service since the previous report, including 27 traffic stops. Gorst also said the department participated in a traffic-enforcement emphasis with Stevens County law enforcement. The department is also rotating officer shifts, meaning residents may see different officers working at different times, he added.

Councilmember Muriel Meyer provided an update on plans for a historic preservation walking tour of downtown Colville. The project is being developed with local historic preservation organizations and the Stevens County Historical Society. The city is considering making the tour available digitally, potentially including QR codes, rather than producing large numbers of printed copies.

Finally, the council discussed the ongoing Stevens County Justice Center site-selection process. A hearing that had been held Aug. 4 is scheduled to continue Aug. 31, when commissioners are expected to have additional information before considering a decision on the location.

The next Colville City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 25