Kettle Falls City Council Reviews Poool Attendance and LED Project

During the public hearing on 2026 property and ad valorem taxes, city staff noted that figures from the assessor’s office were not yet available, so the ordinances were introduced without final numbers. The council plans to hold another public hearing and adopt the finalized tax ordinances once the information arrives.

Sherry Palmer from the Upper Columbia Pool District brought a wave of good stats from the summer; the Kettle Falls pool saw 4,780 visits, 1,394 walk-ins, and 154 children learning to swim. She highlighted the popularity of new offerings like aerobics classes and teen nights, and shared that the district is planning ahead by saving for future maintenance.

After approving the consent agenda, council members listened to staff updates. Police chief Brandon Hoover reported three DUI arrests and ongoing vehicle upkeep, while Public Works director Dave Willey discussed the leaf pickup season and the unique challenge of securing a crane for the new community sign installation.

The council welcomed engineer Matt Morkert from Community Engineering Consulting, who expressed his enthusiasm to support the city’s infrastructure projects and pursue new grant opportunities.

Grace Powell of the Kettle Falls Rotary unveiled plans for a double-sided LED sign to replace the old sign. With Rotary already funding half the project, Powell said the new sign will offer remote updates, automatic dimming, and a vibrant space for community announcements. The council unanimously approved the partnership with Rotary and the project to bring it to life.

Finally, the council introduced ordinances 1845 and 1846 related to 2026 property and ad valorem taxes and scheduled a tentative budget workshop for Nov. 12. The meeting concluded with a brief public comment session, during which the mayor and council expressed heartfelt gratitude for the community’s ongoing involvement.

Details for the next city council meeting have not yet been released.