The Dalles City Council met last night and covered a number of topics. That included swearing-in ceremonies for re-elected Mayor Rich Mays and Councilors Darcy Long-Curtiss and Rod Runyon. Councilor Dan Richardson was sworn in for the first time, having one the seat vacated by former councilor Linda Miller, who retired after 8 years on the council. She was recognized by the council and presented with a print of “All Together The Dalles,” the new mural that recently was painted on the former Dalles Chronicle building on East Third Street.
Council members also elected Councilor Tim McGlothlin as Council President, who has the responsibility to chair meetings when the mayor cannot be present.
In other council action, Tonya Moffitt of Merina & Company presented audit results for the most recent fiscal year for the city, the urban renewal agency and the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, which is owned jointly with Klickitat County:
“Our opinion is a unmodified or clean opinion, which is the highest level of opinion we can give. I’m happy to report we didn’t have any findings for the City of The Dalles.”
The same held true for the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency, but not for the Columbia Gorge Regional airport as Moffitt reports:
“Audit procedures noted that lease revenues did not consistently match the agreed-upon leases, and lease terms were not appropriately updated when leases expired.”
That problem, she was happy to report, had been corrected.
Councilors also agreed to allow the city to expend $100,000 of previously-awarded COVID-19 funds to help local restaurants and fitness facilities, with another $50,000 for small businesses. City Manager Julie Krueger will be working with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Farquarson to process those applications as quickly as possible. Krueger added:
“I agree with Councilor Richardson that the need is urgent, particularly for restaurants and fitness centers that have been closed.”
The city plans to award a number of $2,000 grants to those businesses.