Last night’s Goldendale City Council meeting marked the end of an era. It was the first meeting in 12 years that Nancy Kusky has not made a video recording of the meeting and posted it on YouTube. By invitation of the city, she made a brief appearance at the beginning of the meeting and was presented with a bouquet and plaque honoring her for her service to the city.
City Clerk Sandy Wells led off the event, followed by Mayor Mike Canon:
“Nancy has stopped streaming our meetings after 12 years, so we do have some flowers here. I left it in the box because I thought it would be easier for in the car, and then mayor has something for you as well…You have been such a help to this council, and so we wanted to present this to you. What does it say? Our greatest appreciation for your service. Well, thank you.”
We in the media share our great respect and appreciation, and, as councilor Fil Ontoveros put it:
“Thank you to Nancy for everything she has done. I hope she still gives us a few phone calls on our birthdays.”
Ontoveros was referencing Nancy’s talents at playing “Happy Birthday” on the kazoo. Hers is a most stirring rendition.
Other items in the meeting included a report on the city’s projected budget for 2024. The totals will be higher due to several grants and loans for local projects involving street repairs and the wastewater treatment systems. There will be a public hearing at the next city council meeting on November 12. Depending on whether there are any concerns raised in the process, councilors could pass the budget at that same meeting. If not, they have until the end of the year to do so, as the city’s fiscal year is the same as the calendar year.
Councilors also heard a plea from WAGAP, the social service agency that operates the food bank, saying that one of their main sources of fruits and vegetables was no longer able to distribute to rural areas at the same time and the food bank need in Goldendale has for the first time become greater than in White Salmon. They pointed out that in 2018, the city had contributed $5,000 to the food bank, and that White Salmon donates $12,000 a year, and Bingen $8,000 a year. Goldendale councilors may consider the proposal at a later meeting.
The council also voted to approve a request for water service for a property outside city limits. In this case, approval was a formality, since the property was one that provided an easement for the city’s main water line back in 1912, with the provision that they could hook up to city water at a future date. Members of the city’s public works committee will meet Tuesday the 14th at 3 pm to discuss these and other issues.
And they voted a raise for the mayor, whose salary hasn’t been adjusted since 1995 when it went from $250 a month to $1000. After surveying cities in Washington under 5,000 population, staff found that the average was something just over $1600, and councilors agreed to raise the salary to an even $1600, effective in the next pay period. Councilor Dave Jones abstained, as he is on the ballot for mayor in today’s election.