Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A standing-room-only crowd came out Wednesday night, July 12, in Uniontown for a wide-ranging town council meeting.
Topics covered included water, roadwork, the closed public restroom, burn pile, the “pigeon house” and more.
Mayor Dave Jacobs convened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, and the first report (“All is hunky dory”) came from Uniontown Community Development Association’s John McCann. It followed with Police Chief Dan Hargraves.
“It’s nice to say it’s been a slow month... only one fireworks call,” he said.
Public Works Superintendent Brent Lane then gave comments during a burn pile discussion.
“Last week, I spent three hours out there,” he said. “I would say over 40 hours in a month.”
The town burn pile was previously open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until problems with people bringing restricted items led to a need for it to be monitored.
“My feeling is, Colton can have their own pile,” said city councilman John Jacob.
In the past two years, the site off Blair Street has been open on a limited basis.
“Is there a sign for Uniontown residents only?” asked community member Dale Miller from the crowd.
The council then talked about whether three hours open on a Saturday-Sunday would be enough time.
The subject concluded with McCann designated to check with the school to see if any students may be interested in monitoring the pile for community service hours.
Lane then updated the council that a new family has moved to town with seven large dogs.
For the building department, Lane noted the continuing construction of the new office building at Uniontown Co-op and a few lots selling in the subdivision with no immediate plans for construction.
A mention of the delay on the extended-sidewalk project came up and a member of the public asked a question.
“Crack sealing,” he said. “Has that been scheduled?”
Discussion followed, Lane noting he has been spraying for weeds (in the cracks) and Mayor Jacobs asking for him to get a bid on crack-sealing.
Then a mention of paving Frank Street preceded a public comment.
“We’ve got water problems, we’re losing water,” said Dawn Baerlocher, sitting in the second row of plastic chairs.
“The appearance of two council members living on that street gives me pause,” said councilman Brian Davies.
“It’s a conflict of interest,” said Mayor Jacobs.
The mayor then explained that water and streets are two separate budgets.
Councilman Dan Baker spoke. “We need to come up with a plan, be proactive... to lay down a track record to apply for grants,” he said of the matter of leaking water pipes.
“I’m not sure we are working on it,” said Baerlocher. “If we don’t have water, nobody can live here.”
“We’re not as bad as we used to be,” said Baker. “We’re not doing enough, I agree. Our water system is very much in need of attention.”
“We need to find out where the leaks are,” said a member of the public.
Lane then further explained the situation. He and Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Devorak first noted that water and sewer is a self-supporting part of the budget.
“You get no revenue from streets,” Devorak said.
Water and sewer rates have recently been raised four percent per year in Uniontown.
“As soon as you fix a leak, it adds pressure down the line,” Lane said. “I could work 24 hours a day on it. It’s not feasible to fix every leak in town.”
Lane and council members confirmed that the water tower is not the problem.
Councilman Baker said they need to invest and make a plan for this. Davies noted the town’s comprehensive plan may need to be updated, by the planning commission, at their next meeting in September.
“Can we make an action plan in September at the next meeting?” asked Baerlocher.
Another member of the public spoke, standing in a doorway at the far wall of the council chambers.
“Not to change the subject but... it’s like the wild west out there. I haven’t seen a cop in a month and a half,” he said.
Mayor Jacobs answered. “We’re trying to get a second officer. We’re having a contest between lawyers,” he said.
Further comment from the public asked if an empty police car could be parked along the highway to slow down drivers.
Chief Hargraves gave his opinion that, although towns do it, he believes it is a set-up for liability.
“If someone is in trouble and they see that car, people expect a cop to be in that car,” he said, adding that the City of Pullman stopped the practice many years ago.
Another option to counter speeders is to buy an electronic speed-tracker sign, with starting costs at $2,000 per sign.
“I think we should purchase one for each end of town,” said Davies.
Councilman Baker made a motion to buy two signs.
Davies seconded it.
In further discussion, Councilman Dan Warner made a motion to table it until they get the prices, including the option of a camera installed, to take pictures of speeding cars and send a ticket to the owner.
Hargraves noted that a camera would likely double the cost, adding that these kind of tickets are often contested, and nonetheless require a judge to be paid to come in and hear cases, which adds costs to the town.
Hargraves will get prices for the next council meeting.
The subject of the closed public restrooms came up next.
“I really disagree with it,” said Dale Miller, Uniontown Community Development Association president. “We’ve spent the last 16 years in an effort to attract business and residents. We have an obligation to have them.”
Lane then gave a report on what led to him bringing the matter to the council and them voting to close the restrooms. He said he would keep cleaning the facility if the town provided the right equipment, such as a Hazmat suit.
“I”m not gonna risk my life getting stabbed with a dirty needle changing out the garbage,” he said.
Others asked about cameras, adding signs or covering existing signs.
“We put a camera up, a sign up, it didn’t make a difference,” said Lane. “It has progressively got worse in the last two-and-half years.”
“What about a porta-potty?” asked a member of the public.
Discussion followed.
“The portable at the co-op gets used... Busch Distributors, too,” said another voice from the audience.
“American Legion kicked in $3,000 for that (restroom),” Miller said.
The option was noted to be looked into before the next council meeting.
The next subject to arise was the “pigeon house” - a dilapidated structure just behind city hall.
“We’ve got a possible pigeon place that could be an environmental catastrophe,” said Marv Entel in the audience, a former building inspector for Uniontown. “Check online to learn what diseases pigeons spread. I’m sorry, if that place had been in Colton, it would’ve been gone three years ago. That house is a hazard to the community.”
“Our town’s going to H,” said another voice among the seats.
One more comment came from the gathered: “The drinking fountain in the lower park – it hasn’t been working in five years.”
Mayor Jacobs asked for any other comments before saying he would entertain a motion to adjourn.
It came, was seconded and the meeting concluded, with the council set to gather again Aug. 9.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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