|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Twisp has a new councilmember and an applicant for police chief.
Mayor Hans Smith swore in Rosemary Seifried for Position 1 on Tuesday. Seifried interviewed for Position 2 last year but was edged out by Wyatt Lundquist. She ran uncontested for Position 1 and takes Katrina Auburn’s seat on the town council.
Auburn attended the swearing in ceremony. During public comments, she congratulated Seifried and the other new members of the council- Molly Filer and Tim McGuire. She encouraged them to “keep the town’s best interest at hand.”
“You’re serving with a really good mayor. I hope that it is a good team playing, that everybody can work together and continue to have a great town like we have,” said Auburn.
Applicant for Police Chief
Smith announced he has officially received one application for the police chief position. While the hiring of the police chief lies solely with the mayor, the applicant will be vetted by the newly formed Civil Service Commission before Smith reviews the application.
“I’m excited to note that we do have an applicant and hoping to see some more before the closing on Jan. 23,” said Smith.
The Twisp Town Council approved a Letter of Agreement for the police department, negotiated between the Teamsters Union and Smith and Councilmembers Tim Matsui and Will Menzies, that would go into effect next year. The town will provide new health and welfare benefits for police union employees, such as a $500 credit toward one dependent’s health care premiums, which the town recently approved for their other employees.
The Twisp Town Council also voted to formally close its municipal court and transfer all services to Okanogan County District Court.
Twisp Moves Toward Pool Agreement, Hires Outreach Contractor for Glover Street Work
Smith said he is working with Friends of the Pool on a concessionaires agreement to operate the Wagner Pool this summer and hopes to present the agreement or the draft of the agreement at the next council meeting or in February. It will be the first time the town engages in such an agreement, said Smith.
The council approved to hire Juliet Kennedy, Marketing Director for Twisp and Winthrop’s Chambers of Commerce, as a contractor to facilitate public outreach and communication during the Glover Street renovation which will begin in April. Smith has repeatedly said he wants to help businesses during this construction period, which includes replacing side walks and canopies.
In December, the council approved a $25,000 contract with Twisp Chamber of Commerce in which the Mayor also said he would need the chamber’s help navigating the street closures.
Bids for Glover Street Project, Ballot Measures Next Month, New Committee Assignments
Public Works Director Andrew Denham said bids for a $2.8 million Glover Street revitalization project could open to the public next week if the authorization is approved on Wednesday.
Twisp town residents will see two ballot measures in February- one to re-approve the town’s Transportation Benefit District, which maintains streets, and an EMS renewal for Aero Methow.
The council also volunteered for committee assignments. With Lundquist’s and Auburn’s departure, the council settled on the following:
Public Works: Will Menzies and Molly Filer
Public Safety: Tim Matsui and Tim McGuire’
Finance: Will Menzies and Rosemary Seifried
Methow Watershed Council: Mayor Smith and Tim McGuire (Alternate)
Okanogan Council of Governments: Mayor Smith and Will Menzies
Okanogan County Transit Authority: Tim McGuire
Twisp Economic Revitalization Committee: Will Menzies and Molly Filer
Creative District Committee: Will Menzies and Tim McGuire
Twisp Chamber of Commerce: Tim Matsui and Tim McGuire
Planning Commission: Tim Matsui and Molly Filer
Parks and Recreation: Tim Matsui and Tim McGuire
Twisp Airport Advisory Board: Tim McGuire and Rosemary Seifried
Tree Board: Tim McGuire and Rosemary Seifried
