April 2017 Newsletter
Calendar of Events....
April 3 - City Council Meeting - MEETING CANCELLED
April 4 - Hospital District Meeting - 7:30 a.m. - City Hall
April 4 - Ambulance Meeting - 6:00 p.m. - Ambulance Building
April 4 - Senior Pinochle - 6:30 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 5 - Tekoa Bike Club - 8:30 a.m. - Eclair's
April 5 - Celebrate Recovery - 6:00 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 7 - Chamber Meeting - 7:30 a.m. - Eclair's
April 11 - Park and Rec Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
April 11 - Fire Dist. #1 meeting - 7:00 p.m. - 101 N Crosby
April 12 - Tekoa Fair Association - 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
April 12 - Celebrate Recovery - 6:00 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 17 - City Council Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
April 18 - Senior Pinochle - 6:30 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 19 - Celebrate Recovery - 6:00 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 24 - Ambulance Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Ambulance Building
April 25 - Empire Theatre Meeting - 6:00 p.m. - Feeding Station
April 25 - School Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - District Board Room
April 26 - Celebrate Recovery - 6:00 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
April 27 - Distribute Commodities - 8:30 a.m. - City Hall
Council Elections
Three city council positions are up for election this year: Carol Sturman – Position 1, Alyssa Heagy – Position 2, and Ted Blaszak – Position 3. Anyone interested in running, can file at Whitman County by mail May 1st through May 19th, and in person from May 15th through May 19th. For questions, you can call the elections department at 509-397-5284 or email them at elections@co.whitman.wa.us.
The Annual Tekoa Easter Egg Hunt is on April 15 at 11 a.m. at Ruhl Park. Based on their age level, children will have a special section of the park to gather their Easter eggs. Kids will have a chance to meet the Easter bunny before the hunt begins and play at the park after the hunt is done. This event is sponsored by Tekoa Chamber of Commerce and Tekoa High School FCCLA. Please bring your own baskets, and plan on emptying the plastic eggs so the chamber can reuse them next year.
Tekoa Booster Club is hosting a Cocktail Party!
For your entertainment:
“A Roast” on Tekoa Athletic Director Mr. Dan Hutton.
Friday, April 21, 8:00 p.m. – 11 p.m., at the Event Center.
Purchase tickets at the Tekoa Pharmacy.
Ticket prices: Single - $25.00. Couple - $40.00.
At-the-door prices: Single - $30.00. Couple - $50.00.
This event is for adults 21 years-and-up.
Messages from the Mayor—
I believe “spring has sprung.” Now we exchange snow for rain. I am looking forward to blue skies and sunshine!
Last month there was no newsletter, and I doubt if many of you missed it. The month before, however, I listed the numerous people who plowed snow over the winter months, knowing I probably missed someone. How could anyone miss George Dean?!! I did; sorry George!
No doubt many of you are wondering what is going to happen with the Andersson building that had its roof collapse last month. Mr. Andersson will have the brick that is on the gravel (south side) removed and a metal fence installed around two sides of the property. This should already have been done by the time you read my newsletter. Mr. Andersson will also have a certified structural engineer assess the safety of the walls to make sure none of the remaining walls will collapse onto the street or sidewalks.
The mayor will also be looking at several other buildings in town that need to be addressed. The old bowling alley and burned-out house on Truax are two of them.
The council approved selling the lot on Sheridan, where we had a burned-out house removed several years ago, for $2,500.00. Besides the $2,500.00 income, we now have one less lot to maintain over the summer.
Listed below are the City of Tekoa’s short-and-long range goals. Having the goals identified is extremely important when we apply for grants.
The council decided to go ahead with the theatre/community center project. However, both the council and I have a concern with a petition that was circulated in the community that opposes some of this project. Please feel free to call either me at 284-2345, or any council member with your thoughts. Possibly we can offer an explanation that would satisfy your concerns with this project.
The city’s animal ordinance is finally “on the books.” A copy can be obtained at city hall or on our website at tekoawa.com.
We expect Kelly McGougan who is the field representative of the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau, to visit the Tekoa Fire Department and hopefully reclassify our fire rating. We should have a report about this next month.
Enough for this month. Happy Easter!
City of Tekoa Goals -- 2017-2018
Short Range(up to 5 years):
--Add new sewer lines.
--Recruit business and industry.
--Construct and promote use of existing hiking and biking trails, including the John Wayne Trail.
--Upgrade Community Center Facility.
--Continue to update safety and improve aesthetics at sewer treatment plant.
--street renovations on remaining portion of Park Street.
--Chip-seal gravel streets, contingent on funding (from street levy).
--Waterand electricity to cemetery.
--Safe routes to school-sidewalk installation.
--New water meters installed in the next three years, including source meter for Truax Well.
--Upgrades to the sewer plant.
--CDBG to pave Main Street.
--Renovate Empire Theatre.
Mid-Range (up to 10 years):
--Prepare Wastewater Facilities Plan.
--Renovate Old Empire Theatre (historical project).
--Encourage affordable housing.
--Build a new sewage treatment plant.
--Build industrial park at local airport and expand airport capabilities.
--Encourage overnight accomodations - RV hook-ups.
--Continue to visit with railroad on purchasing the railroad property in the city.
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