May 2019 Newsletter
Calendar of Events...
May 1 - Tekoa Bike Club, 8:30 a.m. - Eclair's
May 3 - Chamber Meeting, 7:30 a.m. - Eclair's
May 6 - City Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
May 7 - Hospital District Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
May 7 - Ambulance Meeting, 6:00 p.m. - Ambulance Building
May 7 - Senior Pinochle, 1:30 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
May 7 - Empire Theatre Meeting, 11:30 a.m. - Feeding Station
May 7 - HTC, 9:00 a.m. - Kathy Kramer's Home
May 14 - FD #1 Commissioners Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - 101 N. Crosby
May 15 - Slippery Gulch Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - Eclair's
May 20 - City Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
May 21 - Park and Rec. Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - City Hall
May 21 - Senior Pinochle, 1:30 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
May 27 - Ambulance Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - Ambulance Building
May 29 - School Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - District Board Room
May 30 - Tekoa Food Bank, 8:30 a.m. - City Hall
*** Celebrate Recovery - Every Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. - Tekoa Community Church
*** Neighbors' Watch Meeting - Every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - Eclair's
City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day. Garbage pick-up will be a day late, picking up on Thursday that week.
~COUNCIL ELECTIONS FOR 2019: There are several positions on the Tekoa City Council that are up for election this year. If you are interested in applying, you can apply by mail at Whitman County Elections from April 29 – May 17. In person or online, May 13 to 17. The following positions open for the November election are currently held by these listed: Mayor - Troy Wilson, position 1 – Lee Burchfiel, position 2 – Alyssa Heagy, position 3 – Bethany Fletcher, position 5 – John Giudice, and position 7 – Dave Tysz.
~SEWER RATE INCREASE: Beginning with your May utility billing, the sewer rate will increase by $5.00 per month. Rates will continue to increase $5.00 every January for the next three years in order to pay for the required updates to our sewer system.
~CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED: The City of Tekoa is now accepting debit cards, pre-paid debit cards, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover for utility payments. To pay on-line, go to www.GovPayNow.com . The City of Tekoa Pay Location Code # is: a002jr. There is a 2.65% service fee for each transaction. If you have any questions, please call City Hall at 509-284-3861.
~MOSQUITO FOGGING NOTICE: We are planning to start fogging for mosquitoes on Wednesdays, beginning May 8, after dusk. If you do not want your property fogged, you must let us know in writing at city hall by Tuesday, May 7, at 4:00 p.m.
~DO YOU HAVE AN UNDERGROUND SPRINKLER SYSTEM? The State of Washington will require you to have your backflow preventers professionally tested before turning on your sprinkler systems. The city will need proof of this test before you use your sprinklers.
~METERS TO BE READ IN MAY: Meters will be read in May. Be sure to remove the insulation out of the meter boxes.
~HIRING SUMMER HELP: The City of Tekoa is looking to hire someone 16 years or older to work this summer mowing lawns, and performing other maintenance tasks as needed. If interested in applying, please contact city hall for an application. The job will close May 10, at 4:00 p.m.
~AREA VETERINARIAN: Claws and Paws, a mobile veterinarian, makes weekly visits every Thursday, in Fairfield, at the north end of the park. She is there from 1 – 5 p.m., and her phone number is 509-994-8819.
~SHRED DAY: Banner bank is hosting a Shred & Fraud prevention event: May 1, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Tekoa Branch. Limit of three boxes or bags. Have a doughnut and coffee while you’re there!
Tekoa Library Happenings for May Two special events are planned at the library in May. First is Workshop Week, May 7-9. Have you wondered how to reserve books from the convenience of your own home? Been hearing about others who listen to library loans on their phone or device, but don’t know how to do it? Drop by for easy lessons on how to access these services. It takes less than 10 minutes to learn. Instructions available Tuesday and Wednesday between 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., and Thursday between noon - 2:00 p.m. Second to note, Kids Club will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Kids, join us for Month of May Merry Making with board games and activities. (There is no Early Release this month, which is why the time change.) Also, donations of canned and nonperishable foods are always welcome to our much-used Food Pantry. You can get information about other ongoing activities by “liking" the Tekoa Library Facebook page or checking out the Events Calendar at: http://whitco.lib.wa.us.
Tekoa Empire Theatre welcomes local Pullman band SOULSTICE for an evening of Classic Rock & Roll, Pop, Soul, and R & B. Join us May 18, 2019, at 7 p.m. for music that people know and love, classic melodies with three-part harmony. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office or online at: https://bpt.me/4227515.
HTC NEWS: Come join us for our free Trivia & Game Night Family Night Out event on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., at the Tekoa Library. Students, family, neighbors and friends, join coalition volunteers for a free night of Kahoot trivia and snacks! Family Night Out events’ focus is strengthening the bonds between students and community…and school… and family. Increasing a young person’s bond to school, community, and family can help him/her get better grades, have higher test scores, and make that person less likely to have emotional distress, drink or use drugs.
Tekoa Community Church - Mom’s Day Brunch Please join our congregation for a brunch on Sunday, May 12, at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited to stay for Sunday Service at 11 a.m. All donations go to the Church Camp Fund. Every summer, our congregation sends 10-15 youths from our community for fellowship, play and worship at beautiful Camp N-Sid-Sen, outside of Harrison, ID, on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. Please contact Kim Schulz at 284-6145 or Jennifer Olson at 284-2150 if you have any questions.
Messages from the Mayor
Ahhhh.. There are new buds on the trees. My roses and raspberries are trying to travel everywhere in the yard. The tulips are pushing up. There are happily buzzing honey bees busily distributing pollen everywhere! Our baby chicks aren’t babies anymore… They’ve got feathers now and apparently have no problem flying out of the coup. Crazy chickens! I’m going to have to clip those wings soon! I’m so happy that we’re finally through that winter we had!
I spent some time outside in front of the house today with my wife Alicia and …. just breathed. I think it’s so important to find time every now and then to smell the green grass, enjoy in the crisp spring air, soak up this wonderful sunshine we’re getting lately, and, more importantly, adore the company of a significant other. I hope you found some time on this fine spring day to enjoy your family and what Tekoa has to offer.
Our city employees are going to be busy this month. You’ll see them in the street sweeper, cleaning up the winter sand and gravel. You’ll see them prepping the brush piles for burning. (Still needs to dry out!). You’ll see them starting to read your water meters again, prepping the old city hall for repair, working on the community center, working on the back wall of the library, filling pot-holes, grading roads as they dry out, and preparing for Slippery Gulch….. the list goes on and on!
There are several official city-elected positions up for re-election this year, including my own! If you’re interested in any of these positions, you can file at the Whitman County Courthouse this month. If we have multiple candidates for any position, I hope we can put together a debate, so we can explore different opinions and make informed decisions for the election in November of 2019.
The city council is working to resolve issues with several buildings on Crosby St. They are still engaged and actively looking for solutions to keep our community safe. Stay tuned. I’m confident you will see progress soon!
You’ll see some street improvements this summer on the south end of Crosby St. The council approved plans to replace the sewer, water, and street infrastructure from Main to Park. I know this is difficult… (I drive that intersection daily myself). However, I believe in the long run, it’s well worth it.
Did anyone try out the new online bill pay? I told you all I would do it, and in a flurry of bill paying….. I forgot. Haa haa! I told you I would, though, so I’ll let you know how that went soon. There’s a new card reader at City Hall and a new ‘link’ on the city’s website for your convenience. I think both will serve you well.
Once again, Team Tekoa: I’m available. If you need me, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or text. I will get back to you. 509-284-2847 (h), (509) 428-9447 (c) tekoamayor@gmail.com.
Troy
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