News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 101
1 years ago Challenger Greg Wilder garnered 67% of the primary vote ending Tuesday night to place himself solidly in the general election race against Coulee Dam mayor Quincy Snow. The school board we’ll meet tonight in an informal setting with members getting a look at how the districts energy grant was spent and then given a walkthrough of the new K through 12 school site. The San Poil, the new Keller ferry will be christened in a special ceremony August 14th at the south shore terminal. The $12-million, 20 car ferry was built in pieces b...
Those of you who are still wondering where the big sculpted wood fish has gone, just be patient, it might soon be back. You will recall the big blow back in July 2012, when one of the region’s fiercest wind storms toppled a couple of evergreen trees in Mason City Park. The freak storm became an opportunity to create artwork for the town (now a city) as then-mayor Quincy Snow, himself an artist, convinced the council it would be a great idea to use some hotel/motel money and have someone carve figures on the two remaining stumps. Snow had s...
The state Department of Ecology disapproves of a replacement sewer plant plan that resulted from the contested 2013 election of the mayor of Coulee Dam. In a July 1 letter to the town this month, Ecology had critical remarks about Coulee Dam’s current wastewater treatment project, developed after the new mayor insisted all the options had not been analyzed. The letter was made available to town council members, by people outside of town government, in time for their meeting last Wednesday night. The letter stated: “Ecology recognizes the need f... Full story
Fish passage now possible, legislators told In Olympia Tuesday, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony in favor of their support of a “memorial” bill that would tell the federal government the Legislature favors reintroducing salmon and steelhead above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams. “While salmon passage over high-head dams such as Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee may have been deemed impossible when they were constructed 50 and 80 years ago, that is not the case today,” said D. R. Michel, executive directo... Full story
As you may know, we recently included a “Wastewater Treatment Project Update” with our utility bills. To the best of my knowledge and information, it is balanced and honest. During our last Council meeting (6/10/15), former Mayor, Quincy Snow publicly referred to me as a “liar,” without any substantive facts or data to present. I don’t know where he’s coming from. The “Wastewater Project Update” was factual. The estimates of the “prior” project would have seen rates at least brought to $80 each month or even over $100. Had we not refocused by... Full story
As you may know, we recently included a “Wastewater Treatment Project Update” with our utility bills. To the best of my knowledge and information, it is balanced and honest. During our last Council meeting (6/10/15), former Mayor, Quincy Snow publicly referred to me as a “liar,” without any substantive facts or data to present. I don’t know where he’s coming from. The “Wastewater Project Update” was factual. The estimates of the “prior” project would have seen rates at least brought to $80 each month or even over $100. Had we not refocused by...
A plan for improvements to Coulee Dam's wastewater treatment plant is "a work in progress" that could cost residents a quarter of the amount financed in an earlier plan, Mayor Greg Wilder told the town council and a good number of residents during a December meeting. Wilder said he is exploring the possibility of several improvements to the plant, but he plans on further public meetings before doing anything. One of the meetings will be scheduled in January, Wilder stated. Wilder is trying to... Full story
Coulee Dam is moving ahead with an “alternatives analysis” of its plan for revisions to its wastewater treatment plant. The council voted funds, not to exceed $104,572, to move forward and to determine the scope of work, and best location for, the town’s proposed wastewater treatment plant overhaul. The town had earlier selected the engineering firm Varela & Associates, a Spokane business, to do the analysis. That selection was made with participation of Elmer City, the Colville Tribes, and representatives from councils and staff. Varela was a... Full story
In the wake of state inspections and allegations of harassment and retaliation, the mayor of Coulee Dam has ordered immediate changes in the town’s paid volunteer ambulance service, some of which have sparked threats of EMTs purposely not responding, he said. The state Department of Health inspected the ambulance May 8 at the invitation of Mayor Greg Wilder and found a dozen “areas of non-compliance” with state law and standards. Those were detailed in a letter to Fire Chief Robert Jackson dated May 14. Issues cited ranged from candy bars... Full story
Driving by Mason City Memorial Park people did a double take when they noticed the big chain saw sculpted salmon was gone from its base. Have no worry, the Chinook salmon is safely stored in the Coulee Dam town warehouse, where it awaits some final changes to its rather stiff and upright stance. The town is trying to figure out a new mount for the fish - changing it from a vertical position to its original idea of a fish leaping. The salmon and a companion wildlife sculpture were the result of a... Full story
An investigation, or lack thereof, of missing public records and a town computer has been to Olympia and back via Waterville, where it may soon end up anyway. Coulee Dam Mayor F. Gregory Wilder, finding nothing but a brand new, unused computer in the mayor’s office on his first day on the job, asked Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal for an investigation into the disappearance of the former mayor’s computer, along with all the public records it contained, including emails. That computer, he had learned, had been unplugged and stored in a r... Full story
Mayor Greg Wilder marked his turf so there would be no misunderstanding with members of the council, at the town council meeting last Wednesday. Wilder proposed, and the council unanimously confirmed, a number of resolutions during the course of the evening. The new mayor even wrote up motions for council members to make to approve the resolutions. Wilder skillfully wove his way through what could have been a minefield of resistance. The town’s attorney, Mick Howe, was present, but not needed, as Wilder drew from chapter and verse of state l... Full story
A computer used by Coulee Dam’s former mayor is missing, and the new mayor has asked the sheriff to investigate the possible theft of public property and destruction of public records. Newly elected Mayor Greg Wilder said when he entered the office at the beginning of the year, a brand new computer was already there for his use. It had never been used, and no files existed on its hard drive. Wilder, who defeated Quincy Snow in the mayoral race last fall, had earlier lodged a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission alleging the i... Full story
If you attend Coulee Dam’s council meeting tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 8) you better take your “No Doz” pills, not because the meeting will be boring, but because it will be long. Council members used to short agendas and short meetings will have to muscle up for this one. Tonight is Greg Wilder’s first meeting as mayor of Coulee Dam, and, true to his word, he plans to change the direction the town is taking. From hires, sewer rates, salaries, and the welcome of public input, there are a lot of changes in store, outlined in a thick council... Full story
January: • The Nez Perce Longhouse burned in a fire in Nespelem the day after Christmas. An electrical malfunction was the initial cause reported. The longhouse had been a part of the community since 1975 when it was built as part of a bicentennial project. • Grand Coulee’s Council settled pay issues with Police Chief Mel Hunt by buying his 787 compensatory hours for $42,922.50. • The public was invited to view the final plans for the new K-12 school complex. • Elmer City was divided about what to do regarding Coulee Dam’s proposed wastewater... Full story
Quincy Snow wrapped up 16 years as Coulee Dam's mayor last Wednesday at the last town council meeting of the year. He personally thanked members of the council for their support and hard work, particularly two council members, Karl Hjorten and Andy Trader, who were also defeated in the November election. The meeting was his last as mayor because the council voted to cancel the next meeting, which would have fallen on Christmas day. The town operated without much turmoil for most of Snow's 16...
We’ve often commented upon the actions of our now out-going mayor and some town council members. Their lack of concern, bullying tactics and adverse actions towards our town and its citizens have been duly noted and as a result YOU removed them from office. Not surprising but amazing is the fact that Quincy Snow has refused (through non-response) any sort of transition meeting with Mayor-Elect Greg Wilder. A facilities tour was requested and denied. A request was made for the mayor-elect to attend a meeting this month regarding the Bureau Secur... Full story
Coulee Dam mayor-elect Greg Wilder will get the use of the community room, without charge, to conduct his swearing in ceremony, Dec. 23, officials said this week. Wilder had asked for use of the room for special swearing in ceremonies for himself, and two new council members — Gayle Swagerty, Duane Johnson — and possibly returning Councilmember Bob Poch. Swearing in the new town officials will be U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby of the Department of Justice, Eastern Washington. Wilder and Ormsby have been friends for some time. The use of the roo... Full story
There will be a new mayor and two new council members in Coulee Dam, all defeating incumbents, vote totals as of last Friday show. The new mayor will be Gregory Wilder, who defeated longtime Mayor Quincy Snow, 231-107. New council members will be Gayle Swagerty who defeated incumbent Karl Hjorten, 206-104; and Duane Johnson, who won over Andrew Trader, 226-83. All take office in January. The three new leaders had joined in the effort to derail the Coulee Dam wastewater treatment plant project seeking a delay and possible relocation. They had... Full story
Greg Wilder is Coulee Dam's mayor-elect. He was ushered in by voters with a substantial margin over his four-time mayor opponent Quincy Snow. Wilder had swept his way into the general election by a 3-1 margin over Snow who was running for his fifth four-year term. The margin Tuesday night was 110 for Wilder and 54 for Snow. A few late ballots will not change the outcome. The major issue in the campaign has been Coulee Dam's proposed wastewater treatment plant. Wilder had opposed the $4.92... Full story
Carol Visker, the senior municipal clerk in the coulee area, has resigned her position at Coulee Dam. Visker, who has been at Coulee Dam for 12 years, has taken a position at Almira/Coulee/Hartline schools. “She has done a great job for us and she and I have had a good run together,” Mayor Quincy Snow said. Snow said Visker would be available to answer questions about the 2014 budget which she put together before leaving. “A lot of clerks in the area know what she could do and often asked for her assistance,” Snow stated. His comments were mi... Full story
Mayoral challenger Greg Wilder says he has filed a complaint against Coulee Dam Mayor Quincy Snow with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, contending that Snow used his office and town resources to support his own campaign efforts. Contacted for comment, Snow said he didn’t use town facilities for campaign purposes. Snow, Wilder charged, requested public records on Wilder from the city of LaCenter and made the request in his official capacity as mayor, using the town’s e-mail and telephone to try to find material that was det... Full story
Officials in the town of Coulee Dam are hopeful that they will be able to make a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation on a law enforcement contract. Mayor Quincy Snow, Police Chief Pat Collins and Councilmember Bob Poch met last Wednesday with the Bureau’s regional director, Lorri Lee, to make another attempt to land a contract. Chief Collins said that another meeting is scheduled for later this week and that “negotiations continue.” Recent developments saw the Bureau award a continuing contract to Grand Coulee, but Coulee Dam’s law enforce... Full story
The Candy Point Trail is in trouble, and Carol Netzel has asked the Coulee Dam Town Council for help. Access to the Candy Point Trail is through Netzel’s front yard and when you arrive at the top you are afforded a bird’s eye view of Grand Coulee Dam and the town of Coulee Dam. In a letter to the council last Wednesday, Netzel appealed to town officials to come up with a plan to fix the deteriorating trail. “Although this is not on city land, it has always been considered one of our local attractions,” Netzel wrote to the council. A sign in... Full story
I wish to provide some insight to the USBR Law Enforcement Contract with regards to the benefits this contract provides to the citizens of the Town of Coulee Dam. The Coulee Dam Police Department has provided 24 hour 7 day a week Police Protection to the Bureau of Reclamation since September 11, 2001. This Contract has provided for additional security presence within and around Coulee Dam, along with enabling the town to provide for additional employment and maintain and improve its police equipment. In detail these funds provide for up to... Full story