TONASKET – The expected closing date for the Tonasket pool was set by City Council as Saturday, Aug. 28 during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

“This way, we’ll be open the whole weekend of Garlic Fest and all those people might see the pool and think about getting season passes for next year,” Julianna Griffin, council member, said.

“I think since we opened a little earlier than we normally do, if traffic at the pool really slows down after Tuesday, Aug. 24, we should close it then,” Alice Attwood, city clerk, said.

Attwood suggested closing the pool after Aug. 24 because the fundraiser to bring the Missoula Children’s Theatre back to Tonasket has been rescheduled to take place at the pool the evening of Aug. 24.

After agreeing with Attwood, the council moved on to approving the schedule of budget hearings for 2011. Budget requests from department heads are due in to Attwood by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 13 while the revenue sources public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. The preliminary budget hearing will also be held on Oct. 12 along with the discussion to set the tax levy. The following week, on Tuesday, Oct. 19, there will be a budget workshop beginning at 4:30 p.m. and then the budget workshop hearing will be on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The final budget hearing will be on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. and the council plans to adopt the budget during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.

The council next approved an estimate of costs to chip seal Fifth St. from Whitcomb Ave. to Western Ave. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2,431 with an estimated $1,325 going toward 500 gallons of oil, $275.60 going toward 20 yards of rock, $244 going toward labor and $366 going toward equipment. A ten percent administration fee of $221.06 brings the estimated total to $2,431.66.

A first reading of ordinance number 684 and of ordinance number 685 was then done.

Ordinance number 684 is “An ordinance of the City of Tonasket, Washington amending the 2010 Budget Ordinance #675 and amending ordinances #677 and #682 to include revenues and expenditures for the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant, the purchase of a street sweeper and the pool feasibility study.”

Ordinance number 685 is “An ordinance of the City of Tonasket, Washington amending the 2010 Budget/Salaries to create a new category and wage for a Reserve Police Sergeant,” which Mayor Patrick Plumb said would just establish one more step on the pay scale for the police department. The salary for the reserve police sergeant was set at $12 an hour.

Finally, the Tonasket City Council approved Resolution 2010-10 with a 2-1 vote. The resolution, which allows for an inter-fund loan between the water/sewer reserve fund and the city street fund, was explained by Attwood as a housekeeping issue to allow the water/sewer reserve fund to help pay for the recent purchase of the street sweeper in the amount of $27,270. The resolution borrowed $12,180 from the water/sewer fund, which the city street fund will pay back within 10 years, starting in 2011.

The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 24 beginning at 7 p.m. in city hall.