Cashmere City Council Meeting April 24

Cottage Avenue Park will be renamed, to honor Eugene Christian Long who donated the property where the park is located. The name change was unanimously approved by the Cashmere City Council at their April 24 meeting. Russ Long, who requested the name change, told the Council that his great grandfather went by his initials, E.C., and that the land was his ancestor’s cow pasture. According to city records the donation seems to have occurred in 1911.  According to Russ Long, E.C. donated the property with the stipulation that the city keep it as a park in perpetuity. Fletcher said that a small plaque would be created to display the new park name.

The purchase of a new fire truck was unanimously approved by the Council. The truck will be built and customized specifically for Cashmere, at a cost of $529,453. It will be ready for pick up in Florida, in 27-31 months. Payment will not be due until the truck is completed. Fletcher explained that although the city has funds set aside for the purchase of the truck, the two years gives the city time to seek grants to help offset the cost.

The adoption of Chelan County Comprehensive Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan was unanimously approved by the Council. Brenda Blanchfield, Chelan County’s Solid Waste Coordinator, explained to the Council that every 5 years the County is required to update the plan, the new plan will be in effect from 2023 – 2028. The County, and the cities of Cashmere, Entiat, Leavenworth, Chelan and Wenatchee have formed a coalition to pool resources and create consistent strategies to manage and reduce solid and household hazardous waste.

Blanchfield told the Council that County’s household hazardous waste facility was recognized by the state as having all the necessary needs for safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste. Addressing some of the items in the plan, she said that Dryden Transfer Station needs to be expanded. Managing construction demolition waste is a challenge due to it taking up a lot of room and the large amount that is generated, 23% of the waste stream.

The recycling rate in Chelan County is at about 34%, with a goal of reaching 50%. She explained that these are state survey numbers, and do not account for items that may be recycled and reused at home or donated to a charity.

Fletcher said being a part of the coalition is beneficial for Cashmere and that waste management is not something that the city can do on its own, and the city is getting a lot of services for the small cost required to be a part of the coalition. Director of Operations, Steve Croci, said that it is important for Cashmere residents to keep recycling bins clear of contaminants (non-recyclable material). One recycling bin contaminated with garbage can result in an entire truckload of recycling to be dumped in the landfill. Blanchfield added that the Waste Wizard website can help residents determine where and what things can be recycled.

The Council unanimously approved a new agreement with the Cashmere Swim Team for the use of the City’s pool. Only two changes were made to the existing agreement. The Team requested the morning time be changed from 2 hours to 3 hours, from 8 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. and the evening swim time has been eliminated.

The hours from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. will be shared with swimming lessons. The amount each team member swimmer pays has been increased from $5.00 to

$15.00 for the entire season. According to Fletcher this is the first-rate increase since 2013. Council member, Shela Pistoresi, asked about the construction activity by the river on Aplets Way, across from the Milepost restaurant, and said that some people are upset about what is occurring there. Fletcher replied that it will be a 3-story building with businesses on the ground floor and apartments on the 2^nd and 3^rd floors, with a parking lot behind the building. He said that the project is within the City’s building code requirements for the downtown business district. Council member Chris Carlson added that he has talked to the project’s architect and there will be 20 high-end apartments.