Cashmere City Council approves partial payment to Humane Society amid contract dispute

CASHMERE — The Cashmere City Council voted 3-2 to partially pay the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (WVHS) for January services during its Feb. 24 meeting, opting to use 2024 rates instead of the new higher rates for 2025.

The council received a $2,365 bill from WVHS for January services calculated at the new 2025 rate — a 43% increase from 2024. After deliberation, the council approved a payment of $1,659, calculated using the previous year's rate schedule.

The payment dispute stemmed from the city's January decision not to renew its contract with WVHS due to the significant rate increase. Council member Jeff Johnson, who voted against the payment, argued that without a contract in place, the city had no obligation to pay for services.

Mayor Jim Fletcher recommended paying for the services, noting that the city had not informed WVHS until mid-January about the non-renewal.

"Often government agreements, like annual contracts, are signed retroactively and it is common for government and other entities to proceed, under the assumption that the contract will be continued," Fletcher said.

Council member Jayne Stephenson, who also opposed the payment, disagreed with the mayor's assessment, stating it would be "presumptuous for the WVHS to make that assumption and their prices are astronomical and ridiculous."

Council members also questioned the itemized bill, which included responses to dog-related calls but lacked addresses to verify locations within Cashmere. Council member Shela Pistoresi proposed and motioned to pay the bill at the 2024 rate.

In other business, the council unanimously approved a $200 half-day non-profit/government rate for use of the Riverside Center. Mayor Fletcher explained that the planned library relocation to the Center has been delayed until 2026, and the city no longer has a contract with an event management company.

"Providing a reduced rate would allow local organizations that provide service to the community to use the building, which would be better than it sitting empty," Fletcher said.

The council voted 4-1 to approve updates to the city's floodplain code, with Stephenson opposed. Christina Wollman, Planning Consultant with Perteet, Inc., explained the revisions "were mostly to clarify the code" and that "requirements for homeowners did not change and the updated ordinance would not require anyone to do anything different."

Two unanimous votes related to the new Fruitful Place development approved both the final plat (pending payment of required fees and receipt of the construction bond) and the extension of water and sewer infrastructure into the City's systems.

The council also unanimously awarded a contract to Moe Asphalt Patching and Seal Coating, Inc., the lowest of seven bidders at $9,078.14, to sealcoat the Riverside Park Pathway.

A $49,000 project for improvements to Julianne Court and Meadowsweet Place was approved, including roadway pulverization, a new full-width overlay, and two ADA ramp upgrades.

Finally, the council approved consent to change control from Zipley Fiber Northwest to BCE Holding, required after Localtel was acquired.