Garbage rates, actual cool stuff
City of Willits post-meeting coverage
Monday, December 19, 2022
Reader, this is a briefing on a recent Willits City Council meeting. That’s all the city meetings for ‘22.
City gov’t | Rate increases + actual cool things at City Hall, museum.
City gov’t | Post-meeting brief
Willits City Council, Tuesday, December 15:
Greta Kanne is now mayor, Gerardo Gonzalez is vice mayor for ‘23.
Council members Larry Stanske and Kanne ran unopposed in ‘22, the city having decided previously to forgo an election in November.
For their new leadership positions, Kanne and Gonzalez won unanimous approval from their city council colleagues.
Little Lake Fire Chief Bill Carter on burn permits:
“Burning is ok with a permit on your property, but it is only vegetative matter on your property. So the permitted address is your address. Whatever grows on your property you can burn. You cannot bring anything from the outside, you cannot burn your neighbor’s stuff. You cannot burn your work stuff and bring it home, you cannot take your home stuff to work,” Carter said.
Also, fire departments were set to train at the old hospital building last Saturday.
Note that Carter said the building was now asbestos-free, demolition soon to follow.
The fire chief said it was a rare and golden opportunity for firefighters to train in a real building.
The fire district has a new above-ground fuel tank at its Baechtel Road station and could be used to sell fuel during any future Public Safety Power Shutoffs (for example), said Carter.
Supervisor John Haschak attended:
3rd District Supervisor John Haschak attended and spoke to the council about some of the county’s issues.
A county effort to increase taxation that would fund the tourism and promotional services of Visit Mendocino is raising concerns here in Willits.
More on that: “Tourism Commission seeks to increase assessments” —Sarah Reith/KZYX.
That topic took up most of Haschak’s time, with remarks from the council and City Manager Brian Bender.
County museum’s Karen Mattson on new strategic plan:
County of Mendocino Museum on Commercial Street in Willits is working out a new strategic plan that can guide the museum into the future.
The museum is looking for community feedback and there is an online survey that you may want to take and a video to watch, too.
“All of the work we have done has led us to a place where we are now participating in a strategic plan to plan for the future of the museum,” Mattson said.
Solid Waste of Willits rate increase:
Council members unanimously passed SWOW’s requested rate increase of 10.81 percent for customers inside city limits.
The garbage business is interesting.
SWOW head Gerald Ward explained how his company stays competitive in the recyclables market.
SWOW employees 16 on a recyclables sorting line here in Willits.
“I am really proud of the guys who do the sorting, we really do have a clean product,” Ward said.
Other business:
A resolution to re-up the city’s participation in the county’s abandoned vehicle abatement program passed 5-0.
“It is a good tool for us when it goes beyond our regular tow services,” Police Chief Fabian Lizarraga said.
For example, Lizarraga said the city used the program to remove a problematic trailer near Railroad Avenue.
Another resolution to sign off on Phase 1 of the groundwater improvement project also passed 5-0.
Total cost of the project was $681, 780. Grant money will cover all but $130,780 that will be paid for from the city’s water fund, Project Manager Andrea Trincado said.
Babcock Park tree repurposed at City Hall:
City Hall sports some pretty cool new counter tops from sound of things.
Wood from a felled Giant sequoia in Babcock Park now lives on as a public display of affection for the beloved tree and Willits’ history.
“We are a lumber town, we are a redwood town and that was a part of our history,” Public Works Superintendent Kenan O’Shea said. “So it was sort of a way of honoring the memory of that tree and the history that we have.”
There’s also some benches and other things coming that will help tie it all together, O’Shea said.
“It just shows we are mindful of our heritage, recycling when possible, repurposing and reusing things from our past,” said O’Shea.
Written and compiled by Zack Cinek | 707 613 0369 | newsboy.zack@gmail.com | Mail: 75 N MAIN ST #121 Willits CA 95490
