West Richland candidates differ on golf course, library, sports fees
The four Nov. 3 city council races in West Richland feature candidates who want to champion the city’s successes against those who feel wronged by its government.
The lone race that doesn’t involve an incumbent is in Position 6 between Neomi N. Garza, who has owned construction companies for 11 years, and Scott Whalen, a senior researcher at Battelle.
Position 1 Councilman Byron Martin, owner of a technology company, is being challenged by John E. Smart, a senior research engineering specialist. The race will fill out the last two years of the unexpired term that Jay Bowman was elected to in 2013, even though he had withdrawn from the race. Martin was appointed to the position by the council in February 2014.
Position 5 incumbent Councilman Bob Perkes, a chiropractor, is being challenged by Don Engelman, a retired engineering company president.
Position 7 incumbent Councilman Tony Benegas, the owner of an engineering company, faces challenger Ken Stoker, a database programmer.
The winners of the races for positions 5, 6 and 7 will serve four-year terms. Ballots were mailed Wednesday. Council members earn $4,200 a year for their service.
Garza, Smart, Engelman and Stoker say they have been active in attending city council meetings in recent years. Garza and Smart became involved in their local government after a proposed rezoning of property near the intersection of Austin Drive and Van Giesen Street from residential to commercial so an Ace Hardware store could be built.
The Austin Drive citizens group has lost twice in court, but continues to appeal, said Mayor Brent Gerry, who is not up for re-election this year.
Engelman began attending meetings after he organized opposition to AT&T plans to build a 100-foot cellphone tower in the Bombing Range Sports Complex, near his home. The company later modified its plans.
Stoker was concerned about possible changes to Flat Top Park, as well as “golden parachutes” given to several city department heads on election night in 2013, when outgoing Mayor Donna Noski expressed concerns about what could happen to them after she left.
The police chief, as well as the directors for public works, finance, and community and economic development, have contracts that would provide up to five months paid salary and a $100,000 life insurance policy if they are removed without cause.
The incumbent candidates say they have helped the city, including securing $24.9 million from the state for a Red Mountain interchange off Interstate 82, which they feel will help drive future economic development with the wine industry.
They also say they helped land the city’s second middle school, which is scheduled to open in 2017, and led West Richland to as high as sixth on a list of Washington’s safest cities.
Library service
Among the issues the council faces is what to do about the library in West Richland. The city has contracted with Mid-Columbia Libraries since 1978, even though it is not part of the library district. It is now reviewing whether to remain or go with another provider, possibly the Richland Public Library.
It is difficult to tell whether Mid-Columbia Libraries or Richland would provide the services for less money, but Whalen said he would like to see West Richland continue negotiating with Mid-Columbia until an agreement is reached.
“I think they need to work out something with Mid-Columbia,” said Whalen, who finished first in a three-person primary in August. “I don’t want to see reduced services by going with Richland.”
Garza is afraid that the city wants to allow the library building’s lease to expire so it can be used for something else — a charge council members deny. She said the issue is urgent because Mid-Columbia won’t extend one-year contracts with West Richland after this year.
“They are carrying a lot of our load, willingly,” she said. “They would like to sign a five-year contract and remodel our library, which would be amazing.”
The winner between Garza and Whalen will fill the seat left open by Ron Hayden, who decided not to seek reelection.
Golf course
Another hot issue is what to do with the West Richland Municipal Golf Course. The city is suing its owner, Michelle Marcum, in federal bankruptcy court after she failed to make a balloon payment on the property, which she agreed to buy from the city in 2006. She is estimated to owe the city $1.27 million to $1.36 million.
The city would like to get an easement on part of Marcum’s property so walking trails can be built along the Yakima River. Martin said Marcum agreed to the easement in 2014 in memorandums she signed when she agreed to several extensions on her payments, but hasn’t complied with them.
“Anything about the easement and all that was noted in those documents, and she signed those documents,” he said. “Through those documents, I felt like it was a pretty clear understanding.”
Smart said the city tried to get Marcum to sign another document that would force her to give up “other real property” in addition to the easement.
“When I heard her story, it sounded to me like extortion,” he said. “I think the city has ulterior motives in the request for these easements.”
Martin finished first in the three-person primary with 720 votes, or 43 percent, with Smart at 600 votes, or 36 percent.
Public works building
Some seeking office have questioned the city’s construction of a new $4.7 million municipal services building, which houses the public works and planning departments. City officials say the building will consolidate all its public works operations, while helping spur development in the area near Belmont Boulevard and Keene Road.
The design might have been extravagant when initially introduced in 2007, but it has since been refined, Perkes said. The building is needed for the city’s future growth and is set back from the street to allow room for private development along the street.
“We may end up with a bay or two empty right now, but those bays are going to be filled,” he said. “Unfortunately, the nicest buildings in West Richland are city buildings. If we don’t set a standard, nice things won’t come.”
The building has been designed and gone out for bid, Gerry said. Construction is expected to start in the spring.
Engelman agrees that a new public works building is needed, but said the timing could have been better. He would have liked to have seen it delayed until West Richland, which struggles because its tax base is largely residential, is in better position with economic development.
“We’ve given a perception that we’re out there building a gold palace, when we don’t have the money to do so,” he said.
Park fees
Some were upset when the council in September approved new fees of $5 per hour for use of sports fields by youth leagues.
Money can be credited if the leagues have performed work on parks, like the Greater Richland Little League has done at the Bombing Range fields, which officials say means the Little League will have no out-of-pocket costs.
“The Little League was in discussions with them for a long time, and I don’t think that their concerns were well voiced in the council,” Stoker said. “Personally, I do see how they’re disenfranchised, and I would not be surprised if, eventually, they do go to Southridge.”
The system merely allows the city to keep a record of the use of park facilities, and to ensure it is not violating state law by gifting the fields, Benegas said. Anyone could have previously reserved park space for as long as they wanted, whether or not they lived in West Richland.
“We can’t give away public land — it’s ours, it’s for the citizens — but let’s work together and let’s develop a way we can make this equitable,” he said of the city’s approach. “I have to look out for all the citizens of West Richland.”
Geoff Folsom: 509-582-1543; gfolsom@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @GeoffFolsom
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 9:59 PM with the headline "West Richland candidates differ on golf course, library, sports fees."