Grandview meeting highlights: service award, ribbon cutting announcement and local grant application

At the Jan. 13 Grandview City Council meeting Mayor Ashley Lara presented a service award to Councilmember Steve Barrientes in recognition of his service from May 9, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2025. The presentation was part of brief ceremonial items on the agenda.

During public comment Monica Niemeyer of the Grandview Chamber of Commerce announced a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Travel Center Truck Plaza on Jan. 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., noting neighboring communities were invited. Marisela Santana-Walle, Environmental Justice Coordinator for ELLA (Empowering Latina Leadership and Action), invited the mayor and council to a Jan. 23 Zoom panel discussion aimed at engaging Lower Yakima Valley communities on environmental justice and health disparities.

In staff reports City Administrator Shane Fisher said the Travel Center Truck Plaza ribbon cutting will occur Jan. 21 at 11:00 a.m.; the Applebee’s and IHOP grand openings are scheduled for Feb. 3 with a site tour for the mayor and council the week of Jan. 26. Staff said they submitted capital budget requests for the new police department design, fire apparatus purchase, and wastewater-treatment-plant improvements, and noted the Public Safety Committee will meet with USDA on Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m. Fisher also reported that staff and Trevor Macduff with Silas Education submitted a $50,000 T-Mobile grant application for the Hanford Reach Solar System Project to locate a Pluto sculpture in Palacios Parkway.

Dr. Teresa Rich was reported as the new president of Yakima Valley College. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.