White Salmon mayor outlines pool bid, Bluff Trail grant and childcare work; council proclaims Dark Sky Week

Mayor Marla Keethler used the council meeting on April 15 to brief the community on several ongoing projects and outreach efforts, and to highlight two city proclamations.

Keethler said the White Salmon Valley Metropolitan Park District pool project is going out to bid and that phased fuel-break and wildfire-preparedness work continues, including an upcoming wildfire open house and Wildfire Ready Neighbors program. She also noted a Bluff Trail grant application and a federal funding application through the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority. Keethler called out regional learning opportunities such as Washington State University capstone presentations and a national rural resource partners convening at Skamania Lodge.

On childcare, Keethler reviewed city actions to support early learning access: funding a childcare and community center feasibility study, updating zoning to allow childcare in commercial zones, supporting countywide childcare funding opportunities and providing childcare reimbursement for committee and commission members. Department staff and councilors have discussed continued regional collaboration to expand services.

Council approved proclamations declaring International Dark Sky Week (April 13-20) and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18), the former encouraging residents and businesses to reduce light pollution and the latter recognizing 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Council members also reported on committee work: tree-board activities and a donated Liberty Tree planting, a service-development charge model in progress, and organics-waste study outreach planned for May.