Members of the Mossyrock City Council convened on Wednesday, May 20, for their monthly regular meeting inside the Mossyrock Community Center, unanimously approving a pair of ordinances pertaining to living in recreational vehicles (RVs) and motorhomes, and consolidating and updating the city’s fee schedules.
Some discussion was held pertaining to the RV ordinance, as Councilor Mark Thompson was concerned about the fee for violating the ordinance, which is up to $300 a day.
“Within a week or so, you’re going to own their motorhome,” Thompson said.
While he said he understood the need to update the ordinance to have laws on the books in the code to enforce in cases of illegal sewage dumping or other criminal activity in RVs, he was still worried the fines could be too steep.
Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser explained the wording in the ordinance stated fines could be up to $300 a day, meaning each incident would be handled on a case-by-case basis and the maximum fine amount might not be levied.
Sasser added the ordinance also made it easier for those living in RVs in order to take care of loved ones in hospice or other medical situations to get permits.
“It leaves open the door for us to have compassion. I think that’s what this all started from, is having some compassion,” Sasser said.
While ordinances pertaining to owning livestock in city limits and requiring conditional use permits for shipping containers were also on the meeting agenda, they were tabled as the council was still waiting for the Mossyrock Planning Commission to finish reviewing the draft ordinances to make recommendations before final approval.
Planning Commission Chair Marcia Manley told Sasser she and the rest of the planning commission would have recommendations by the city council’s next meeting, scheduled for June 17. Manley added there are still two vacant positions on the planning commissions, and invited anyone interested and eligible to apply at Mossyrock City Hall.
To be eligible, one must be a registered voter and have resided within the 98564 zip code area in and around Mossyrock for at least a year. Mossyrock City Hall is located at 231 E. State St.
Mossyrock Area Historical Society (MAHS) members also discussed their time capsule project, part of their participation in the nationwide America250 celebration marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. on July 4.
While taking ideas for items to include in the capsule, one of which included a penny, Sasser added a copy of the republished “Memories from Family Albums of School District #206," commonly known as the "Red Book,” will be included.
The “Red Book” was originally published in 1976 by members of the Mossyrock Grange #355 as a part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, and MAHS member Buddy Rose and other members decided to republish the book this year as a part of America250, celebrating America’s 250th birthday coming up this summer.
With the book’s pages transcribed by Rose throughout this past winter, the “Red Book” features the histories of the East County communities of Salkum, Silver Creek, Harmony, Mayfield, Mossyrock, Ajlune, Riffe, Nesika and more, along with local churches, post offices and fire departments, photos, and East Lewis County family genealogical history.
A total of 300 new copies of the “Red Book” were made and are being sold to raise money for both the grange and MAHS. Should the initial 300 copies sell out, more will be ordered.
To purchase a “Red Book,” visit https://mossyrockhistory.square.site/. The book can still be purchased in-person at monthly MAHS meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Mossyrock Community Center next to city hall.
While he didn’t have any major crimes to report, Morton Police Chief Cole Cournyer explained a new hire at his department had recently resigned due to “family reasons,” but had another new hire currently in training.
And during his own report, Sasser stated the city was having to spend around $16,000 to replace a pump at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The pump was broken as some residents in town have been flushing non-flushable baby wipes.
“Its a big deal, especially when you have a tight budget,” Sasser added.
He asked residents to stop flushing baby wipes and properly dispose of them.
