The Mossyrock City Council is once again short one councilor, as during the council’s first regular meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 21, Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser announced that Position 3 Councilor Shannon Mcarron had submitted a letter of resignation.
Sasser also discussed an apparent diesel fuel spill which occurred in town and nearly contaminated Klickitat Creek, and together with the council also discussed an amended recreational vehicle (RV) ordinance but took no voting action on it.
The council did approve a newly updated fee schedule for renting out city park facilities and other city services. The updated fee schedule is available at Mossyrock City Hall, located at 231 E. State St., and will soon be available on the city’s website by clicking on the “fee schedule” link at https://www.cityofmossyrock.com/city-hall/.
New draft designs the City of Mossyrock’s logo made by local artists were also debuted at the meeting, with the council discussing possible ways to hold a vote on which logo will be chosen to be the new official logo and letterhead of the city.
As for the new council vacancy, the city council has 90 days to appoint Mcarron’s replacement following the date of her resignation according to state law. If unable to find an appointee, members of the Lewis County Board of Commissioners are required to appoint someone qualified to fill the vacancy.
“Shannon turned in her resignation for family issues on Jan. 1, so we do have an empty spot and we are looking for (a new councilor),” Sasser said.
Currently, Mossyrock city staff are accepting letters of intent from any Mossyrock resident interested in being appointed to the council who has lived within city limits for at least one year and is a registered voter.
Letters will be reviewed by councilors, who will then hold an open public meeting interview process before selecting an appointee to serve out the remainder of Mcarron’s term, set to end in 2027 as Mcarron was last reelected in 2023.
Sasser also asked residents to use caution due to the diesel fuel spill, which got into some of the city’s storm drains that empty into Klickitat Creek.
“We do not know how that happened. We did follow the trail of where it went through town, it went out to the county park, it went up to Williams (Street), down Williams, down onto (U.S.) Highway 12, went out to Pan-American (Berry Growers), but it didn’t stop there,” Sasser said. “Then it went all the way out to Wilson Road, and went up there. We’re not sure how it happened, where it came from. All we can say is that people need to be aware of whatever goes on the ground, it could potentially contaminate Klickitat Creek. And then that flows into the lake.”
He asked local residents doing mechanical work to their vehicles to exercise more caution and pay attention to fluid spills.
As for the RV ordinance, changes were proposed in order to both make the ordinance more simple to understand along with creating guidelines law enforcement can use to prevent homeless encampments from starting. In the ordinance, an RV is defined as “a vehicular-type unit which is primarily designed for recreational camping or travel use and is self propelled, or can be mounted on, or towed by another vehicle. Recreational vehicles include, but are not limited to, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, folding camping trailers, truck campers and motor homes.”
Some stipulations proposed including baring anyone from living permanently in any RV, trailer or similar mobile shelter set up.
Living in an RV temporarily is allowed, but only for an initial 15 day period. After those first 15 days are up, anyone living in an RV must get a permit from the city for an additional 15 day period — but this can only be done twice before the city will no longer grant a permit.
Variances may be granted due to family hardship or medical reasons, or if a primary residence on a property is still under construction.
For those living in them temporarily, no more than two will be allowed per property, and they must be hooked up to the city’s water and sewer systems.
Additionally, leasing, renting or subletting RVs is also prohibited.
While some discussion was held as to whether or not the updated ordinance was too restrictive, the council tabled the issue for further discussion at the next Mossyrock City Council meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. inside the Mossyrock Community Center.
And while not an official meeting item, during public comment, Mossyrock Historical Society member Buddy Rose announced that at a recent historical society meeting rumors sprung up about a possible property for sale in Mossyrock.
“The (Mossyrock) Community Church is probably gonna be sold,” Rose said. “And there was some discussion as to could that be a museum? The question was brought up.”
Rose suggested city staff look into possibly purchasing the church should it be put up for sale, with the intention of turning it into an official museum for the East Lewis County community.
The church and its parking lot lie on two parcels of land totalling 0.63 acres, with a combined assessed value of $383,300 according to the Lewis County Parcels website.
