Members of the Toledo City Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, and among the topics of discussion on the council’s agenda was a dispute request from the Toledo School District concerning sewer and water service charges added following a recent audit of the city’s utilities.
Ultimately, the council voted unanimously, with Councilor Jamie Scalise not present during the meeting, to reject the school district’s dispute of the additional charges from the audit and their forgiveness request.
The audit covered usage of the utilities going back to 2024 and showed that the city had under-billed the school district, according to an Aug. 27 letter from Toledo School District Superintendent Brennan Bailey included in the council’s agenda report.
“Due to the district's fiscal-year and accounting requirements, the 2024-25 fiscal year has been closed, and the District's financial records for that fiscal year have been completed and audited by the Washington State Auditor's Office,” Bailey said in the letter. “... The district's 2025-26 fiscal year ends on August 31, 2026. In an effort to resolve this matter, and without agreeing to the validity or amount of the disputed charges, the District is willing to pay the remaining $10,018.34 on the purchase order as full and final settlement of the Toledo School District's account … The district respectfully requests that the city accept this amount as payment in full and close the account accordingly.”
Toledo City Clerk-Treasurer Rachel Campbell explained there was no leakage anywhere in the Toledo School District’s water or sewer systems, and that the audit revealed their old system had simply not been billing them correctly.
“The system just wasn’t calculating the charges correctly,” Campbell said.
Toledo City Attorney Marissa Jay recommended the council deny the school district’s dispute of the charges to avoid violating state law that prohibits the gifting of public funds.
Campbell added the Toledo School District was asking for forgiveness of “another 10 grand,” on top of the $10,018.34 they had agreed to pay.
“We understand they’re on a budget, just like we are. It’s unexpected. It’s not their fault. It sucks,” Campbell said.
Also during the meeting, Toledo Historical Society member Sandy Hare announced plans for Toledo's upcoming 145th birthday celebration, along with making a call for more volunteers to help with the celebration.
Scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the fields of the Toledo Middle School, Toledo’s 145th birthday party will feature a “flapjack breakfast,” live magic performances, the annual community drone photograph, a cornhole tournament and other games, a vintage photo booth and a community lunch and birthday cake, according the the event’s official Facebook page.
Additionally, Toledo Historical Society members will be showing video oral histories featuring long-time Toledo community members, along with holding contests for pies, chili and cornbread, and historical walking tours around the community.
However, some of these events may be in jeopardy if Hare and the other organizers can’t get more help.
“There’s lots going on, and we need lots of volunteers, we don’t have enough yet. And if we don’t get enough, I’m considering cutting the activities way back, or else, cancelling it altogether,” Hare said. “Because, there have been so many things that Jo Jones and I have pretty much done on our own and we haven’t gotten much in the volunteer well. Just like Larry (Davidson) said, people get volunteered out around here, and I understand that. But, it’s a way to build community as well.”
Along with volunteers, Hare also said sponsorship opportunities are still available.
“I hope we’re able to pull it off, I really am. But, I can’t do it alone, and I can’t do it with one or two people. I need about 20 to 25 volunteers,” Hare added.
Those interested in volunteering can do so online at https://tinyurl.com/mw8v6hy4. For more information on Toledo’s 145th birthday party, visit the Facebook event page at https://tinyurl.com/3cjpzf35.
