The Toppenish City Council is again at full strength, after the appointment of Mark Oaks on Jan. 11, during the council’s first regular meeting of the year.
Oaks was the only applicant for the position, which was vacated by Bob Thomas after he was elected in November, even though he had withdrawn from the race prior to the election.
Oaks ran against Christina Kwan for the council seat he was appointed to fill last year, but was defeated in that election.
The council vote to appoint Oaks was unanimous.
In other action, the council authorized city staff to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to would be used for replacement of city water lines on Goldendale and Franklin Avenues.
During the public hearing regarding the grant application, Public Works Director Lance Hoyt told the council only $12 million was available state wide for the block grants.
He recommended the project on Goldendale and Franklin Avenues, which would replace 4-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch water lines and would cost roughly $320,000.
Hoyt said he believed there was a greater likelihood that the grant application would be approved if the dollar amount of the grant were kept low.
A project costing $590,000 to replace around 2,300 feet of 8-inch water pipe on East Toppenish Avenue was also considered.
Special Projects Assistant Tom Kehm told the council the block grants had initially been used for housing rehabilitation, but the state was now encouraging municipalities to use the grants for community centers, homeless shelters, child care facilities and water/sewer lines.
Kehm said housing rehabilitation is still eligible for consideration for the grants, but is a lower priority.
There is no cost to the city for the grants, except the cost of applying.
The next council meeting will be Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., in the city hall council chambers.