The Oct. 7 Winthrop Town Council meeting was mostly discussion, not so much action. But council members gave some indications of what they’re thinking about in terms of possible changes to town ordinances and policies.
One topic was mayoral pay, currently set at $2,000 a month. Mayor Robert Grim, who was elected in 2025, is seeking the office of Okanogan County District Court judge, a position he held several years earlier. He was subsequently appointed as a Superior Court judge, and resigned from that position last year to run for mayor.
If Grim is elected at the November election, he could take office after the vote is certified later in November, leaving the town temporarily without a mayor.
In that situation, the Town Council would appoint Grim’s replacement from among applicants who would be subject to public interviews. Grim’s replacement would have to stand for election in 2027.
Grim suggested that an increase in the mayoral pay level, which can only be approved by the council, might be an inducement for people to apply, if there is a vacancy. But it could be challenging for the council to consider and adopt changes before potential applications are sought, if that becomes necessary.
Nevertheless, council member Ed Zuckerman suggested that the council could “send a message to whoever” to “indicate that we have started a process.”
Council member Seth Miles said that “I would hate to be dangling a carrot to get someone in,” but agreed it would useful to consider the pay issue.
Council member Marisa Monteverde suggested that town staff review the budget implications of various scenarios and report back to the council.
Other topics discussed were a bit more mundane but nonetheless important to residents and business owners.
Among them was whether the town should take over responsibility for some sidewalks, in that more sidewalks have been added in recent years and the current code requirement that owners maintain them is not being consistently observed. Of particular concern was sidewalk safety in the winter.
Public Works Superintendent Jake Gates supported the idea of town maintenance. “It would be a much better situation if we had control of it,” he said.
Moving from sidewalks to boardwalks, there was also discussion about a requirement got more uniformity in materials and dimensions, an issue that has frequently come up in the past.
The council also considered whether the seasonal lights that decorate downtown buildings starting with Christmas at the End of the Road and continuing until April 1 of the following year need to be on 24/7. Consensus was that the lights could be turned off at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. and turned back on at dawn.
There was no formal action on any of the discussion items.
In other business:
• The council got an update of a bad news, good news variety when Public Works Superintendent Jake Gates reported on the repair of a water main leak in the Heckendorn neighborhood. Gates said the leak had been “substantial” for some time, and it was necessary to shut off water to the neighborhood during the repair.
However, Gates said, the water main project helped identify a major source of water loss from the town’s system that is now repaired.
Gates said that various leaks have caused about a 29% annual loss of water in the town system. The new repair will help reduce that, he said. The goal, Gates said, is to reduce the loss figure to about 10% annually.
• Grim said the town is in the process of developing a public records policy.
• The mayor said an opening remains on the Town’s Civil Service Commission. The commission is comprised of three town residents who are appointed for six-year terms by the mayor. The commission reviews applicants for civil service openings, including for the Marshal’s Office, and typically meets only as required. Applicants should be registered voters and have lived in Winthrop for at least three years. Contact town hall at winthropclerk@townofwinthrop.com or call (509) 996-2320 if interested.
