Cashmere tackles infrastructure, tourism funding, and staffing needs

CASHMERE — Cashmere city officials approved a series of routine but consequential business items at the Jan. 26 City Council meeting, including awarding a major sewer repair contract, revising how the city’s lodging tax revenue is split, and taking steps to address growing administrative workload inside City Hall.

The council voted to award a sewer repair project contract to Tipton Construction, the low bidder on a project estimated at about $400,000. City staff told councilmembers that seven companies submitted bids and that the winning bid came in below the engineer’s estimate.

Director of Operations Steve Croci said the project will involve digging and replacing sections of sewer line rather than lining the pipe, because of side sewer connections that make lining impractical. The work is expected to be done in phases and will include traffic control, with a total construction window of roughly 30 days.

In a separate action, the council approved changes to its agreement with the Cashmere Chamber of Commerce to revise how the city’s lodging tax revenue is divided. Under the new arrangement, the revenue will be split 50/50 between the city and the chamber.

City officials said lodging tax receipts have grown from less than $5,000 per year in earlier years to a little over $10,000 per year more recently. The chamber will continue to receive funding for tourism promotion, while the city will now have more flexibility to direct its share toward projects such as signage, museum support, and other visitor-related amenities that also fall under the tourism-related umbrella required for spending lodging tax money.

The council also discussed internal staffing pressures at City Hall and approved a budget amendment aimed at restoring administrative capacity that has been stretched thin.

City staff said the city has fallen behind on paperwork, records management, and other administrative tasks, and that the current workload is no longer sustainable with existing staffing levels. The approved change will shift funding from Public Works to support the restoration of an office position to help address the backlog.

Councilmembers said the move is intended to stabilize day-to-day operations and prevent small administrative delays from turning into larger organizational problems.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media