By Sheila Corson
Chronicle staff

     BREWSTER - The police department will move forward with six officers this year, despite a council debate in December over a previous council decision to lay off an officer.
     Developments in 2009 led to a question of whether the department would have to lay off an officer Jan. 15, 2010. Originally, the council had voted to pursue grant funds to pay for a sixth officer, with the understanding that the current sixth officer would resign Jan. 15.
     However, the grant was denied and the officer, Nattalie Cariker, decided not to resign.
     Council debated whether that meant a layoff. At the Dec. 9 meeting, a vote to reduce the force to five officers failed 2-3.
     Police Chief Ron Oules said the department will maintain all six officers with the same budget as last year.
     Mayor Lee Webster said at the Jan. 13 meeting that Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington advised that even if the council voted last year to reduce the force, the most recent council decision stands.
     In other business, the council:
     - Cleared up conflict of interest questions regarding new Councilman Dan Smith and Councilman Bob Fately.
     Smith had been asked to divulge any financial interest with his father's business, which holds a contract with the city. Smith said the issue wasn't relevant, since he has no part in the formulation of the contract.
     He said that he does not have any financial interest in the business. If something came up later regarding the contract, he would recuse himself from the issue, he said.
     Webster said a similar question came up regarding Fately and his relationship with Oules. Fately is Oules’ father-in-law.
     A resident asked whether Fately could vote on police department issues.
     The only time that would be unacceptable would be if Fately stood to gain financially from a decision. But since that is not the case, Fately is free to vote on any issues, the council said.
     - Approved a new rate/fee schedule for 2010 as part of a four-year schedule set in 2007. The new rates include a 5 percent increase across the board, with some fees slightly higher or lower.
     The vote passed 4-1, with Dan Smith voting against. He asked multiple questions about the need to raise rates and fees in various areas, especially when finances already are tight for ratepayers.
     Public Works Director J.D. Smith said the city has been catching up with rates because they have been low for a long time. If the city does not raise rates up to current standards, it could face denial of grants and loan applications for big projects.
     - Heard from Oules that there have been many problems with dance and banquet hall parties getting out of control. Recently, Oules said he issued citations to a minor and an adult found drinking beer in the street outside a party.
     There also have been reports of fights and children in the street.
     He recommended the council look into passing an ordinance requiring security for such events, especially since they have liquor licenses.
     Council agreed, and will research other city ordinances and revisit the matter at the next meeting.
     - Heard from J.D. Smith that public works is looking at opening up restrooms abandoned near the pool. It would require about $4,000 to $5,000 to get the fixtures needed.
     Because of complaints and problems, the showers at Columbia Cove will be removed.
     - Agreed to remain part of the criminal justice consortium with many other cities in the county. The consortium negotiates payment rates with Okanogan County for District Court matters.
     Oules was appointed the city representative for the consortium, with Webster as the alternate.
     - Approved a contract with USKH to serve as the on-call airport engineer. The company was the only to apply, but came with high recommendations from the Federal Aviation Administration, J.D. Smith said.
     - Heard that the move to de-annex a portion of land from the city was denied by voters through a single vote. Approval required a three-fifths yes vote, Webster said.
     If the landowner still wishes to de-annex the land, the process will have to be restarted on the owner's time and costs.
     - Heard that J.D. Smith will apply for a $40,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for a new backhoe. He originally pursued $96,128 for the backhoe and a service vehicle, but was told to split the requests.
     - Recommended that J.D. Smith deny an agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources to rent portions of the soccer field if a fire camp is needed. DNR had suggested paying the city $5 per vehicle and $5 per tent per day.
     Councilman Fateley said that was not enough. He said Smith should make a deal in the city's favor and charge more.
     - Heard that the city is finalizing the process to get a water right to 32 acre-feet of water.
     J.D. Smith said the city had been fighting for two years and spent $30,000 because the state Department of Ecology presented multiple challenges.