Month: September 2019

Council Education Summary

25 Sep 2019 Admin

City council members are provided opportunities to learn more about councilmember responsibilities and municipal issues from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC). The city budgets for these opportunities so that the councilmembers can be more effective in performing their duties. Councilmembers completing 30 hours of training are awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership (CML).

During their time on the council, many of the members have not taken full advantage of these opportunities. As of the date of publication, AWC reports the following credit hours earned by each council member:

NameTraining CreditsYears on Council
David Futcher9415
Mike Karnofski292
Nancy Malone104
Kim Lefebvre106
Jim Hill94
Larry Alexander54
Jeff McAllister02

Tam O’Shanter Getting Better Every Day

25 Sep 2019 Admin

The improvements at Tam O’Shanter Park have brought new life to the centerpiece of the Kelso park system, and were funded mostly with grants. David and other staff worked with the area’s state legislators to obtain grant funding from the State of Washington to help create additional parking, repave neglected surfaces, and improve the park’s circulation during large events like the Highlander Festival.

David especially had a hand in getting the front parking lot repaved this year. Staff had recommended moving that portion of the project back into a later period. David argued that repairing the interior of the park but having a failed lot at the entrance was nonsensical, and convinced the council to include the entry lot in the first project phase.

David’s Governance Priorities

15 Sep 2019 Admin

The city is not a separate entity from the citizens; it is its citizens. The city exists only to provide increased quality of life for its citizens.

Operating city government in an open manner, beyond what is required by state law. David provides monthly articles to the Chamber of Commerce to help keep the community abreast of Kelso’s developments.