YACHATS – For the first time in more than two years, the city of Yachats will have someone taking notes during council and commission meetings — or listening to recordings afterwards – and creating summaries of what occurred. The Yachats City Council agreed last week that it likes several samples of meeting summaries that […]
Yachats City Council
Lone candidate for Yachats city manager’s job withdraws application Friday night after council’s 3-2 contract vote Wednesday; chides city over unprofessional process
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – The lone finalist for the Yachats city manager job has withdrawn her application after concerns she did not have the mayor’s support and because of unprofessional aspects of the city council’s homemade search process. Gretchen Dubie sent a four-sentence email to Mayor Leslie Vaaler and four council members Friday night […]
After contentious discussion Thursday over some contract terms, Yachats council agrees on latest offer to prospective city manager
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t very professional. And it was contentious at times. But by the end of a 3½-hour meeting Thursday, the Yachats City Council may have agreed on good enough terms to entice Gretchen Dubie to sign on to become its next city manager. The council voted last month […]
Oregon governor orders most people to stay home; tightens restrictions on businesses, social contact
By DICK HUGHES/Oregon Capital Bureau Gov. Kate Brown on Monday directed most Oregonians to stay home except for getting groceries, going to work or handling important activities that cannot wait. Brown said she was acting because many Oregonians had failed to heed her directives to practice “social distancing” to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. “I […]
Yachats council puts off water rate vote after disagreement over their impact and revenue
BY QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com A disagreement over how much money the city of Yachats needs to generate for maintenance projects from new water rates delayed a preliminary decision on those rates Thursday. The city is in the midst of a $24,000 study to determine new water rates. The council decided previously that the new rates […]
Idea of dog park on Yachats’ ball field may start larger conversation on what to do with land
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Mary Aebi and Carita Edson each have a pair of dogs that enjoy being off leash and playing with other canines. But that can be a problem on the beaches and trails around Yachats. So they’ve been approaching the city’s Parks and Commons Commission with a proposal to create a fenced […]
Yachats council takes first tentative steps to revise water rates, but wants more numbers
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The city of Yachats is getting the first wave of information to possibly revise its water rates to raise enough money to keep up with maintenance but to also correct billing issues with eight large water users. Tim Tice, projects manager for the Oregon Association of Water Utilities, on Wednesday walked […]
Yachats council accepts Kerti’s resignation, outlines timeline for filling vacancy
Want to spend at least six to eight hours a month in daytime meetings under the scrutiny of 25 people? Looking to be harangued with complaints about vacation rentals, code enforcement, signs, lights, traffic, budgets and other issues that consume a small, coastal community? Then the Yachats City Council has a position for you. […]
James Kerti abruptly resigns from Yachats City Council after his first year in position
By Quinton Smith/YachatsNews.com Yachats City Councilor James Kerti abruptly resigned from his position Tuesday afternoon, just one year into his four-year term. Kerti’s said his resignation was effective immediately. The City Council is scheduled to accept his resignation Wednesday, Jan. 15 and decide how to seek applications to replace him. In his four-sentence resignation letter […]
Divisions between Yachats City Council members go public during first meeting of 2020
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Divisions on the Yachats City Council moved into public view Thursday during its first meeting of 2020, starting with a split vote for council president and ending with a disagreement whether it had approved hiring a facilitator to help craft goals for the year. Electing a council president during the first meeting […]