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NEWPORT – After holding a public hearing Monday in which no one spoke, the Newport City Council authorized budget amendments to the 2024 city budget.
Money was moved from the 2023 budget from the sewer fund to pay for a water reclaim skid upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant totaling $103,010. An additional $10,000 was taken from the current expense account to pay for the remodeling of the public safety building.
“I thought they would be completed last year, so this comes over as beginning cash to spend this year,” City Clerk and Treasurer Nickole North said.
“It’s a wash,” Councilman Mark Zorica confirmed.
The city increased the budget by $152,080 for city improvements, $142,080 to the street fund for grant funds for the chip sealing at Newport’s city streets and $10,000 from the Kalispell tribe for their donation for pickleball courts.
The City Council approved $21,600 as a matching share of a $100,000 RTPO grant to build an ADA-compliant sidewalk at Newport City Park.
Part of the match will be used for Washington Department of Transportation services to make sure the grant is meeting federal requirements.
Construction is to begin June or early July.
J-U-B Engineering, that helped Newport with its sewer planning at the wastewater treatment plant, was approved by city council in a continuing service agreement.
“We are not tied to them,” North said, explaining that the city can go to bid for future projects.
