Wapato can't find anyone to fill vacant council positions

WAPATO -- More than two months have passed since two City Council members stepped down, and the city has yet to receive any interest in either post.

Having the vacancies are hampering long-term plans the city embarked on several years ago to revitalize the downtown core and lure more business to this town of roughly 4,540 residents.

Here, nearly 80 percent of the population lives at or below federal poverty lines, and for years city expenditures have drastically outpaced revenue.

Shortfalls the past two years have led the City Council to cut parks recreation and the city swimming pool from the city's operating budget.

Now, this city in despair is struggling to fill vacancies on the City Council left by the resignations of Lloyd Benscoter and Francis Lame Bull.

It's not clear why the two positions have failed to garner any interest, said Mayor Jesse Farias.

He said he's only received two phone calls inquiring about the positions, but no formal applications. Both positions have been advertised in newspapers, he said.

"It's disappointing," he added.

Citing a busy work schedule, Lame Bull stepped down in early April. A month later, Benscoter resigned, citing a need to spend more time with his family.

Benscoter was elected to the council in 2005 and again in November. Lame Bull was appointed to the council in 2006, and ran unopposed in the November elections. Both positions expire in 2011.

Councilman Tony Guzman guesses that residents may not want to commit their time to a position that requires them to attend at least two meetings a month without any compensation.

"I don't know, maybe people are just too busy," he said. "Maybe they don't want to be responsible for any decisions if we have to raise taxes or something."

But only having five members on the seven-member council is delaying work on a strategic plan to improve the city's image and economy.

Those remaining on the council are Refugio Rao, Frank Rodriguez, Arnulfo Valdez and Juan De La Torre, as well as Guzman.

A few years ago, the City Council developed a strategic plan to clean up the town, create a downtown theme and lure business to the empty buildings that dot the area.

Council members have even been working on ordinances to curb public intoxication in town, which has been a long-standing problem, and were influential in the erection of a homeless shelter.

But before more can be done, the council needs more help, Guzman said.

Guzman figures he spends about 15 hours a month serving on the City Council, which includes time he spends at work sessions before regular council meetings and on two subcommittees.

The person selected for either vacant position would finish out the term and have to run in the 2011 election if still interested in the post.

"We need some new blood on the council," he said. "That way, we can resume all the work that we planned on all the committees that we had formed."

* Phil Ferolito can be reached at 577-7749 or pferolito@yakimaherald.com.

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