Mabton seeks help of familiar friend

MABTON, Wash. -- This short-staffed city in the middle of a hiring freeze has turned to an old friend for help.

Mabton has contracted Ret Stewart as a temporary city clerk-treasurer.

Stewart is a veteran city clerk and treasurer with experience in several Yakima Valley cities, including Mabton.

City leaders hope Stewart can bring the town's financial picture into focus so they can hire a permanent clerk-treasurer and more police officers, said Councilman Mario Martinez.

The city currently has only one full-time, paid officer and a reserve working about 38 hours a week after two officers quit this month to take better-paying posts in Sunnyside. Most of the daytime hours go uncovered, unless a Yakima County Sheriff's deputy is in town, Mayor Velva Herrera said.

Stewart will replace Kitty Zavala, who resigned June 17 in the face of criticism from the council about her bookkeeping, Herrera said.

On June 9, the City Council imposed a hiring freeze, fearing the mayor would overspend the city's budget.

Herrera already has advertised for new clerk-treasurer. Martinez said the council members would consider lifting the freeze for a permanent clerk-treasurer, if they liked the candidate.

Stewart, a former city clerk for Tieton and Zillah, previously worked on a temporary basis for Mabton from October 2007 to March 2008.

The city will pay her $40 per hour plus mileage expenses.

The lack of patrol is the latest in a long line of police problems, dating back to Robert Perales' brief stint as part-time chief.

Hired in 2006, Perales started 24-hour police coverage with four officers plus himself. However, City Council members accused him of overspending and manipulating Herrera. They wrote him out of the 2009 budget, citing financial constraints.

He is now on paid administrative leave from his full-time chief's position in Granger.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.