by Christy Solo – Editor
Shady Cove City Council got a lot done in their 30-minute July 2 meeting.
At the start of the meeting Mayor Lena Richardson made two adjustments to the agenda. First, she moved the appointment of a new planning commissioner up so the notary “would not have to stay for the entire meeting”. Second she added an item under new business titled “A personnel issue.”
Council then moved on to the consent calendar. Councilor Paige Winfrey had two questions about the bills paid report. First she said she noticed a payment to Summer Sears and wondered why.
Note: Sears did audit work for the city in November 2025.
Richardson advised Interim Admin John Edwards had found an unpaid invoice from Sears from December 2025. Edwards called Sears – surprised she hadn’t followed up – and checked the city’s records. It was verified the city had missed that final payment, so a check was issued.
Next Winfrey asked about “another law group” on the bills paid.
Richardson advised that the city “has always used” Local Government Law Group to assist with employee contract negotiations, which they city is currently in the midst of. Richardson continued saying that group has years of experience working with the city, knows the history of contract negotiations, etc. so they felt it was prudent to continue working with them.
The motion to approve the consent calendar carried 5/0.
Two individuals spoke during public comment on agenda items. First was Steve Vincent from Avista Utilities. He said he was attending the meeting because of the resolution to extend the franchise agreement with Avista. He said he just wanted to encourage council to pass the resolution, and he was there to answer any questions they might have.
Next up was Natalie Swendener. She said she wanted to “express my disappointment as a citizen that we continue to accumulate confidential legal fees.” She specifically mentioned the Local Government Law Group and the invoice described as “Confidential” on the current bills paid report.
Richardson, once again, explained that any invoices for attorney fees regarding personnel issues must be kept confidential and as she’d just explained the law group was hired for contract negotiations.
Note: “Confidential” is currently used on the bills paid report in the “Description” column next to personnel related attorney fees alongside descriptions for other invoices reading, “Gas”, “City Hall Cleaning”, “Reader Board”, etc.
In the past the description next to personnel related attorney fees was different but similarly gave no actual information. For example, an attorney fee on the July 1, 2022 bills paid report is “Matter 12-1588-007.” The invoice itself would still have been confidential, but the word “confidential” wasn’t on the report.
The confidentiality of attorney invoices regarding personnel matters hasn’t changed, just the description on the bills paid report.
During his staff report Edwards advised everyone that when the inspection was done on the well shared by City Hall and the Library to see about repairs, it was discovered the well had collapsed in on itself.
Edwards said this left the city and county with two options: dig a new well or hook up to Sunstone (nee Hiland) water.
A new well would cost $40-50K and they might get no water, or the same 2 gallons per minute they get now. In other words, a gamble.
To hook into Sunstone would cost $40K.
Either way the city and county will each be responsible for 50% as the well is shared by City Hall and the Library.
There was one caveat to hooking up to Sunstone; they are still in the process of applying for more water and can’t add any new customers unless/until their application is approved.
If they do get approval, their existing customers come first, the city/county can’t “jump the line.”
Still, Edwards feels Sunstone is the best option. The city/library will need to have water trucked in until they can get hooked up.
Winfrey asked Edwards if it had been verified with Sunstone that they would only charge one hookup fee, not one fee each for City Hall and the Library.
Edwards said, yes, because the hookup will be to the existing shared pumphouse.
As Edwards was discussing the well/pump options, Richardson paused him and addressed some members of the audience saying, “Those people who want to hold their own conversations and their own meetings in the back of the room, please take it outside so that the people around you can hear.”
Councilor Steve Mitchell then addressed Swendener saying, “That was uncalled for, by the way, what I just saw you did.” Reportedly in response to Swendener flashing an offensive gesture at Richardson as she made her request.
First up under new business was the appointment of Ann Smith to the Planning Commission. Smith noted on her application that while she has no direct planning experience, she had volunteered for the Jackson County Active Transportation Advisory Committee and Medford’s advisory committee for the Transportation Safety Action Plan.
Richardson asked Smith if there was anything she wanted to tell council about herself which was not on her application. Smith said no.
The motion to appoint Smith carried 5/0. Smith was sworn in and will take her seat at the next planning meeting (not scheduled at this time).
There are still two openings on planning, now is the time to volunteer.
Under old business was the resolution to extend the Avista franchise agreement. No one on council had any questions about the contract or resolution. Comments from council included, “very much overdue” and “thank you for your patience” addressed to Vincent. The motion to extend the agreement for 10 years carried 5/0.
Next council approved two new job descriptions for city staff 5/0. The descriptions align with the restructuring of city staff. They can be viewed as part of the meeting packet on the city’s website.
Under the added topic of “a personnel issue” Richardson explained that as an Interim Admin Edwards cannot hire or fire any staff members without council approval beforehand.
She continued, saying that due to the extensive work the city has to do on past and current audits all finance staff members were advised back in May 2026 that they would need to be available for full time work (40 hr. week).
Richardson said the city’s accounting technician recently advised Edwards that she can no longer work full time and she and her Union Representative Rob Pomquist have requested a voluntary lay off with no recall.
The motion allowing Edwards to execute the voluntary layoff carried 5/0.
During public comment on non-agenda items Swendener requested that the city put up information on the upcoming November election on their website.
She felt information should include the number of council positions that will be open and the term limits.
She said, “I can find no requirement in our city charter that has a minimum number of signatures for a candidate to file. So…”
Note: The City Charter of Shady Cove Section 29 – Nominations reads in part, “Nomination shall be by petition specifying the position sought in a form prescribed by the Council. Such petition shall be signed by not fewer than 20 electors.”
So if you want to throw your hat in the ring in November, you will need to start gathering signatures.
