Rainier City Council re-cap for Jan. 5

Rainier City Council met on Monday Jan. 6. The executive director of Columbia 9-1-1 was scheduled to present but had to cancel and is being rescheduled for the March meeting. Mayor Cole took a moment of silence to honor former Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter, who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 5, 2011. City Administrator Scott Jorgensen read submitted visitor comments that included a request for stop signs at 3rd and D streets to replace current yield signs to which the mayor and Police Chief Griffith said they would look into. A letter sent from the president of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police provided a request soliciting nominations for annual awards with applications due by March 13.

Resident Charlie Schreiner requested approval from City Council to turn a vacant lot that’s next door to his residence and owned by the city into a community garden. Mayor Cole added it as an agenda item to the February meeting calendar to allow time for discussion. Resident Nicole Jordan provided an update on the Wahkiakum Eagle paper subscription promotion, Grocery Outlet status, and alternative purchase locations. Jordan also noted Rainier Chamber of Commerce activities from 2025 and planned activities for 2026, highlighted January as National Stalking Awareness Month, and shared statistics and her own experience with stalking in Columbia County.

Various financial line items were discussed, including consolidation of copier servicing costs, A Street Plaza related work, and examining higher than normal water treatment plant charges due to ongoing repairs.