Tonasket City Council appoints Hines

Selena Hines was sworn in as the newest member of the Tonasket City Council during their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Photo by Emily Hanson

Selena Hines was sworn in as the newest member of the Tonasket City Council during their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Photo by Emily Hanson

TONASKET – The Tonasket City Council appointed a new member to fill the seat vacated by Connie Maden at the end of 2010 during their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Selena Hines was chosen over Dennis Brown after the council interviewed both applicants. Hines said she decided to apply for the empty council seat because Maden suggested it and she has also wanted to become more involved in the Tonasket community.

Brown, a current member of the Okanogan County Planning Commission, said he decided to run because he enjoys coming to the Tonasket City Council meetings and he has the time to be on council, since he’s retired.

“I haven’t been involved in anything like this before but I’m a quick learner and quick thinking,” Hines said. “This would be a completely new experience for me.”

During the interview process, Council Member Julianna Griffin asked what each of the applicants would like to accomplish if chosen for city council. To this, Brown said he wanted to work with everything that comes along and Hines said she wants to work to bring more into the community for children.

After announcing Hines as the newest council member, Council Member Jean Ramsey said the council did not want to lose Brown on the planning commission, feeling that he is too important where he is right now.

Once the council moved on to their regular business, City Clerk Alice Attwood announced that the petition to annex the Mill Drive/Seventh Street area just south of Tonasket into the city has received 62 percent approval from the landowners in the area, which is enough for the city to file applications for funding, specifically for the Community Development Block Grant. Mayor Patrick Plumb was then authorized by the city council to sign applicable paperwork for the CDBG and the Rural Development grant applications for this project.

The next Tonasket City Council meeting is on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall.