During the budget workshop ahead of the Centralia City Council meeting on Monday, city manager Kory Smith announced that the city will be establishing its own Department of Recreation to oversee recreation facilities, programs, and activities. The department will be headed by Galen Mahle, who has years of past experience working as a program coordinator and assistant executive director at the Centralia Recreation Complex. Mahle says he is looking forward to returning to work in Centralia directing youth programs.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Mahle told the council. “Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to come back to Centralia and do what I did for many years before. I’m looking forward to working with the kids and families of Centralia.”
Also discussed in the budget workshop was redirecting funds for Celebrate Centralia to printing and advertising at the recommendation of the Centralia Tourism Commission. Council member Barri Allen said the council’s hope is that local businesses will continue to run the event while the city redirects its funding to promote tourism through marketing.
In the meeting itself, the council approved four resolutions. Centralia was authorized to join an emergency management mutual aid service agreement. The city approved improvements to the Amtrak station’s lighting for ADA compliance and safety. An estimate of maintenance costs for the 2025 motor fuel tax street maintenance program was approved at $13,697. An accompanying resolution allows $130,000 to be spent out of MFT funds. $77,178 dollars of funding was disbursed to Re:Purpose Development per a development agreement from TIF District 3.
Bid opening for surplus property saw bids received for two of eleven declared surplus properties. There were two bids for the property at 1106 North Maple, with the highest bid made by Engineered Fluid, Inc. at $4,001. There was one bid for the property at 1002 East Rexford, $10,000 from Dexter Johnson. The council will consider approving these bids at the next meeting.
The Centralia City Council’s next meeting will take place December 2 at 6:00 PM.
