Heritage Heights at Lake Chelan requests funds to help with costs of group home

CHELAN -  At the May 23 Chelan City Council meeting, several concerned area residents spoke during the citizens’ comments time about the proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) that would fund infrastructure improvements for the East Chelan area. The feedback came in anticipation of the special meeting regarding the TIF that would take place the next day on May 24. In anticipation of public reaction to the TIF discussion, Mayor Rob Goedde increased the citizen comments portion of the meeting from 20 to 30 minutes. All speakers during this time expressed concern and skepticism regarding the TIF.
After the Council approved the consent agenda, Susan Hepner, Vice Chair of Heritage Heights at Lake Chelan, requested additional funds from the City to help with costs at group home. She mentioned how Heritage Heights is the only licensed assisted living facility within forty miles of the Chelan area. Hepner thanked the city for giving Heritage Heights $50,000 which allowed the facility to break ground on the first phase of its remodel project. During the renovations, Heritage has vacated five rooms to ease the noise for current residences and to distance them from the construction. This has caused the home to lose funding. With around 50-60 of its residents on a moderate to low income, Heritage Heights does not want to go exclusively to private pay patients nor dip into its cash reserves, Hepner said. The Council told Hepner they would like to discuss and investigate the matter further before the next meeting.
Mayor Goedde then made the Main Street Week Proclamation. He spoke about the importance of local commerce and Chelan’s own downtown district.
“The Main Street movement is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country. Main Street believes that everyone deserves access to a vibrant downtown, a place that has a thriving local economy, is rich in character, and features inviting public spaces that make residents and visitors feel that they belong,” Goedde said in a statement. “Now therefore, I, Robert Goedde, Mayor of the City of Chelan, do hereby proclaim, June 11-17, 2023 as ‘Main Street Week’ in the City of Chelan, and encourage all citizens to join us in celebrating the downtown business owners, property owners, and all who make our downtown so special.”
On a light and emotional note, City of Chelan Public Works Director Jake Youngren commended Randy Baker for his 37 years of service to the city. Youngren mentioned how Baker has filled in almost every role in the department during his nearly 40 years of service and always thought of ways to make Chelan better as a community.
“Randy’s forfeited more vacation in his career than any employee in the history of the city I believe,” Youngren said. “I’m guessing it accumulates into the years that he couldn’t be home doing house projects.”
Later, Youngren asked the Council to approve a $25,000 contract agreement with Lyman Dust Control to maintain the city’s alleyways. The company provides services to control dust by laying down a solution that limits the powdery dirt. The motion passed unanimously.