The City of Selah is committed to providing its citizens with the same quality service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Announcements and updates on City departments and services will be posted here during this time.
Proclamation dated 5/8/2020
Letter to Selah Residents and Business Owners dated 5/13/2020
Mayor
Based upon guidance and counsel from the President of the United States, the Governor, County Health District, City Staff, and pursuant to an emergency declaration per SMC 1.58.010, I have cancelled the Community Days celebration planned during May 2020. Circumstances and virulence involving the Wuhan Virus (COVID-19) prompt this decision. Please understand this was a sad course of action to take but my primary concern is for the health and protection of all of our residents. We will continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with higher authority as new information is presented. Planned June and July events in the City are under review. No decision has yet been made on these events. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this very trying time in our history.
Sherry Raymond
Mayor, City of Selah
City Council
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Selah is following the guidance of the President of the United States to keep meetings under ten people, and are complying with the Governor’s Proclamation with regard to the Open Public Meetings Act and conducting business meetings remotely while providing a link for the public to view said meetings. Please review our website regularly to stay up to date with City affairs.
City Hall
The foyer at City Hall is limited public access at this time. Please call 698-7328 to make an appointment to speak with the City Administrator in person. Staff are available via phone and email as listed on the contact page of our website.
Utilities
For your convenience, and staying in compliance with the CDC recommendations, the City of Selah offers the following options to pay your monthly utility bills.
1. You may pay your bill online or over the phone for a small fee. If you have any questions you can reach us at 509-698-7326.
2. We do have a drop box out front on the right side of our front door, for check and money orders only. Please include the payment stub and / or the utility account number.
3. We also offer an Automatic Payment Plan (APP). When you enroll in this plan, you will receive your monthly bill as usual. With the APP, your bank is automatically debited on the day that your payment is due so you can be assured that your utility bill will be paid on time every month. You can print a copy of the APP form and drop it off at City Hall to enroll in the plan.
UPDATE JUNE 1, 2020: garbage can replacements or changes may take several days. Please be patient. Basin Disposal is working as quickly as they can to fulfill requests.
Municipal Court – updated 5/29/2020
As of May 29th the Supreme court has updated their Extended and Revised Order for all courts.
This new order updates and supersedes the court’s April 29, 2020 order.
Courts will move forward in hearing matters that have been postponed, understanding judicial discretion remains to grant continuances based on the needs of individual cases. As Selah Municipal court moves forward, our operations will be conducted in a manner consistent with public health guidance and social distancing. with that being said, Selah Municipal court hearings are currently staggered to reduce the number of people in court at a time and the seating will be spaced at the attorney’s table to social distance. Parties will be asked to wear masks while in the court room .
For the main Clerk’s office, the Selah Municipal court remains open. The Clerk of the Court will be available by telephone and both mail and email will be received. Payments can also be made on line at www.selawa.gov/municipal-court.
Thank you.
Anita, Garcia
Selah Court Clerk/ Administrator
Parks & Recreation – updated 6/26/2020
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Selah Parks and Recreation programs are cancelled until Yakima County is successfully in Phase 4 (with the exception of the Selah Food Bank). The following is a list of program details:
- Park Playgrounds – open
- Youth Soccer – cancelled for 2020
- Flag Football – cancelled for 2020
- Senior Meals – no in-house dining. Meals will be available for pick up at the Civic Center kitchen door on Tuesdays from 10:00am-Noon.
- Senior Exercise – Cancelled until further notice
- Senior Pinochle – Cancelled until further notice
- All local meetings, events, gatherings – call for details 509-698-7301
- Shares clothing bank – closed until further notice
- The Selah Food Bank will be open on Mondays and Fridays from 9am-11am. Please enter through the south side Food Bank door.
Please give us a call or email if you have any questions or concerns. We will update this post as information changes. Contact: 509-698-7300 | 509-698-7301 | 509-406-7786 | selahparks@selahwa.gov
Public Records Requests – updated 3/25/2020
Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-28 regarding the Public Records Act, on March 24, 2020. The governor has waived and suspended, until midnight on April 23, 2020, specific provisions of the Public Records Act.
Please note that the City of Selah will still respond to PRA requests during the COVID-19 disease outbreak. Record requests may be submitted using our website request form.
The proclamation temporarily suspends PRA language requiring agencies to provide an ability for the public to conduct PRA business at an agency office, in-person, such as in-person inspection of records or in-person submission of PRA requests. If you want to inspect records we will schedule an appointment for you after agency business returns to normal. If you have a more immediate need we will ask you if you would rather have the records copied. We would then explain when and how the records or an installment will be provided and copy fees.
The proclamation also temporarily suspends the PRA requirement that agencies respond to PRA requests within five business days. The City of Selah may not be able to provide requestors an initial response within five business days.
Public Works – updated 3/23/2020
To protect our staff and the public from the spread of COVID-19, The Public Works Administration Building and the wastewater treatment plant are closed to public access as of 10:00 am Monday, March 23, 2020. All business should be handled over the phone (509) 698-7365 by fax (509) 698-7372 or email at brandy.tucker@selahwa.gov or jeff.peters@selahwa.gov
(for planning) or capris.groo@selahwa.gov (for Public Works).
Please use our website at Selahwa.gov/planning/permits to print applications and forms and if you have questions please call us at 509-698-7365.
Use the drop box provided to leave completed applications, building plans and all other written documents.
Payments can be accepted over the phone with a credit/debit card (plus a 4% fee) EFT for a $2 charge or you can pay with a check – NO CASH PLEASE.
If you feel you need an in person meeting you can call or email us to request one and we will let you know if we can accommodate you.
We are still taking inspections for building, water and sewer.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Note regarding Disposable disinfectant towels and wipes
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is on everyone’s mind right now. Residents are using disposable disinfectant wipes and towels to keep their families safe. The City is asking you to place these wipes and towels in the trash and not flush them down the toilet. These items do not break down as fast as regular toilet paper. They can snag on tree roots and pipe joints. They can then build up and cause a sewer backup. City crews have to flush the sewer lines to remove the plug. If they make it to the waste water treatment plant they have to be mechanically removed.
So please place these items in your trash.
Thank You
Joe Henne, Public Works Director
Fire Department – updated 3/17/2020
To all of our area residents,
The Selah Fire Department wants you to know that we are still responding to emergencies during this time of pandemic and social distancing.
The volunteer and career members of our department are dedicated to safety and the protection of life and property. We are here to respond to emergencies as safely and efficiently as possible.
Safety is paramount, therefore, the members of the Selah Fire Department are following the state and local recommendations to protect you and ourselves on emergencies. We will be seen in gloves, masks, gowns and eye protection when appropriate, and will only have the minimum number of staff necessary on scene to minimize any possible exposures.
We are currently at normal staffing levels and are taking these precautions to protect our members and the citizens of our community. By following these recommendations, we are doing our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and will keep our membership healthy and responding to emergencies when needed.
Stay safe,
Selah Fire Department
Police Department – updated 3/16/2020
During this pandemic, I want to assure all residents of the City of Selah that the Police Department is still out here providing safety and security to the citizens of Selah.
We have however, after careful discussion and deliberation, decided that it would be in the best interest of our employees and citizens to suspend our fingerprinting service and to put our Citizen’s Academy on hold until a time where it can again be safely done.
Again, the police department is fully staffed and working every day to make sure that our community remains a safe and peaceful place to live, work and play.
Richard Hayes, Police Chief