MATTAWA - The Mattawa City Council presented a preliminary budget for 2012 of just more than $6 million at its regular meeting of Nov. 3, and no one objected.

"We had a public hearing, and no one from the public commented," said City Clerk Robin Newcomb. "We opened it and, about five minutes later, we closed it."

The final budget must be approved by Dec. 31, in accordance with state law, Newcomb noted.

The preliminary budget is for $6,008,033.38. It is balanced between revenues and expenditures. The greatest portion, $1,722,706, is the current expense fund, up about $100,000 from 2011. The street fund of $659,196 will be down from $829,233.49 in 2011.

In other business before the council, Jeff Ketchel, administrator for the Grant County Health District, made a presentation about the GCHD's work and made a pitch for funding.

"He said it's been a summer of challenges," Newcomb said. "He said they've spent $100,000 dealing with whooping cough over 16 months."

According to Newcomb, Ketchel asked for $2 per person from the city as support for the GCHD. The city has a population of 4,000. So he seeks $8,000.

"That's what he's asking," Newcomb said. "That may not be what the city is willing to pay."

Whatever the city pays would go into a general fund to support GCHD services throughout the county.

Police Chief Steve Jensen reported to the council that graffiti (tagging) is becoming a problem again.

The public works department reported that the Williams Street overly project is complete, and the Boundary Street sidewalk project should be complete this week.

Public Works also reported it paid $21,000 for a used dump truck with snow plow from the community of George.

Newcomb said Mattawa Shell has applied for a liquor license renewal, and the city posed no objection.