MATTAWA - South Ellice Avenue will be improved with new paving.

Mayor Judy Esser told the Mattawa City Council on Dec. 5 the city will receive a $225,000 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board toward the project.

According to Public Works Director Gary Crowder, the project will be done some time next summer. It will be similar to other recent improvement projects.

The existing pavement on Ellice will be lifted and broken into its aggregates to form the base for the street, Crowder said. New pavement will be laid over that.

In other actions on Dec. 5, the oath of office was given to new council member Wendy Lopez.

The council heard from Police Chief John Turley that Officer Michael Stump started the police academy Dec. 4. According to the chief, reserves will be filling in during Officer Stump's absence.

The chief announced that new department vehicles have been ordered and will arrive in the spring.

According to the chief, several recent burglaries at The Red Apple Market have been solved. A transient was arrested, and there is possibly another suspect.