“I would like to say congratulations on being here, but I’m ashamed of you guys,” 50-year resident of Battle Ground and former mayor John Idsinga told the Battle Ground City Council during citizens’ comments at the Monday, Feb. 2, meeting.
While the slated citizens’ communication period wrapped up, Idsinga shouted from the crowd, asking if there was room for one more. Mayor Eric Overholser welcomed the former mayor up to the stand. Idsinga’s comment followed over half an hour of citizens who expressed their displeasures stemming from sudden changes during the Jan. 20 meeting.
The Jan. 20 meeting was full of surprises as actions occurred that were not on the agenda. Multiple committee changes unfolded, as well as the desire to review candidates for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) appointments. Deputy Mayor Aimee Vaile removed the LTAC appointment item from the agenda. According to previous reporting by The Reflector, several individuals were present to accept the appointments when the agenda item was pulled. Vaile, who also serves as the vice chair of the Clark County Republican Party, said in the Jan. 20 meeting that the city may have been applying state law governing LTAC membership too narrowly…