SL city workers join council in 'no confidence' vote of mayor

SOAP LAKE — Mayor Peter Sharp was both faulted and defended during a lengthy, sometimes testy Soap Lake City Council meeting Wednesday night.

Citing concerns over Sharp’s personal conduct and ongoing investigations into his official actions as mayor, council members unanimously approved a resolution directing city staff to preserve and protect all physical and electronic documents and to create an index available to them and city attorney Julie Norton of Wenatchee.

The resolution was drafted by Norton and approved by council members Andrew Arnold, John Carlson, Susan Carson, Judith Gorman and Kayleen Bryson, Soap Lake’s mayor pro tem who participated in last night’s meeting by phone while recovering from recent surgery.

Their resolution also called for immediately revoking the mayor’s access to city bank accounts and credit card use, and advising financial institutions that no money may be withdrawn without approval of the mayor pro tem — currently Bryson — on behalf of the council.

The directive also called for changing all computer and account passwords to “ensure separated employees or officials do not have access,” and to remove or change locks on internal doors at city hall.

Before their vote, Gorman asked if Norton thought the resolution was “the only way we can move forward as a city.”

Norton replied, “I think it’s the most responsible way to move forward.”

Council members also adopted an ordinance amendment stating they will now appoint members to all city boards and commissions. Previously, appointment authority rested with the mayor. The change, the ordinance states, “will better reflect the collective judgment of the elected representatives of the people of Soap Lake ….”

In seeming anticipation of the council’s actions, Sharp opened Wednesday night’s meeting by reading a statement in which he accused the five-member panel of exceeding its legislative authority, interfering with his executive responsibilities as mayor, and engaging in coercive behavior aimed at pressuring him to resign from office.

Sharp said he was informing the state Attorney General’s Office of their actions, along with others that include the Municipal Research and Services Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization which helps local governments in Washington state.

Sharp has been a polarizing figure at city hall since his appointment as interim mayor in August 2024, followed by last November’s narrow election win over former council member Karen Woodhouse, a write-in candidate. He began a two-year unexpired term this January.

During their March 18 meeting, council members okayed a resolution expressing a vote of no-confidence in the mayor, saying they had lost trust in his ability to lawfully and ethically fulfill the duties of his office. That followed a Feb. 4 council meeting at which Arnold asked for Sharp to resign. At the time, Sharp indicated he had no intention of stepping down but instead encouraged council members and the public to contact him regarding any issues or concern.

The March 18 resolution was advisory and had no specific legal authority. But it alleged that Sharp had secretly recorded city employees and made expenditures or gifted public funds without council authorization. State auditors and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office are reportedly investigating.

This week, a letter was submitted by nine Soap Lake employees who said they share the same “serious and well-founded concerns” detailed in the city council’s resolution and alleged that Sharp’s conduct has created a “hostile and unlawful work environment."

The employees’ letter was read into the record by administrative assistant Jody Siebert. She added personal comments saying that Sharp “has lied” about public records requests, the use of a security camera at city hall, and his appointment last summer of a campground host at the city’s RV park without a contract approved at the time by the city council.

“His conduct is unethical; there is no other way to describe it,” said Siebert. “He should resign.”

The letter signers did not include police chief Pat Canady or public works director Eli Olson, whose positions are subject to mayoral appointment.

During a public comment period, one local resident, Tom Page, profanely insisted that Sharp was being unfairly targeted, which prompted a profane retort from an audience member, with the mayor gaveling both out of order.

Two other residents, Lori White and former council member Danielle Taylor, alleged that current council member Susan Carson had undisclosed conflicts of interest and improperly avoided payments under a lease agreement for use of a concession building at Smokiam East Beach Park. White said she intended to submit information to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office and called upon Carson to resign.

Carson, in response, said a “key document” showing she owes no money to the city has turned up missing. “It is no coincidence that this misinformation has intensified as I have spoken up about other issues that are now under investigation involving the Mayor. That context should not be ignored,” she said.

Carla Adkins, whose husband is a public works employee, said city staff did not get paid on March 31 “due to the mayor.” She faulted Sharp for eroding the community’s trust in its leadership, a statement that was met with applause by much of the audience in attendance.

Another resident, local builder Igor Lukashevich, said the ongoing internal disputes were affecting local businesses and public perceptions of the community. “That saddens me,” he said, asking for the council and mayor to resolve their differences — “kumbaya ... and move forward.”

Still, Wednesday’s meeting also featured at least temporary resolution of some stalemated issues. They included council approval of:

—  Four-month consultant services agreements through July 31 with former mayor and city planner Alex Kovach and a separate firm, Safe Built LLC.

Kovach Architects will conduct building permit reviews, inspections, and other planning services at a rate of $120 an hour with a travel rate of $75 an hour. Safe Built, a national firm with a regional office in Ellensburg, will provide on-call support services to Kovach for permit administration, zoning and land use consultations, environmental reviews, and other community development needs. Hourly rates vary depending on the task.

The agreements contain an option to continue services on a per-month basis after July 31.

—    A new employment contract with Jeff Balentine, city manager for Granite Falls who has also overseen Soap Lake’s financial accounts. Balentine had resigned on March 19 after learning of “significant liability concerns” over Sharp’s alleged involvement in retaining the RV park camp host last summer.

A provision of Balentine’s new agreement states he “shall have no direct contact with the Mayor” and will instead communicate with the city clerk regarding budget and financial operations with copies also going to the city attorney and a council designee. Balentine will be paid $10,000 a month for his services.

It was expected that his retention will spur issuance of paychecks to city employees. It also sidelined a proposal by Sharp for an interlocal agreement with the Town of LaCrosse to provide Soap Lake with interim financial and accounting assistance.

—    Approved a job description for the camp host position at the Smokiam RV campground. The host will be provided a designated campsite with full utility hookups in exchange for handling registrations, recordkeeping, fee collections, security, and maintenance of grounds and restrooms. Carson said the past host meets the qualifications and is expected to resume those duties.

—    Approved a resolution establishing a five-member tourism committee to review and make recommendations for use of state-allocated lodging tax revenues to promote special events which attract visitors and provide economic benefits to the city. The committee will include two representatives of businesses which collect lodging taxes, two persons involved in tourism-funded activities, and one elected Soap Lake official.