Medical Lake names mayor
D.C. “Terry” Harland, an 18-year-councilman on the Medical Lake City Council, has a new job.
The 84-year-old resident has been elected Medical Lake interim mayor. He will take over the job on Oct. 1, succeeding Mayor Jim Hill, who plans to move outside the city limits. The council unanimously chose Harland as its interim mayor in a meeting earlier this month.
His term runs until the November 2005 election. At that time, Harland said, he’ll likely run for re-election.
After serving close to two decades on the council, this was the first time Harland sought the mayor’s job.
“I have a lot of interest in Medical Lake, and I’m going to see that everything is done properly,” Harland said. “I want to see the city continue the same way it has been.
Harland has been retired for 19 years. He worked as a manufacturing reactor fuel supervisor at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, leaving in 1971. He also owned a Western Auto Store in Centralia, Wash.
Harland was a certified real estate broker in the Medical Lake for a short time until 1985.
Among his many committee involvements, Harland currently serves on the advisory committee for small cities for the Association for Washington Cities. He also is on the board of directors for the Industrial Development Corp. for Spokane County.
Councilwoman Laura Parsons, 43, also submitted a letter of intent for the position. Parsons has served on the council for six years.
“As much as anything else,” City Administrator Curt Kelling said about the choice of Harland, “it is to keep the stability around here. Terry’s very young for his age. He’s a very sharp guy.
“I think they saw him as somebody who would fit in with the least amount of transition and change.”
One of Harland’s focuses has been on the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which he helped spearhead from beginning to completion. He said he also plans to work toward reaching an agreement with the state on the city’s sewer and water.
The shift creates an opening on the council. Although the vacancy has been posted, it does not technically open until Oct. 1. Kelling said he has not seen any letters of interest for the position.
“I’m guessing a couple of our former council members will throw in their hat,” he said.
Whoever fills the position will be required to run in November 2005, when three council seats and the mayor’s job will be up for grabs.
Medical Lake’s population is 4,125, which include 900 residents of state facilities. A councilman earns $200 a month for attending two meetings and two committee meetings.
The mayor’s salary is $700 a month.