Soap Lake City Council Appoints Tourism Committee and Opens Applications for Vacant Seat

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 24, 2026 5:08 PM

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The Soap Lake City Council has appointed five members to a newly formed tourism committee as the city begins preparing for its next budget cycle, placing tourism funding and local visitor priorities under renewed scrutiny.

The appointments were made during the council’s Aug. 19 meeting, with officials expecting the committee to examine tourism-related needs and provide recommendations on how the city should use tourism funds. The move comes as Soap Lake prepares for upcoming budget workshops, when officials will consider priorities and potential allocations tied to tourism and lodging tax revenue.

The new committee will include Lorilee Anderson, Debra Still, Genevieve Gray and Samantha Van Lone. Council member John Carlson will serve as the council’s representative, giving the panel a direct link to the city government as it develops recommendations.

Tourism committee to guide funding priorities

The creation of the committee is intended to give Soap Lake a dedicated group focused on tourism spending and the needs of the local visitor economy. Members are expected to evaluate potential uses for tourism-related funds and advise the City Council before decisions are made during the next budget process.

Carlson said he was pleased the committee had been established and fully staffed after the council reviewed applications.

“I am glad this committee has been filled,” Carlson said in an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald. “We are advising the council on where we believe tourism allocations should be made, but we have a dedicated group of people to do that now.”

The council entered an executive session during its Aug. 19 meeting to review four applications before unanimously approving the slate of committee members.

The committee is expected to begin meeting before the city’s budget workshops. Its work could help determine how tourism-related revenue is directed towards local priorities, projects and initiatives designed to support visitors and the wider community.

Vacant council seat opens for applications

Alongside the tourism committee appointments, Soap Lake officials formally opened the application process for a vacant City Council position following the resignation of Council member Judith Gorman.

Gorman resigned from the council on Aug. 5, citing “unanticipated personal needs”. Her departure created an opening that city officials now hope to fill quickly so the council can continue its work with a full membership.

Council member Kayleen Bryson said officials want to move through the process promptly, with the goal of appointing a replacement during the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting.

Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements. They must be registered voters and have lived within Soap Lake city limits for at least one year. Whoever is selected will serve the remainder of Gorman’s term.

The council is scheduled to review applications during an executive session before making its appointment at the Sept. 2 council meeting.

Gorman, in remarks surrounding her resignation, encouraged local residents who consider themselves “good problem solvers” to put their names forward for the position.

The opening gives residents an opportunity to become directly involved in municipal decision-making as the city works through tourism planning, public services, economic development and other local priorities.

City addresses concerns over E. coli notifications

Public health concerns also featured during the meeting, with Public Works Director Eli Olson responding to questions about recent E. coli test notifications.

Olson explained that the city had followed guidance provided by the Department of Health and was not required to report the findings until later in the year.

He also indicated that the city had received positive feedback regarding its handling of the issue.

“She commended the city on being transparent,” Olson said, referring to the response from health officials.

Olson added that future notifications would be released simultaneously to help prevent confusion among residents and ensure information is communicated consistently.

The discussion came as local officials continue to address public concerns surrounding water testing and notification procedures.

Economic development agreement approved

The council also heard from representatives of the Grant County Economic Development Council, who presented information about the city’s 2026 municipal services agreement.

The agreement outlines the economic development organisation’s role in supporting Soap Lake through business recruitment, workforce development and regional collaboration.

Economic development services can play an important role for smaller communities seeking to attract businesses, strengthen employment opportunities and coordinate growth with neighbouring communities.

Following the presentation, council members voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

The decision maintains the city’s relationship with the Grant County Economic Development Council as Soap Lake continues working on business and workforce priorities alongside tourism development.

Property exchange could support downtown improvements

Another measure advanced during the meeting involves a proposed property exchange with the Samish Group.

The properties involved include the downtown gazebo lot, a site that is frequently used for community events. City officials said securing the property could provide the municipality with greater flexibility to consider improvements to the area.

Potential future improvements could include public restrooms and enhanced gathering space, although those projects remain possibilities rather than confirmed developments.

The property exchange resolution represents another step in the city’s broader efforts to manage community assets and improve public spaces.

For Soap Lake, the combination of tourism planning, economic development, public infrastructure and community facilities reflects a wider focus on strengthening the city’s appeal to both residents and visitors.

Tourism and city planning move into next phase

The appointment of the tourism committee marks an important administrative step as Soap Lake approaches its next budget discussions. With the committee now established, city officials will have a dedicated group to examine tourism needs and develop recommendations concerning tourism funding.

At the same time, the council faces the task of filling its vacant seat, addressing public questions about health notifications, maintaining economic development services and considering a property exchange that could shape the future use of a prominent downtown location.

The tourism committee is expected to meet before the city’s budget workshops, while the vacant council position is scheduled to be addressed at the Sept. 2 meeting. Together, the developments will shape several areas of Soap Lake’s municipal agenda as officials prepare for the next phase of city planning and budget decisions.

Credit: columbiabasinherald.com