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Cemetery

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1. How do I purchase a cemetery plot?

For information about the Wynoochee Cemetery, including whom to contact to purchase a plot, see Wynoochee Cemetery.

2. How do I schedule a burial?

For information on the Wynoochee Cemetery, including whom to contact to schedule a burial, please see Wynoochee Cemetery.

3. Are there regulations on when flowers can be placed at the Cemetery?

There are no specific rules about placement of flowers. However, the rules for planting trees or shrubs are as follows:

• Plants must be behind the head stone and if they infringe on other graves, the City will remove the plant.
  
• Faded flowers, both real and artificial, will be removed by the City.

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City Clerk

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1. When is my utility payment due?

Utility bill payments are due the 16th day of each month. If the 16th falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is due on the next business day.

2. How can I pay my utility bill after hours?

There is a drop box at the entrance to City Hall at 112 N Main Street for payments by check.

You may also pay online. See Automated Payment Options.

3. Why is my utility bill smaller one month and then larger the next?

The meters are read every other month. One bill has two months of actual service. The usage bar graph on the shows no usage for one month, and then two months' usage in the month when the meter is read.

4. Can my utility bill be averaged over the year?

Yes.

You may have your utility bill averaged over the year, based on your prior year's usage. With averaging, your payments are the same for 11 months of the year, with the 12th month reflecting the adjustment up or down for actual usage for the current year.

To set up averaged billing, please contact: Deputy Clerk Teresa Jones

5. Why is there a late fee on my utility bill?

The City charges a late fee of $20 when a utility payment is received past the due date, per City Resolution 796.

The bills are always due on the 16th of the month. When the 16th falls on a weekend, the due date is the next working day. The late fee is assessed on the 17th (or day after the first working day when the 16th falls on a weekend).

This amount is to encourage on-time payments. Similar to your home budget, the City also budgets its expenses to coincide with anticipated income, so it is important that it receives your payment on time.

To avoid late fees, the City offers sign-up for automatic payments, or to pay by credit or debit card online or by phone. See: Automated Payment Options

6. Where can I find the City's Utility Rates?

The City's utility rates for water, sewer, garbarge, EMS, and cemetery plots are listed under the Utility Services and Rates link. This link is in the list of links on the left side of the Home
page: Utility Services and Rates

7. How much is a business license in Montesano?

A business license is $50 annually.
For information on obtaining the business license form an submitting the license and fee, see the Business License page.

8. Who much does a dog license cost?

An annual license for a dog is $7.50 for a spayed or neutered dog.
A license for an intact dog is $10 annually.

For information on obtaining a dog license, see the Dog License page.

9. Where may I file for divorce in Grays Harbor County?

Contact the Grays Harbor County Clerk's Office. Phone (360) 249-3842 or visit the County Clerk's Web site.


You may also find helpful forms and resources on the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts page for Courts Forms.

10. Where may I obtain child custody information in Grays Harbor County?

Contact the Grays Harbor County Clerk's Office. Phone (360) 249-3842 or visit the County Clerk's Web site.


You may also find helpful forms and resources on the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts page for Court Forms.

11. Where do I get a passport?

Your local U.S. Post Office accepts Passport applications and may have restricted hours for this. The Montesano Post Office phone number is (360) 249-3322.


You may wish to search online for "get a passport" to find several sites that provide online passport application services.


The U.S. Department of State provides a Search site to locate facilities close to you where you can obtain a passport. See: Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page.

12. Where can I get a document recorded or check the County records?

Contact the Grays Harbor County Auditor's Office at (360) 249-4232 or visit the Auditor's Website: Grays Harbor County Auditor

13. Where can I get information about my property assessment?

Contact the Grays Harbor County Assessor's Office at (360) 249-4121, or visit the Assessor's Web site: Grays Harbor County Assessor

14. Where can I get information about my property tax payment?

Contact the Grays Harbor County Treasurer's Office at (360) 249-3751, or visit their Website. Grays Harbor County Treasurer's Office

15. How do I report animal problems in my area?

If you live in the Montesano City limits please call City Hall at(360) 249-3021, ext. 101 to report a problem.

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Economic Development

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1. What is the population of Montesano?

The Welcome sign at the east entry to town at Bryan Park states the population is 3,270.


The Welcome sign at the west entry to town at Triangle Park states the population is 3,375.


According to current City records, the population of Montesano is 3,565.


When the 2010 U.S. Census results are available, we'll update this answer!

2. Does Montesano have public transportation?

Yes. Grays Harbor Transit provides routes stopping in Montesano, at the downtown transit station. See Public Transit

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Fire Department

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1. Why am I receiving an ambulance bill? I already pay an EMS fee on my utility bill.

The fee allows the City to financially keep the ambulance services available to you, but does not eliminate you being billed. You do receive a lower base rate than users outside the City limits who do not pay this tax.

The City has designated the ambulance service to be a utility. The EMS utility fee was instituted to supplement the cost of providing the service to the citizens of Montesano. The ambulance service does not pay for itself and is not supported by tax dollars. The ambulance fund is an enterprise fund and as such must be self-sustaining.

The annual cost of providing the service per year minus the revenues derived from fees charged for services equals the shortage amount. This amount is divided by the number of equivalent dwelling units within the City limits to determine the yearly EMS utility fee.

2. Why am I receiving ambulance bills? I have insurance.

The usual reason is that the City's Deputy Clerk for EMS and Firefighters has not received the requested insurance information and/or the signed authorization form from you.

The following are the types of things that may be requested from you and it is important that this information be provided in order to process your bill for payment:

1. If you have insurance, a copy of the front and back of your insurance cards
   is needed.


2. If you have Medicaid, a copy of your DSHS medical coupon for the month the service occurred is needed.


3. If you have Medicare, a copy of your Medicare card is needed. (You must have Part B for ambulance coverage).


4. If you do not have insurance coverage, or only partial coverage, please contact Debbie Wisdom, the Deputy Clerk For EMS and Firefighters, and make payment arrangements.


5. The authorization form sent to you must be signed and returned as it is needed in order to bill Medicare and/or private insurance companies.

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Home Page

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1. Where are the minutes and agendas?

At the top left of the home page is a link to the new Archive Center. Here you will find agendas and minutes for City Council, the Planning Commission, and Parks Board; the City Budget, Annual Reports, Newsletters, Press Releases, etc. Link to the Archive Center

2. Where are links back to the Home page?

From any page on the Website, you can return to the home page by clicking Montesano's Tree Logo in the upper left corner.

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Mayor

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1. How do I get an appointment to speak with the Mayor?

Contact the mayor. Contact information is on the Mayor's directory page.

2. Who are my City Council representatives?

For information, please view the City Council directory.

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Municipal Court

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1. Is this the correct Grays Harbor County Court?

This is the Montesano Municipal Court, at Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Second Floor. If you have a citation or other notice showing that Christopher Bates is the judge, then this is the correct court.

If Judge Bates is not the judge on your paperwork, try checking the Court Directory for all Courts in Grays Harbor (and in all counties in the state) from the Washington State Courts Website. This directory lists all the judges for each court, with phone numbers, addresses, and online maps to each court.

If you still have a question after checking the Court Directory, please give us a call: (360) 249-4245, Ext. 113.

2. When is my court date?

Please click: Find My Court Date

3. What happens if my case is sent to Collections?

The balance of your financial obligation plus additional fees, are sent to the court's Collection Agency if:

• You have financial obligations to Montesano Municipal Court that are not paid in a timely manner; or


• If you have failed to make payment arrangements; or


• If you have failed to make payments after arrangements have been made.

After a case has been assigned to the court's Collection Agency, further payment arrangements are with the Collection Agency, not with the court.

To contact Montesano Municipal Court's Collection Agency, use one of the following phone numbers or addresses:

Dynamic Collectors
(360) 748-0420
(800) 464-3457

Address:
790 S. Market Blvd.
Chehalis, WA 98532

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Parks & Recreation

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1. How do I schedule a time on one of the fields?

Contact the Parks Board, represented by Mayor Schillinger: (360) 589-7353.
See the Field Schedule

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Police Department

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1. What is the law about booster seats?

The Washington Safety Restraint Coalition has a Web site that explains the laws on using booster seats and provides related information. Please visit the Safety Restraint Coalition Web site

2. How do I get a copy of my driving record?

You may request a copy of your driving record online, by mail, or in person from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). The cost is $10. For complete information, visit DOL's Web page: Request Your Driving Record.

3. How do I get a copy of an accident report?

A copy of an accident report may be obtained from the Montesano Police Department if the accident happened within the City Limits of Montesano. The cost is $2.00. To contact the Police Department by mail, email, or in person, please refer to the Staff Directory for the Police Department.

4. If my keys are locked in my vehicle, can the Montesano Police open my vehicle for me?

Yes. Please call the non-emergency number for Grays Harbor County Dispatch:(360) 533-8765.
You will be asked to sign a waiver of liability and need to provide Dispatch the address of the car's location and the description of the car.

5. What happens with the $124 I paid on my traffic ticket?

The Washington State Legislature mandates amounts for fines and also how the monies collected on each fine are allocated.

The court collects the fine payments and sends the money to the Washington State Department of Revenue together with a report that automatically totals the money submitted into designated funds, as required by law.

The Department of Revenue subsequently issues monthly payments to each agency based on the total allocations received from all courts in the state.

To view the allocation of your $124 ticket payment, please view the Allocation of a $124 Fine Payment.

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Public Works

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1. When is the City hiring?

For links to job openings and application information, please see the Employement page.

2. What happens if my STEP tank alarm goes off?

The alarm means your STEP tank needs immediate service.

The City of Montesano is served by the STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pumping) System. It is a pressurized system that consists of the pretreatment tank, pump, and control panel.

On the control panel, located on the side of each house, is a red light that is part of an audio-visual high water alarm. Should the STEP system malfunction, the red light will come on and an alarm will sound.

If this happens, you should press the red light button at the bottom of the panel and call the City of Montesano IMMEDIATELY for service at 249-3021 during business hours, or 249-4851 after business hours.