News & Information

The Malden Town Council has a vacancy for Council position #2. The Council is accepting letters of interest through Tuesday, February 7, 2023. The term of the appointee will expire after December 31, 2023. This position will be in the primary election in August 2023. Candidates must file in May 2023 and the elected person will be in office January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Malden town hall @ 509-569-3771

It’s Outdoor and Residential Burn Season!

QUESTIONS?? Washington Department of Ecology issues burn permits as well as restrictions for various types of outdoor burning. A permit is not needed for piles less than 4 feet wide by 3 feet high in size.

Anything larger requires an Ecology permit. Follow Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline (1-800-406-5322) to find out if burning is allowed on a given day. Even if it’s an Ecology burn day, local fire protection agency approval is needed before starting any fire. Ecology (509-329-3400) is happy to answer any questions about outdoor and residential burning. There is a 24-hour complaint line (1-866-211-6284) if individuals are having issues with smoke.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages undeveloped forest land (private or public). Contact DNR at (1-800-527-3305) to find out if silvicultural burning is scheduled in your area. If in doubt, dial 911. They will know about a controlled slash burn or dispatch a fire agency to investigate.

REMINDER: Burn Barrel Use is Prohibited! The use of a burn barrel was banned in the State of Washington effective April 13, 2000. Burning garbage has been illegal in the State of Washington since 1967.

CLOSURES – PALOUSE TO CASCADES TRAIL

Please respect these closures and stay off the damaged trestles. The closures include:

Rock Lake
- From Rock Lake Road, 3.0 miles to closure at trestle
- From Hole in the Ground Road, 3.4 miles to closure at trestle
Malden to Pine City section
Crab Creek Trestles/Bridge
From Lake Lenice parking lot at the Royal City Junction, seven-mile detour traveling East along Lower Crab Road. Note: The two adjacent Crab Creek trestles are gone and are under construction. Detour signs are posted from both directions. For your safety, do not bypass the detour. The missing trestles create an immediate drop off and construction is underway to replace them.

These sections of trail are unfit for travel and have been closed to public access due to hazardous conditions and areas of wildfire damage. For the safety of everyone on the trail, we have fortified these closures by installing barriers to prevent access. We want to ensure that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable trip. Please respect these closures and stay off the damaged trestles.

We are continuing to explore opportunities to improve these areas for reopening.

For more information, please visit our website or check out our recent blog post on the PTCT-Beverly to Idaho Border.

Please note: Beginning in September, there is an upcoming temporary closure of the trail between the towns of Malden and Rosalia for the construction of a new trailhead and trail hardening. This project is anticipated for completion in spring 2023.

PALOUSE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OFFERS VOUCHER PROGRAM

Palouse Habitat for Humanity, to better serve local families in need, is announcing a Voucher Program to support three local groups in need of help to start over: wildfire survivors of Malden and Pine City, and participants in the Family Promise of the Palouse and Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse programs. For more information, click here.

NEW BUILDING – Fire Station/Town Hall/Post Office

The Town of Malden received a $900,000 grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to help with the cost of constructing a new permanent building to house the fire station, town hall offices, and the post office. As part of the requirements for using this funding, the town has had to conduct an environmental review of the building site, and is required to post related documents as they become available (see below). We will continue to post news about the building and future documentation on this page.

Part 58 – HUD Environmental Compliance Form

Environmental Record or link to website

SEPA Checklist

SEPA Documentation can be found at the SEPA Registry link here:

Concurrent Notice

BUILDING OR OTHER PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS

First and foremost, if you are planning any improvements or additions to your property (such as placement of a propane tank, fencing, etc.), PLEASE CONTACT THE TOWN OF MALDEN FIRST TO MAKE CERTAIN YOUR PLANS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY EXISTING ORDINANCES OR OTHER REGULATIONS.

*** IMPORTANT***
NOTICE FROM WHITMAN COUNTY
REGARDING RV USE AS PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Once a temporary use permit expires, RV’s can only be used as a permanent residence if sited within a Mobile Home Park or an RV Park, intended for that use. Most RV’s or a Park Model RV (PMRV) do not meet Washington State Energy Code requirements, which we are required to abide by. HUD Title 24 § 3282.8(g) specifically prohibits PMRV’s and RV’s from being used as a permanent residence outside of a Mobile Home Park or RV Park.
Read full notice from Whitman County Public Works here.

ALL PROPERTIES ARE TO BE MAINTAINED AND MOWED
AS PER THE TOWN’S NUISANCE ORDINANCE
WHICH CAN BE READ HERE.

~ ~ ~ WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TOWN? ~ ~ ~

The Malden Food Bank is open for food distribution on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from noon to 2:00pm.

FREE books for kids up to 5 yrs old through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! Registration form here.

NEWS

Micki Harnois at Town Hall is a notary. If you need any documents notarized, please contact her during regular hours to set up an appointment. She can be reached at 509-569-3771 or send an email to her at townofmaldenwa@gmail.com.

April 2023 Town Newsletter