Budgets to projects - it was a busy year in Cheney

While marijuana may have garnered the most public outcry from Cheney residents, there was plenty of other news that was taking place in and around the city in 2014.

With lightning-caused wildfires decimating much of North Central Washington, the southwest portion of Spokane County experienced its own wildfire emergency as apparent target shooting near Watermelon Hill just west of Fishtrap Lake sparked a blaze that ended up consuming 10,500 acres of mostly grassland. About 100 residents had to be evacuated from homes around Amber, Fishtrap and Badger Lake, but only two outbuildings were destroyed.

Cheney experienced some personnel changes when City Administrator Arlene Fisher left in February after six years to become city manager for Montlake Terrace in Western Washington. In July, human resources manager and interim Parks and Recreation Department director Mark Schuller put on another hat when he was named the city's new City Administrator.

In August, long-time Councilman Bob Stockton stepped down. After a selection process that included interviews with five prospective candidates, Eastern Washington University senior graphics designer Ryan Gaard was selected by the City Council to take Stockton's seat.

Cheney's Public Works Department was very busy in 2014. At the department's behest, the council elected to pursue an independent course by implementing the city's own solid waste disposal plan, and in September signed an agreement to bypass Spokane County's plan and haul solid waste directly to the city of Spokane's Waste-to-Energy plant at significant savings to Cheney.

The city's wastewater treatment plant was honored for the second year in a row with an outstanding performance award from the state Department of Ecology. The plant was in "perfect compliance" with all requirements under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

The department also completed a number of road projects over the summer, including a long sought after $375,000 preservation of North Sixth Street, funded mostly through federal grants. The project scope included a new asphalt surface along with sidewalk repairs and upgrades to be compliant with American with Disabilities Act requirements from Betz Road to Oak Street.

Some sewer, water and electricity rates and fees saw increases in 2014 as the city sought to bring its revenue structure up to date. The City Council has declined to raise rates in past years, electing to utilize reserve fund accounts, but now needs to replenish those accounts in order to pay for potential future projects.

The rate increases were all part of a budgeting process that had the city's department staffs scouring funds for any savings. In June the City Council held a special meeting with department heads to get a better picture of the city's short and long term needs, getting answers to such question as "What keeps you up at night?"

Despite the pencil sharpening, the city couldn't come up with much funding to allow for some departments larger projected needs, at least not as part of the city's $23.37 million 2015 budget.

"It will be a disappointing year for what we can do," Mayor Tom Trulove said.

Cheney's Police Department and Municipal Court each received a perfect audit for the second year in a row by the Washington State Patrol of the city's ACCESS - A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System - program. Police Chief John Hensley and Court Administrator Terri Cooper both told the council at its Sept. 9 meeting that it is "unheard of" to receive two perfect audits in a row, given that the communications division handled over 36,000 inquiries a year over the last two years.

Cheney's Police Department was kept busy late in the year with several large incidents, including an October party that required assistance by units from Eastern Washington University Police, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol in order to quell.

The department, along with the Sheriff's Office and search and rescue volunteers engaged in a 10-day search for a missing Cheney girl after Thanksgiving. Fifteen-year-old Jacquelynne Rose Doucette eventually returned home on her own.

Finally, after the City Council declined to accept an offer of land to accommodate a home for Cheney's former train depot, a group of citizens formed "SOS" - Save Our Station. The group hopes to preserve the former Northern Pacific railway station built in 1929 and targeted for demolition by current owners Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.