AH City Council awards bid for well drilling project

The Airway Heights City Council went through several housekeeping items at its Oct. 3 meeting.

In action items, council awarded a bid in the amount of $322,483.48 to Blue Star Enterprises Northwest, Inc. for drilling and testing of a future well on the city’s Deno Road property. Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said Blue Star’s bid came in over $35,900 less than the engineer’s estimate for the project.

Anderson explained that the project entails drilling into the paleo channel to see “what water is there.” The work will also determine if the water amount is sustainable.

“But we will take into account if it will produce less water in the long run,” Anderson said. “We’re trying to mitigate our water needs for the future.”

Council approved a request to waive the fees for Hoopfest to install safety fencing along the north edge of the basketball court at Sunset Park. J.C. Kennedy, parks, recreation and community services director, explained the fence will be put in to keep basketballs from rolling into the street, something the Hoopfest organization pointed out when they installed the new hoops at the basketball court.

“Originally the fee was going to be $160.84, but we feel it’s appropriate to waive the fee since the materials and labor (to build the fence) are being donated,” Kennedy said.

Council also had a discussion concerning case weighing vs. non case weighing. Court Administrator Bree Breza explained that staff and the public defender believe the case weighing system is too cumbersome and time consuming. She asked the council approve the amended Ordinance C-863 to state the city wishes to select a non-case weighing as the system for the court.

Breza added that the non-case weighing system will be cost effective.

City Attorney Stanley Schwartz asked how many cases the public defender currently handles. Breza said the case load is about 250 with an additional 100 for the conflict public defender. When Schwartz asked why there are so many conflict cases, Breza explained there are incidents that involve two offenders and require separate attorneys.

Council also had the first reading of an ordinance that establishes a latecomer’s agreement to construct a water line to serve the Seventh Day Adventist Church property and transfer ownership of the line to the city.

They had the first reading of an ordinance that amends the city’s municipal codes “Water System” and “Sanitary Sewer System,” and creates a new section “Utility Services.” The ordinance will allow only property owners to set up utility accounts. Currently both property owners and tenants can create utility accounts.

Council passed a resolution for an interlocal agreement between the city and Association of Washington Cities with updated bylaws for risk management, property and liability claims administration. The updated bylaws allow AWC group-purchasing power while receiving risk management services, property and claims administration.

In other business:

Council also had the first reading of an ordinance to allow for deferral of impact fees for single-family and multi-family residential units. They also had readings for ordinances that establish funds for repairing and replacing equipment.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.