Medical Lake to collaborate with SCRAPS for animal control services

The Dec. 17 Medical Lake City Council meeting saw the approval of the city entering in a contract with Spokane County Regional Animal Protective Service (SCRAPS).

The city is currently in a contract with Spokanimal for their animal control services. The agreement between the agency and city will expire at the beginning of the year.

According to documents from City Administrator Doug Ross, both SCRAPS and Spokanimal had approached the city with proposals.

During the discussion, Councilwoman Brenda Redell spoke against signing the contract with SCRAPS. She said the city would pay a larger fee by signing with them.

According to Redell, citizens would have to license their cats. She suggested that the council look at how the countywide system works before approving the agreement with SCRAPS.

“There could be more issues than we realize,” Redell said.

Councilman Art Kulibert mentioned he asked about both agencies and heard of no negative comments regarding both Spokanimal and SCRAPS.

Councilman Jeff King recalled an incident where he called Spokaninal to pick up a stray dog, but no one came for the animal. He added that if owners license their cats, then SCRAPS will return any licensed animals they pick up to their owners.

The council approved the city to enter into a contract with SCRAPS, 3-2.

Also approved was an amendment to the city’s budget. The changes were necessary due to the revenue from the TIB Grant and subsequent expenditures on the SR 902 Sidewalk Project, a transfer from the Water/Sewer CIP that was omitted from budget, a transfer from the City Hall CIP for a new phone system and a transfer from the Water/Sewer/Equipment Reserve Fund for the purchase of a new backhoe for the city.

The council also approved the Ambulance Service Board Contract Amendment.

Fire Chief Jason Mayfield approached the council with a proposal to bring in members from Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) to perform a Fire Services Feasibility Study to help give an unbiased and realistic view of the Fire Department.

According to Mayfield, Airway heights and Spokane Fire District 10 asked Medical Lake to enter into an interlocal agreement to share the costs of hiring ESCI. If the city decides to participate, the cost for the initial report will be $13,720 and additional funding will be required for implementation of the results from the study. Mayfield explained the study would be a six-month process.

Mayor John Higgins said this proposal would be on the agenda for the next meeting after the council has had time to look over the different options listed in the proposal.

In old business, the council approved the second reading of ordinance 1033, which sets the salaries and compensation for appointive officers and employees of the city. Ordinance 1033 was amended to include the 2 percent increase to the judge’s salary, prior to the meeting.

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