By John McCallum
Editor 

Juggling the funding balls

Airway Heights officials pursue a number of sources to build a sports complex and recreation center for city and West Plains

 

Last updated 2/25/2016 at 8:19am

City of Airway Heights

A conceptualized drawing of the proposed $4.7 million sports complex is shown above. A portion of the Spokane County Raceway track is shown to the right of the complex.

Airway Heights' officials are feeling pretty good about one of the city's legislative priorities. If their feelings are correct, the city will begin to take steps towards something residents have wanted for a long time - a sports complex.

Of the nine issues officials and council members presented local legislators in Olympia last month, the idea of funding for a sports complex to attract "economic development by improving quality of life" seems to have gained the most traction. So much so that the possibility exists the city could stand to receive $1 million to go towards beginning construction this summer on the $4.7 million complex located in Airway Heights' north end.

City Manager Albert Tripp said discussions with all three 6th District legislators, representatives Jeff Holy (R-Cheney) and Kevin Parker (R-Spokane) along with Sen. Mike Baumgartner (R-Spokane) went very well. All three expressed a desire to get something for the city to begin work on the project, not just as an economic development enticement but also as a needed component for recreation in the area and the health and welfare of the community's residents.

"Principally, it's a need that is very much needed out here," Tripp said. "It's one of those anchors that overall completes a community."

The project, which is really two projects at the same site, would sit on 70 acres of land west of the upper portion of Spokane County Raceway. Airway Heights acquired the land when Spokane County purchased the racetrack in 2008.

In exchange for running sewer service to the site, Airway Heights obtained the land. As part of the deal the county also paid for the master plan design of the proposed complex, which will feature multi-use turf fields for softball and soccer, playground and picnic areas, shelters, restrooms and a maintenance shed along with ample parking.

If funding were obtained, a $10 million community center would also be built on the site. All of these amenities would serve as enticement for potential new businesses hoping to provide their employees with local amenities.

"And it actually provides a sustainable benefit for the citizens of Airway Heights because these facilities don't (currently) exist," Tripp said.

Of the funding for the complex, Airway Heights is hoping to get $500,000 through state funding in a supplemental budget. They are also pursuing $500,000 in funding from the Washington State Recreation Conservation Office, and $500,000 from the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.

If successful, that would let the city begin construction work this July, wrapping up in October 2017. Airway Heights is also proposing two ballot measures to help with the rest of the funding, including the community center, which would provide a pool, physical fitness areas and equipment along with meeting and family spaces.

The city is working with Spokane County to run a countywide bond, hopefully in February 2017 that would generate $3 million to complete the complex, with the city providing $200,000 in matching funds. Airway Heights plans to run its own measure this coming Aug. 2 requesting approval of a property tax increase to raise the money needed for the recreation center.

Tripp said they are looking at three options regarding the tax increase proposal, the most likely being a 30-year increase that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $7.87 a month.

According to the Spokane County Election Department's website, the last time the city ran a ballot measure to park facilities was Sept. 20, 2005, which was for $5 million in general obligation bonds that failed, receiving just 36 percent approval. Tripp said the city's assessed value at the time, $130 million, led to a higher rate to homeowners, somewhere in the neighborhood of $60 a month.

Since then, Airway Heights' non-correction center population has tripled, while its assessed value has risen to $502.65 million, reducing the size of the potential tax increase.

"It's considerably cheaper," Tripp said.

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

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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