At its Aug. 18 meeting, the Medical Lake City Council voted 4-1 to approve the settlement agreement between city and Brian Kenny and Carola Kenny. Councilman Art Kulibert was the dissenting vote and council members Howard Jorgensen and Laura Parsons were absent.
In 1997, the city constructed a water tank with a water main on a 10-foot strip of land in what is now the Fox Ridge Subdivision. Due to an error in the legal description, the city placed a portion of the water main, which supplies both the tank and distribution system, on private property.
The settlement allows the city to purchase the parcel of property for $2,339.62, which results in the entire water main being on city property.
The city agreed to pay an additional $10,000 for all claims of loss relating to the dispute, for the detriment of the property, lost fencing materials, rental fees for equipment and other expenses the Kenny’s incurred.
“This settlement is something we’ve been waiting for, for a long time,” City Administrator Doug Ross said, “This is the error we found. We worked with the Kenny’s to fix this and now the agreement is done.”
In other action items, council approved a second amendment to the site lease agreement between the city and T-Mobile. Ross said the company is requesting to install an additional microwave antenna on the city’s water tower. According to the agreement, T-Mobile will pay the city an additional $100 to its current monthly payment of $1,500.
Council approved a licensing and services agreement with Tyler Technologies to pay $91,191.50 for a new server and software. The city will also pay an annual maintenance fee of $8,285.
“We’ve been looking at new software for a couple of years,” Jennifer Hough, finance director, said. “The current software we are using is costing the city more man hours, making errors and isn’t doing things we need it to do. I think it’s going to be good for the city.”
Hough added that the new server would allow the wastewater treatment plant and maintenance building to have access to the city’s network.
In water updates, Ross said the city had 42 residents use over 70,000 gallons of water in July, 68 users less than in June.
“Our wells are doing well, but that doesn’t mean we can’t ease up,” Ross said. “I do thank residents for what they’re doing, but we can’t let up. We have to get through the rest of August and September, and possibly next summer.”
In public safety, the Fire Department responded to 64 calls, and Kulibert said August “is likely to beat that number.” Assistant fire chief Corey Stevens commended the men and women in the Fire Department for their efforts.
“We just brought on six new members to the Fire Department,” Stevens said. “Three of those six have prior experience.”
While the Medical Lake Fire Department helps other agencies in Spokane County, Stevens assured that the department only leaves when the city is safe.
“The city is covered before the truck leaves the city limits,” Stevens said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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