The Airway Heights City Council appointed Councilwoman Tanya Dashiell the new deputy mayor, following a 4-3 vote at its Tuesday meeting.
Dashiell, who was nominated by Mayor Kevin Richey, takes over for Steven Lawrence, who replaced Richey after council appointed him mayor by the council last summer following the resignation of former mayor Patrick Rushing. Richey’s term on the council was set to expire at the beginning of the year, so the duties of deputy mayor expired with it for Lawrence when he took over the position.
In action items, council approved the adoption of the collective bargaining agreement with the Airway Heights Public Safety Guild to increase wage and benefits for 2016-18. The agreement, which runs until Dec. 31, 2018, gives a five percent wage increase to guild employees for the duration of the agreement. It also gives a $123 increase in family and medical coverage every year, and $250 in VEBA (voluntary employees’ beneficiary association) contributions. The VEBA contribution will increase to $300 in 2017 and to $325 in 2018.
City Manager Albert Tripp requested the council consider suspending council rules to approve the first and only reading of ordinance C-870, which provides for the wage and benefit adjustments in the bargaining agreement. Tripp explained that suspending council rules and approving the ordinance would allow the administration to proceed with payroll process, rather than have do retroactive payments in the future. Council suspended the rules and approved the ordinance.
Council also approved the purchase of two Lifepak 15 defibrillator units from American Medical Response for $53,147.38.
“This (purchase) is part of our EMS levy funds that voters approved,” Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said. “We’re using those funds to buy these.”
Council approved a resolution declaring its support of the Fairchild Air Force Base Protection and Community Empowerment Project. The resolution designates three properties that are vacated and zoned residential — totaling 20 acres — for affordable housing. It also has a 15 percent reduction in GFCs to act as an incentive to developers to build affordable housing on the designated area.
“This is the official support resolution from the council regarding Fairchild preservation,” Development Services Director Derrick Braaten said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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