While not necessarily stated as such, money was the central theme of Tuesday night’s Cheney City Council meeting — both spending and acquisition.
The council unanimously approved, with council members Teresa Overhauser and Ryan Gaard absent, a Police Department request to apply for a $125,000, three-year grant under the federal COPS Program in order to hire police officer. The department has hired one officer with funds received from passage of a property tax levy lid lift in November 2015, and Police Chief John Hensley told the council they would seek the federal funding to supplement the hiring of a second officer.
Councilman Dan Hilton asked what would happen once the three-year funding is concluded. Hensley said as part of the agreement to receive the funds, if awarded, the city must commit to paying for the officer for at least 12 months after the funding period ends.
“So, that’s above and beyond the one we already hired, a second officer?” Councilman Doug Nixon asked, with Hensley replying yes.
Council approved one purchase and three separate agreements for the city’s Light Department. The department intends to purchase a mini-excavator and trailer for $55,686 from Bobcat of Spokane, something Light Director Steve Boorman said was the “No. 1 item in the budget this year” and had set aside $70,000 for the purchase.
Council approved entering into an agreement for electrical engineering services with Commonwealth Associates. Commonwealth will conduct a study — which Boorman put at about $46,000 — of the city’s power distribution system, last done in 2006, that will provide a review of the system’s substation circuit breakers and switches, feeder configurations and fuse applications and recommend changes if needed.
The council also approved a contract with Industrial Commercial Services for general electrician services to install lights and miscellaneous wiring work at City Hall and the Utility Building, and a contract with AMG Auto for automotive repair services.
In the public works portion of the meeting, the council approved a contract with BMI of Oregon for providing backflow services on the city’s water system. Among a number of services, BMI will monitor annual backflow testing, provide monthly reports on the system’s cross connection control program and additional support as needed.
In items from the Finance Department, the council approved a five-year, $7,200 a year lease for a new copier servicing not only the department but also the Mayor’s Office. Finance Director Cindy Niemeier said that while the lease was $100 more than the previous contract, the way color copies are dealt with will actually save the city about $200 per month.
Finally, the council approved awarding $8,350 in hotel/motel lodging tax revenue to two Cheney organizations — $7,800 to Cheney May Festers and $550 to the Cheney Historical Museum. Niemeier said a third party, of six that submitted applications for funding, was still out and could be awarded later if requested information was supplied.
Councilman John Taves abstained from the voting, noting he helped one organization submit a grant application and since there was still a possibility that organization was the one with a pending application, felt he shouldn’t cast a vote.
In ordinances, the council approved all three readings and final passage of an interim ordinance dealing with zoning inconsistencies among five parcels located at Washington Court across Elm Street from Eastern Washington University. The city’s Planning Commission approved recommended changes to the zoning at its April 11 meeting, but the original interim measure was set to expire before the council would be able to consider it.
“This ordinance extends it 90 days,” Public Works Director Todd Ableman said.
Hilton abstained from voting, noting his company, Hilton Realty, managed properties in the area.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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