AH sees increasing services in 2017

For the 2017 budget, Airway Heights staff is hoping to continue increaseing services in the next couple of years.

To enhance public safety, City Manager Albert Tripp noted that one of the city’s priorities for 2017 is to hire four more police officers. The Airway Heights Police Department currently staffs 14 officers, along with Sgt. Robert Swann, Chief Lee Bennett and administrative assistant Amy Churchill.

“We just brought in two more officers for entry level training and they will be on board in the first quarter of 2017,” Tripp said. “We’re looking to add two more officers in October 2017.”

According to Tripp, the street fund will have more revenue in 2017. He explained that revenue for that fund is dependent on gas tax and as people purchase less gas, the tax diminishes. Tripp pointed to the savings in garbage collection as the reason for the increase in street fund revenue.

“A couple of years ago, the city renegotiated its solid waste services contract with Spokane County and has saved $30 per ton in garbage,” Tripp said. “Staff asked the community if they would rather have a reduced garbage rate or see the fund go toward something like streets.”

“The community said to keep the bill the same and we’ve transitioned to this year having $103,000 more in revenue for streets.”

Street improvement projects include the Garfield/Sixth Avenue/Russell Road project, which is estimated at a little over $2.5 million. Tripp said the project will be partially funded by Transportation Improvement Board and Transportation Benefit District grants. There is also the concept plan for the U.S. Highway 2 Revitalization Project.

Tripp added that the city is also in the process of discussing traffic improvements with the Spokane Tribe of Indians at the Highway 2/Craig Road intersection.

“With some of these projects, we’ve made more progress than we have in the past,” Tripp said.

Capital projects for 2017 include laying down the brick and mortar for the recreational center at 11405 W. Deno Road and installing facilities to serve the facility from Sprague Avenue. There is also the Deno Road well project, which is estimated at $445,000

“We’re also going to install the first phase of multi-purpose sports fields, which will be $1.7 million,” Tripp said. “That one corner of the community will be full of activity.”

Staff will focus on maintaining the Highway 2 corridor. The city requires businesses to maintain the lawns and grassy areas on their frontage. Tripp noted there is landscape on the corridor, which the city is supposed to maintain, that are “weeds and dirt.” He said the city plans to use reclaimed water to beautify those areas.

“We’ll start in phases, but it will go a long way,” Tripp said. “It will give the city a chance to practice what it requires of everyone else.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].