Medical Lake receives TIB grant funding

The city of Medical Lake received some additional funds to help with its summer street patching.

During its June 20 meeting, City Council approved the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) fuel tax grant distribution agreement for the $23,274 the city received from the board’s 2017 Emergency Repair Program. The money can only go toward fixing the streets that were damaged from the moisture in winter and spring.

City Administrator Doug Ross said staff will be renting the equipment and repairing the streets in early July. When asked what would happen if a city uses more than the money given to them, Ross said TIB has contingency funds in case that happens.

“We will keep our eye on the budget since we’re the ones doing the work,” he added.

In other action items, council approved the cooperation agreement for the Community Development Block Grant program. At its May meeting, they gave approval for Mayor John Higgins to send a letter to the program stating Medical Lake will remain in the consortium.

In public works matters, Councilman John Paikuli announced the city received a draft agreement from the city of Spokane regarding a water intertie. Although the agreement is in its “infancy stages,” Medical Lake would only use the intertie in an emergency, such as the recent water situation in Airway Heights or an instance where there is five consecutive days of 95 degree or higher temperatures.

There was also some discussion of the municipal code regarding motor homes and recreational vehicles parked on city streets. During public comment, resident Ted Olson said he received a code violation letter on June 1. Olson had left his vehicle on the street after he and his family returned from a recent camping trip on Memorial Day weekend.

Olson said the letter only quoted part of the city’s municipal code and left out the part about motor homes being allowed on city streets for up to 72 hours. He added that the notice said that if he left his RV out for five days, his utilities would be terminated.

The city’s municipal code chapter 18.30 does not permit motor homes and campers to be parked “on a public street, alley or public or private tract of land in the city outside of a manufactured home park.” The code does permit someone to park their vehicles on the street for emergency stops or repair purposes for up to 72 hours.

Olson said he received a notice in the utility bill that contained the municipal code chapter. He also asked council why the owners of two other RVs that were parked on his street did not receive notices.

Ross explained that Spokane County Sheriff’s Office commissioned reserve deputy Don Mayfield sent out 17 code enforcement letters. He added that language on the utility bill was for all residents and not specific to Olson’s situation.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.