Councilwoman Aspen Montelone was given a plaque by Mayor Kevin Richey for her dedication and service to the city of Airway Heights. She is leaving her position on the City Council due to moving out of town.
At the Nov. 6 Airway Heights City Council meeting, the council interviewed two applicants for an opening on the board left vacant by the resignation of Aspen Montelone. Veronica Messing, who had previously been appointed to the council, was chosen again.
The other applicant, Arthur Bubb, had moved to Airway Heights a year and a half ago from California. He served on a school board for a school in California and a citizens committee and wanted to become more involved in Airway Heights.
Bubb said during his interview that he wanted to help the schools and the city to work together in a better way. At his previous position in California, he was able to accomplish the same plan successfully and in the end it was beneficial for everyone.
Since Messing was just interviewed on Sept. 5, the council did not ask her the same questions again but just let her speak for herself about staying on the council.
"I see my work in public service at the beginning, but I am here to stay," Messing said. "I have a responsibility to learn a lot and be present in the community. I see myself giving the time and stepping up to the responsibility. It is exciting to hear about all the ways we are growing as a city and it has been enlightening to learn about."
Despite high praises for Bubb, Messing was selected for the position and remained on the board.
Mayor Kevin Richey told Bubb that they would like to still see him involved in other places around Airway Heights like the Planning Commission and encouraged him to run for a City Council position in the future.
In other items, the council held the first of two public hearings on the 2018 budget. At the Nov. 20 meeting, the board is hoping to finish the second reading.
Council was also given the first reading of Ordinance C-896 that adds 1 percent to the regular property tax for 2018. The board previously had voted unanimously to approve the increase.
City attorney Stanley Schwartz also gave a briefing to the council on a contract with Baron and Bud, a law firm from San Diego that is helping the city with the costs it had from the water issues earlier in the year. He told the council that they have an agreement with the Air Force, saying that they will pay for the extra costs to use Spokane's water now. It will be a year-by-year agreement with the city and the Air Force.
The contract is not finalized yet as there were a couple parts that still needed to be smoothed out before it was official.
Council also had a lengthy conversation with Development Director Derrick Braaton about a request from the Spokane County. The county wanted Airway Heights to sign a letter of intent to become a planning partner in development of a multi-jurisdictional mitigation plan that is being updated from 2015. It basically means Spokane County wants Airway Heights to agree to work its their neighbors.
There wasn't a lot of specific information given with the request, so the council made a motion to give City Manager Albert Tripp the permission to sign the letter on the council's behalf after getting more specifics. The reason for not waiting until the next meeting was that Spokane wanted the decision done earlier, but hadn't given Airway Heights much notice.
Braaton also had the council approve the finalization of Traditions third addition, which has been in the process since around 2007. By the end of 2018, the company will be building the apartments.
Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)