By RILEY KANKELBERG
Staff intern 

Medical lake parks are making changes

 

Last updated 6/24/2021 at 8:39am



MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council’s June 15 meeting covered several hot topics in preparation for summer.

The council accepted the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the Federal American Rescue plan. The total amount will be distributed in two checks, one in 2021 and one in 2022, for a total of $1,386,249. The council will discuss their spending plans in future meetings, but Mayor Shirley Maike expects to continue investing in the city’s economic development.

Both J&M LLC Fireworks and Tom & Celia Griffey Fireworks submitted permit applications for approval, which prompted a discussion over firework safety. The council acknowledged the Fire Chief’s authority to prohibit fireworks in the case of extreme fire danger. The permits were approved.

The intertie between Spokane and Medical Lake, a project 14 years in the making, is in its final steps. The council approved the final city equivalent residential unit determination (ERU) with one dissenting voice from Chad Pritchard. The intertie will bring 187 new connections to Medical Lake, allowing for 2,035 total ERUs that will operate for 18 hours a day.

The council also approved the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office extra duty service contract. In response to reports of violations at Medical Lake parks, a deputy will patrol the parks the weekends of June 19, 2021, to Sept. 6, 2021.

Due to complaints of overflowing trash and other sanitary problems, the Parks and Recreation department hired a second summer laborer. In addition to finishing construction on Ball Field No. 1 by the end of the month, the city will be hosting an ice cream truck this month. The city will receive 10% gross funds from the vendor.

In addition to record-breaking drought, the area is experiencing an above-average amount of wildfires this year. Spokane County Fire District 3 is hoping to restore their levy from $1.42 to $1.50. Fire Chief Cody Rohrbach added that they have some of the lowest in the area, with the next lowest district coming in at $1.68. They also do not run as many other levies and would appreciate the support.

In response to some recent criticism from residents, City Administrator Doug Ross said that the city did not deny the Founder’s Day Parade permit. Since the gathering was in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Plan, it could not be approved.

Riley Kankelberg can be reached at riley@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024