News Briefs

City seeks $2 million in funds

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – At the recent West Plains Safety Alliance meeting, discussions centered around the proposed construction of Bezos Academy, a childcare center.

The Police Department’s Alise Mnati expressed gratitude for the letters of support received for the project.

Mnati said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Shoreline, requested $2 million in funding for the project through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Mnati noted the insufficient availability of childcare facilities in the region, particularly for military families stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.

She emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for military personnel to access reliable childcare services, thereby potentially incentivizing them to remain in Airway Heights rather than relocating to nearby cities like Liberty Lake, where such services may be more readily available.

Data-sharing agreement OK’d

MEDICAL LAKE – The City Council unanimously approved a data-sharing agreement with State Auditor’s Office during the Tuesday, April 16 meeting.

“The State Auditor’s Office is required to use the information we share with them,” Finance Director Koss Ronhault said. “This agreement has been in existence since 2021.”

State law requires an agreement to regulate the exchange of confidential information between the Washington State Auditor’s Office and the city of Medical Lake. The existing agreement expires June 30.

The mayor was authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the city.

Steevens provides fire update

MEDICAL LAKE – The prolonged burning of the debris field from last August’s Gray Fire was addressed during the latest City Council meeting.

Spokane County Fire District No. 10 Deputy Fire Chief Andres Steevens provided insights into the situation.

Steevens informed council members that the initial objective was to contain and mitigate the fire by opening up the debris field.

However, complications arose due to requirements set forth by the Department of Ecology.

According to Steevens, the Department of Ecology stipulated the need for additional infrastructure before access to the debris pile could be facilitated.

District pursues $1M grant

CHENEY — Speaking at the April 18 West Plains Safety Alliance meeting, Alise Mnati of Airway Heights said the Cheney School District is applying for a $1 million Bureau of Justice STOP Violence grant.

The grant program aims to bolster school safety by equipping students, teachers and staff with the resources to recognize, respond to and prevent acts of violence.

Solutions may include the establishment of school-based behavioral threat assessment teams, the adoption of technological innovations such as anonymous reporting systems and the implementation of various school safety strategies proven to mitigate violence.

“We need letters of support, and crime data on youth in Cheney,” Mnati said.

If successful, the grant would enable the hiring of a full-time family engagement liaison and a full-time school co-responder.

Cities collaborate on grant

CHENEY – The cities of Airway Heights and Cheney submitted a joint-application to the Association of Washington Cities for the Alternative Response Team grant, according to Alise Mnati.

The grant aims to support Washington cities in using alternative response teams to handle behavioral health crises, according to the Health Care Authority.

Alternative response teams are designed to respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health crises, aiming to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with community resources.

The grant program emphasizes person-centered interventions, often provided outside of emergency departments and without law enforcement presence.

Chloeta awarded climate bid

MEDICAL LAKE – The City Council selected Chloeta to draft a hazard mitigation plan during a meeting last week. Funding for the contract will be covered, in part, by a $100,000 Commerce Climate Planning Grant, officials said.

Chloeta — which is pronounced “shuh-lay-tuh” — is an American Indian-owned company based in Oklahoma City, Okla., that specializes in hazard mitigation. The decision comes in response to legislation passed and signed into law in 2023, which mandates that local comprehensive plans include a climate element with resilience and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation sub-elements.

“Chloeta is the one that will by far give us an outstanding product,” Finance Director Koss Ronhault said. “It’s important to have someone from out of town look over our plan.”

— Compiled by Clare McGraw