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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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What happened in the deal between Airway Heights and Spokane County?

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It cannot be news or much of a shock to learn the Spokane County commissioners unanimously voted to express opposition to the proposed Spokane Tribe casino and resort, on land they bought and which was annexed to the City of Airway Heights.

Scroll down to the bottom of this text box to read the full nine-page document. It's long and legalistic.

For the record, we want to add the view of Airway Heights city officials, who are contending that a threatened suit by the County had little to do with their agreeing to let the county out of the 2010 deal that curtailed the right to comment on the casino plan.

Mayor Pat Rushing told us that the county was able to terminate the 2010 agreement only when it fully agreed to give up all claims on any revenue the tribe would provide to the city and county, once the casino would open.

Rushing did contact The Spokesman-Review on Friday, the day the first story appeared. Rushing said it would be inaccurate to say the lawsuit forced Airway Heights to terminate the deal. l

An Aiway Heights press release that went out on Thursday last week failed to clarify the reason for the change in plans on the city's part. Rushing said the expectation was to explain the reasons after the release went out.

But Rushing wasn't called by the media that day. That allowed allowed the commissioners to make the assertion about a lawsuit unchallenged.



The Spokesman-Review business team follows economic development in Spokane and the Inland Northwest.