Revenue Bonds For Sewers Favored

If residents of the north suburban area have their way, Spokane County would pay for sewer lines in a way that permits more neighborhoods to receive sewer service faster.

More than 1,100 residents of the unincorporated area attended four feedback sessions on county sewer funding. Utilities Director Bruce Rawls said residents, especially those in northern areas, favored a switch to revenue bonds.

The county now builds sewer lines only in neighborhoods that petition for service. The process is slow and can be stopped by a few large property owners. There is also no guarantee that neighborhoods with a greater need will receive service over others that petition first.

Switching to revenue bonds would allow the county to set those priorities and permit county commissioners more leeway in assessing owners with large parcels and those of lower incomes.

Rawls said 45 percent of those who attended the forums filled out a response card, and 65 percent of respondents favored using revenue bonds to built future sewer projects.

“The overriding view is that people want sewers and want them sooner rather than delaying them,” Rawls said.

Rawls also said residents of north Spokane are more in favor of revenue bonds than residents in the Spokane Valley.

The county has set a hearing on new sewer-connection rates. The fee, which pays for trunk lines and the treatment plant, is called a general facilities charge. Staff is proposing an increase next year from $555 to $1,075.

Commissioners will consider that proposal at a public hearing on Jan. 9.

Computers and you

The Northeast Community Center is holding an open house to introduce residents to TINCAN, the new local access computer network that provides free access to residents of Spokane and the surrounding counties.

Erin Hayes, an Americorps worker stationed in northeast Spokane, will introduce the service and demonstrate how it works and what information is available. The system will have links to Spokane’s City Hall, the White House and other government agencies.

Limited Internet access will be available, as are e-mail addresses for residents.

The orientation is set for 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook. For more information, call Hayes at 487-1603.

Nabbing speeders

Traffic watchdog Sandy Smith, chair of the traffic committee in Nevada-Lidgerwood, has secured a promise from the Spokane Police Department to better enforce the new 25 mph speed limit around the Cozza Drive-Standard-LyonsNevada area.

It was one of the neighborhoods selected to try the lower limit on an experimental basis. Many believe the experiment will fail without a police presence.

Anniversary Times

The North Side Voice congratulates the Indian Trail Times on its one-year anniversary. The neighborhood newspaper has proven itself a viable and important voice for residents of northwest Spokane. Keep up the good work.

Fire district Santa

Once again, Fire District 9 will send Santa around the North Side to bring good cheer and collect food for the Spokane Food Bank.

Santa will stop at the main intersections of neighborhoods, and parents are asked to accompany their children into the street to visit with the jolly fellow. He will be parked from 6:30 to about 8 p.m. Next week’s schedule is listed below. For more specific information call 466-4602.

Dec. 11: Arrowhead and Fairwood; Mead west of Market and south of Center.

Dec. 12: Brentwood; Mead, east of Market.

Dec. 13: Camelot and Forest Glen; Shady Slope, Winger Road, Northwood Junior High and Farwell Elementary.

Dec. 14: Five Mile; Peone Prairie Estates, Rolling Hills and Parksmith.

Dec. 15: Mead Royale Mobile Home Park; Upper Linwood area south of Wedgewood.

, DataTimes