Furnace Rebuilds Planned At County Swimming Pools

Spokane County Parks Department Director Wyn Birkenthal said the department’s four swimming pools - Valley Mission, Park Road, Terrace View and Holmberg - will have their furnaces rebuilt this spring.

Project costs will total between $20,000 and $35,000. The pools will each get a new diving board, as well, Birkenthal said.

“Some of them were original equipment,” he said. “It’s just prudent to replace them.”

Opening day for county swimming pools will be June 20.

Chester Creek watershed seminar

Spokane County engineers will conduct a two-hour seminar today to teach Chester Creek area residents about the watershed program that addresses drainage problems.

The event starts at 9 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3606 S. Schafer. Activities include walking tours of parts of the watershed area, a bicycle tour of the entire area, and erosion demonstrations.

A watershed is a geographic area in which all surface water flows to a particular stream, river or other body of water. The Chester Creek watershed extends from the community of Mica north to Sprague Avenue, and both east and west of Dishman-Mica Road.

Engineers and a committee of area residents will work with county commissioners to develop a watershed plan that addresses flooding and erosion problems in the area, said county spokesman Chad Hutson.

Applications being accepted

The Pasadena Park Irrigation District 17 is accepting applications for director position 2.

Director elections will be held in December.

Applications, available in the Spokane County commissioners’ office, 1116 W. Broadway, must be submitted by May 13.

Questions should be directed to the irrigation district office, 926-5535.

He was the ‘key’-note speaker

Spectators at the ground-breaking for the Spokane Valley Mall heard a couple of punchlines delivered by County Commissioner Steve Hasson.

Hasson opened by telling the crowd that he wasn’t there to present JP Realty President Rex Frazier with the key to the community.

“My son Nick made off with that,” Hasson said. Instead, he handed Frazier a building permit.

Then Hasson said the rain that was turning the future mall site into a muddy bog was a sign. An awkward hush fell over the crowd, and Hasson let the mood linger a moment, before he relieved Frazier and colleagues by saying the rain was just God’s way of purifying the land, preparing it so something new could grow there.

, DataTimes