Annexation official

Liberty Lake’s new 644-acre annexation is almost officially in the books, and city officials Tuesday night planned a warm welcome for the residents already living there.

The mayor, City Council members and various city officials are planning to walk around the area and meet with residents, delivering packets of information about their new city.

“I’m not aware of any city that has gone out and visited with its new neighbors like this,” said Arlene Fisher, the city’s finance and administration director. “We’re really excited about it.”

City officials decided during the council meeting Tuesday to hit the streets at 10 a.m. April 29. Information packets will include material about business licenses, public safety information, library news, brochures, maps and other community information.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution making the annexation official. The change will go into effect later this month as a 30-day appeal period passes.

The council met in its traditional home in City Hall Tuesday night.

The chambers are the first part of the restoration to be completed since hundreds of gallons of water erupted from the building’s ceiling last February. The council met in the basement of the Trailhead Golf Course clubhouse in the interim. The remaining restoration work is on schedule, said Doug Smith, director of community development.

The city also is three weeks away from installing new driving range booths at Trailhead, Smith said. The booths may be oriented in such a way as to prevent golf balls from pummeling City Hall, which is located just next to the driving range.

Council members were also informed of a legislative open house on May 2. State Sen. Lisa Brown will attend, as well as other local politicians, Fisher said.

The council also discussed a new contract with Spokane County to use its jail and court services. Prices have increased since the last contract was signed one year ago, and Councilwoman Judi Owens wondered why.

“This is mind-boggling,” she said. “Were they doing a bad job before or is this an accurate amount? This is insane.”

Fisher said the increases are likely due to better accounting on the part of county officials.

“They have streamlined the process,” she said. Fisher expressed hope that the contract would be done early next year, instead of at the end of the first quarter.