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January 30, 2010 in City
Medical Lake leaders object
Officials ‘insulted’ by Pine Lodge jail proposals
Medical Lake city officials said Friday they want the Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women and no other prison.
If state officials close Pine Lodge as suggested by Gov. Chris Gregoire, Medical Lake will “take every action available, including legal, to prevent any other corrections facility from occupying that building,” city officials said in a press release.
The statement, prepared by Mayor John Higgins and City Administrator Doug Ross, said city officials were “insulted and outraged by the state of Washington’s lack of communication on the proposed closing of this facility.”
Neither Higgins nor Ross could be reached for comment.
Their press release complains that Medical Lake was blindsided when both Spokane County and the city of Spokane expressed interest this week in using Pine Lodge for their own programs.
“The city of Medical Lake has not been contacted by any officials from the state of Washington, the city of Spokane nor Spokane County to discuss this matter,” the press release states.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said the Corrections Department had discussions with Medical Lake city officials throughout the process that led to Pine Lodge being placed on a list of facilities recommended for closure.
After it was placed on the list, state officials were approached by Spokane County and Spokane city officials, Karina Shagren said.
“The Department of Corrections was presented a proposal by the local community to keep Pine Lodge open and preserve jobs in the area,” Shagren said.
She said state corrections officials agreed to discuss the joint overture of Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and Spokane Mayor Mary Verner.
Medical Lake’s opposition to the proposal is “an issue that needs to be taken up with local leaders in the community,” Shagren said.
Friday’s statement by Medical Lake officials says the city already has five “essential public facilities,” including four state institutions, and “will not tolerate becoming a dumping ground for yet another ‘difficult-to-site’ facility.”
Spokane County commissioners “only recently” learned that Pine Lodge might become available for local use and so far have only expressed interest in opening a dialogue, commission Chairman Mark Richard said.
Spokane city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said that’s true for city officials as well. She said they didn’t know Pine Lodge might be available until Gregoire said in her Jan. 12 State of the State address that the prison might be closed for lack of money.
On Thursday, however, state Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail announced Pine Lodge would remain open while state officials discuss the potential for joint use by Spokane and Spokane County.
Richard said he understands and respects Medical Lake officials’ desire to keep Pine Lodge as it is. He said he called Higgins on Thursday to apologize for failure to include Medical Lake in “a conversation that was moving very fast.”
Richard and Feist said Medical Lake would be included in any “substantive” negotiations.
2 home invasion robberies in Spokane 
twobit on January 30 at 6:45 a.m.
the state has been talking about closing for over a year so what is so new to medical lakeand thier is a real need for this and it would be cheaper cost to the public in whole to use it
liarsinnews on January 30 at 8:45 a.m.
Its not surprising the city of Spokane in their usual manner of secret meetings not include the city of Medical Lake. Nothing new about clandestine meetings in the Lilac City. Medical Lake has the right to be angry about it. And Gregoire`s usual modus operandi thinks her wisdom is beyond the average citizens. Gregoire is so insulting.
lewis8457 on January 30 at 10:16 a.m.
Will it be cheaper? Our officers will be running people back and forth from the jail 35 miles outside of Spokane. Meaning a 70 mile round trip, which will use more fuel and ware and tear on the vehicles. Or the taxpayers will get to buy special prison buses with added high paid union personnel.
I don’t understand why we need a new jail so bad. Just legalize pot and the jail would be half empty.
Medical lake has enough problems is it really right to allow our murderous cops to be driving through their town.
Diana on January 30 at 11:52 a.m.
Medical Lake is not 35 miles from Spokane.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 30 at 1:08 p.m.
we can make it one of the stops on the rapid transit that our STA had a shovel ready plan for… ooops… I forgot they ignored their own study years ago… hmm… the Downtown center makes good logistical sense.. but looking at an alternative of “increased services:” along the line of the Sheriff depts recent Pilot does reduce recidivism.. too bad they cut that right out of the budget.. an alternate ballot title to fund services seems to be an idea for which the time has come… gus