Millwood to consider historic preservation step

Longtime Millwood resident Vikkie Naccarato delivered a petition with 30 signatures to the Millwood City Council on Tuesday requesting that the city become a “certified local government” through the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

“We want to take our love of Millwood,” Naccarato said, “and take it to the next step.”

Participation in the CLG program requires a local government to establish and maintain a Historic Preservation Commission, survey local historic buildings, enforce state and local preservation laws and provide for public participation.

The program provides tax incentives, grants, technical assistance and training from the state historic preservation officer.

The tax incentive features a special valuation for historic properties that meet the program’s requirements.

“The purpose of the tax incentive is they don’t want to penalize you for improving your property,” Millwood City Planner Tom Richardson said.

The council directed city staff to draft an ordinance establishing the CLG for consideration at the June meeting.

In other news:

• City Attorney Brian Werst updated the council on solid waste management options.

In March, the city decided to pursue alternatives to Spokane County’s interlocal agreement and joined with Liberty Lake, Airway Heights and Deer Park to seek alternatives. The deadline was Thursday.

Werst said one possible bidder had asked to extend the deadline because of potential inconsistencies in the bid request.

The deadline to sign an agreement with the county was also Thursday.

The city’s main concern with the county’s plan is it does not include rates. The county does not plan to release its rates until later this year.

“The county has indicated … that it is their full intent to try to keep the cost at or below, if possible, what they currently are now,” Werst said. “But that is really contingent on who the players are in the solid waste program.”

Werst advised the council that waiting to make a decision could end up costing the city more, if it decides to go with the county in the end.  

“An argument can be made under the statutes that the county has to include Millwood in its planning,” Werst said about making a decision past the deadline. “But they may incur costs to add you into the process. That is probably going to be a cost passed onto the city.”

 The council decided to hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss options.

• The council awarded the Buckeye sidewalk project to Cameron-Reilly. Its bid of $201,995 was the lowest of three for the project. Buddy’s Backhoe Service won the Buckeye water line improvement project with a bid of $290,518. The city received four bids for that project.

The projects are set to begin June 16.