Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Animal Control

Related Coverage, Page 14

County seeks 15 volunteers for boards, commissions

Spokane County is looking for 15 volunteers to fill vacancies on boards and commissions. Some of the openings are available to residents throughout the county, while others are limited to certain areas. Spokane County, boards, commissions, vacancies, volunteers, Fair and Expo Advisory Board, Boundary Review Board, Civil Service Commission, Health Sciences and Services Authority, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Historic Landmarks Commission,

Mager accuses successor French of libel

Former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager on Tuesday announced a Public Disclosure Commission complaint accusing her successor, Al French, of libel. With exhibits, Mager’s complaint is 107 pages long and covers many of the issues in her race against French. However, Mager’s cover letter focuses on a barrage of e-mails in the week before the Nov. 2 general election.

Mager levels libel charge against French

Former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager Tuesday announced a Public Disclosure Commission complaint accusing her successor, Al French, of libel.

Pay raises lag in public sector

An analysis of recent wage increases shows that the pay of many local government workers is rising slightly slower than the rate of workers in the private sector. From 2002 to 2009, workers in the private sector in Spokane County experienced wage increases of 26.4 percent. Wages of workers in local government were up 24.7 percent.

City, county plan waste summit

Spokane County commissioners slogged through garbage issues for three hours Tuesday on their way to a Solid Waste Summit. They authorized Chairman Al French to join Spokane Mayor Mary Verner in sending invitations to the Feb. 2-3 summit at the CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley.

Salvatori will run for city council, not mayor

Salvatori will run for city council, not mayor

County leaders balk at city’s timeline for waste plant

Establishing a garbage democracy in Spokane County may prove as difficult as bringing representative government to Afghanistan. The challenge came into sharp focus Tuesday when Spokane city officials asked county commissioners to hurry up and sign off on $18 million worth of upgrades to the city’s Waste-to-Energy Plant.

Equipment, legalities create ballot-counting bottlenecks

Washington’s election system has many virtues, but speed isn’t one of them. Only 40.6 percent of last month’s Spokane County general election ballots were counted on election night.

Report shows local counties’ income and demographic numbers

Spokane County has a higher percentage of single men and single women. Kootenai County a higher percentage of married couples. Kootenai County residents are more likely to have been born in another state, although Spokane County has a higher percentage of residents born in another country.

Commissioners maintain conservation priorities

Last-minute pleas to preserve land on Beacon Hill failed to persuade county commissioners to shuffle a priority list for Conservation Futures property acquisitions. Eight people urged the commissioners to give a higher priority to a package of 11 parcels on Beacon Hill, a popular hiking and mountain-biking site overlooking Hillyard.

Law gives developers a break

An unusual provision of Washington law has repeatedly allowed major real estate developments to go forward even after they’ve been declared urban sprawl that violates the state’s Growth Management Act. Among the examples statewide:

Old YMCA worth saving? Landmarks panel to decide

It could be the final chapter for the former downtown YMCA. Or it could be the start of more painstaking, political maneuvering.

Break meant to help construction industry

Developers may lock up subdivision rights longer under a temporary change in state law that took effect June 10. The amendment extends the “vesting” periods in which developers may press ahead with their projects regardless of changes in regulations.

County receives conservation list

Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program may get a new, narrower target for acquiring public open-space land. County commissioners received a staff and advisory committee recommendation to focus on the top 10 properties on a priority list of 36 offerings.

County receives conservation list

Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program may get a new, narrower target for acquiring public open-space land.

Eugster says he won’t run for council president

Eugster says he won’t run for council president

County budget to tap reserve

Next year’s Spokane County budget will dig deeper into county reserves, not taxpayers’ wallets. County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday not to impose legally permitted 1 percent increases in property tax levies for the general fund or the road fund.

Garbage talks hinge on control

City and county officials agree they want to retain a regional garbage-disposal system when expiring contracts begin dissolving the current arrangement next year. But Spokane County and other member governments are unwilling to let the city of Spokane maintain full control of the system, which determines garbage rates countywide.

Corker announces bid for council president

Corker announces bid for council president

Mapping the 2010 Vote: County Commissioner

Mapping the 2010 Vote: County Commissioner