John Craig

Spokane Valley’s refusal to pay part of its bill for Sheriff’s Office services since 2006 is based on a severely flawed assumption by city officials, the state auditor’s office said Monday. The city’s claim to have been billed twice for administrative costs – once through its contract for police services and again through its contract for jail services – is a classic apples-and-oranges comparison, according to Guy Cavendar, an assistant audit manager in the state auditor’s Spokane office.

Spokane Valley Mayor Rich Munson is disappointed by the lack of candidates for three positions on the City Council despite state Sen. Bob McCaslin’s last-minute decision to give Munson a race. “That’s one thing Bob McCaslin and I agree on,” Munson said. “We need to get more people to run for these offices.”

The Spokane Valley City Council plans to act Tuesday on City Attorney Mike Connelly’s initiative to reopen negotiations for county-owned land to extend Appleway Boulevard. Connelly’s plan calls for the city, Spokane County commissioners and the Spokane Transit Authority each to appoint a representative in mediated negotiations. City Manager Dave Mercier is to present the proposal to the other parties if the council approves next week.

Spokane Valley will spend up to $49,830 to study a court system with which city officials say they’re happy. It’s part of the City Council’s decision to study all its contractual relationships with Spokane County after county commissioners announced in December they would cancel the city’s contract for snow plowing.

A river rescue was the most dramatic of 460 Spokane Valley Fire Department responses in a two-week period that ended Wednesday night. Nearby residents called firefighters at 3:35 p.m. Sunday when they heard a 23-year-old Post Falls woman cry for help as she clung to the pilings of a temporary Barker Road bridge. The woman had been attempting to reach a channel along the north bank of the Spokane River when her vinyl raft lodged against the bridge.

State Sen. Bob McCaslin filed Friday afternoon for Spokane Valley Mayor Rich Munson’s seat on the City Council. If McCaslin unseats Munson, he would retain the Senate seat for which he won an eighth term in November.

Spokane Valley Parks Director Mike Stone hopes an 11-day delay will ensure there are at least three bids Tuesday for construction of the city’s new Discovery Playground. The playground in Mirabeau Point Park will have numerous features to make it accessible and appealing to people of all ages, with and without disabilities.

The East Valley School District won’t have to lay off teachers or cut popular programs as originally feared if residents give their blessing Monday to an alternate proposal for closing a $1.5 million revenue shortfall. The school board has scheduled a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss a plan Superintendent John Glenewinkel presented to the board earlier this week. The meeting will be in the district office at 12325 E. Grace Ave.

The East Valley School District won’t have to lay off teachers or cut popular programs as originally feared if residents give their blessing Monday to an alternate proposal for closing a $1.5 million revenue shortfall.

An effort to cut the proposed Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan in half failed Tuesday in a 5-2 vote of the Spokane Valley City Council. Councilwoman Rose Dempsey, with support from Councilman Gary Schimmels, moved to implement the plan only between the Sprague exit of Interstate 90 and University Road.

Spokane Valley firefighters rescued a woman from her cooking Monday at the Apple Grove Apartments. “We got there and kicked in the door and found her passed on the floor,” Fire Marshal Kevin Miller said. “AOB, alcohol on breath, is what we say.”

Spokane County Fire District 8 swore in three new staff members this week, including the district’s first full-time female firefighter-paramedic. Deputy Chief Tony Nielsen said the district has had some female volunteer firefighters, but Amanda Jordan is the first woman on its paid force.

Spokane County commissioners will take public testimony Tuesday on numerous parking restrictions proposed for unincorporated areas around Liberty Lake. Commissioners say the restrictions were proposed by the Spokane Valley Fire Department for safety reasons. In most cases, parking would be banned only on the paved portion of roadways, but no parking at all would be allowed in three areas.

Perseverance paid off Tuesday for some of the staunchest critics of Spokane Valley’s proposed Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan. Among other last-minute changes, the City Council agreed to remove Susan and Jim Scott’s Lark Inc. business at 205 S. Evergreen Road, from the plan.

Spokane County Fire District 8 swore in three new staff members this week, including the district’s first full-time female firefighter-paramedic. Deputy Chief Tony Nielsen said the district has had some female volunteer firefighters, but Amanda Jordan is the first woman on its paid force.

Spokane Valley firefighters responded to 11 vehicle accidents in the past week, including a fatal collision involving a moose. The fatal accident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 90 just west of the Idaho state line. Spokane Valley resident Alexandra E. Phillips, 19, was killed by a pickup when she got out of her car after colliding with a moose.