County Vote Tries To Stop Annexation Commissioners Move To Keep City From Extending Sewer Lines To Homeowners In Proposed Annexation Area

Comparing city leaders to unlawful imperialists, Spokane County commissioners played their only card Tuesday against a proposed annexation of West Moran Prairie.

Commissioners voted to stop the city from ever extending sewer lines to the coveted homeowners, most of whom are fighting the annexation anyway.

Commissioner Steve Hasson led the way, charging that the city is trying to circumvent the state Growth Management Act, which requires municipalities and counties to work together on long-range planning.

City officials could not be reached for comment.

The city is considering adding 1,800 acres to its boundaries near the Palouse Highway between Hatch Road and the Glenrose subdivision.

At stake are homes appraised collectively at $300 million on the county’s tax rolls.

“To me, it’s almost an illegal act,” Hasson said.

The proposed annexation is in the hands of the city Plan Commission, which could make a recommendation to the City Council as soon as today.

Three residents and a fire chief urged county commissioners to just say no to a city request that would allow a sewer extension.

District 8 Fire Chief Dan Stout said the annexation would remove $485,000 from his $1.1 million annual budget while reducing his 110-square-mile service area by only four miles. Most of the tax revenues are generated from the West Moran Prairie. Other homeowners would have to pay more for fire protection and insurance, Stout said.

The 5,300 residents who would be annexed would pay higher property taxes to be in the city and for garbage collection, electricity, natural gas and other utilities.

If approved, the annexation must get past the county Boundary Review Board. And people who control 75 percent of the area’s property, by appraised value, must approve the annexation before it becomes final.

City planners are banking on covenants signed by West Moran residents when they earned the right to receive city utilities. The covenants represent implied consent for city annexation, senior city planner Marion Hess said during a March public hearing.

“Rest assured, Spokane County will not stand by idly while the city pursues inappropriate land- and tax-grab ventures,” Hasson warned the city.

In other action, commissioners approved $22,000 in pay raises for top administrators who have added new duties following a management shake-up.

The county’s three top planners were fired two weeks ago in a downsizing effort that will save $230,000 a year in salary and benefits, commissioners said.

A hiring freeze will remain in effect, commissioners said. Any jobs other than seasonal ones such as lifeguards must be approved by the county’s chief administrative officer, Jim Lindow.

“The thrust is to downsize and reduce cost to the citizens of Spokane County,” states a memorandum to Lindow signed by Commissioners Hasson, Phil Harris and George Marlton.

“Your enthusiastic support along with all employees of the county will hopefully prevent a large layoff in January 1996.”

Hasson said the 1,800-employee work force must be cut in case the city annexes Moran Prairie. Cuts also are needed in case the state passes an initiative rolling back property taxes to 1993 levels.

Commissioners also voted to replace the Harvard Road Bridge near Liberty Lake for $2.5 million by the summer of 1997. The bridge has suffered structural damage from renegade, overloaded truckers.

, DataTimes