Incorporation And New Charter Are Separate Issues, But Linked

Incorporation isn’t the only game in town.

While Citizens for Valley Incorporation struggles to form a city, other Valley residents are helping design a proposed new regional government.

They are the Spokane County freeholders, whom voters elected in November 1992. Seven of the 25 represent the 4th legislative district, which includes the Valley.

Freeholders expected to spend two years studying local government and writing a charter to improve it.

Instead, they’ve worked 2 1/2 years, and hope to finish up soon. Voters probably will be asked to approve the charter in November.

The Valley freeholders include business owners, homemakers and a firefighter. They disagree about consolidation’s prospects at the polls and whether voters should have multiple charter options (as it now stands, consolidation will be the only one). But they agree their work was worthwhile, even if voters reject the charter.

“Whatever we end up with, people will have a chance to look at it and learn,” said Sue Kaun, a freeholder from Liberty Lake.

“I have a new appreciation for what it takes to make government work,” said Judi Williams, freeholders’ chairwoman and executive vice president of Telect Inc.

The consolidated government would dissolve the proposed Valley city, or prevent future attempts if this incorporation drive is unsuccessful.

For that reason, freeholders’ biggest critics are staunch incorporation backers, who nodded agreement during a 1992 rally as a speaker compared consolidation to Marxism.

More recently, incorporation leader Joe McKinnon promised freeholders “the fight of your lives” when their charter hits the ballot.

Freeholders disagree on the impact incorporation would have on their proposal.

“If the Valley incorporates, it’s going to make a cohesive group of people who will probably fight against the charter,” said Williams.

“It’s not going to have much impact,” said Shirley Archer, who gave up most duties at the League of Women Voters and various poodle clubs to be a freeholder. “Not every person in this Valley is in favor of incorporation.”

Al Lewis thinks incorporation would make consolidation more attractive outside the Valley, where four of five voters lives. County officials say services in unincorporated areas would suffer because a Valley city would take taxes from the county.

“The people who got cut out (of the city) are going to feel very concerned about the cuts in services,” said Lewis, the only freeholder who lives within the incorporation boundaries.

As much as he likes the charter, Bill Anderson said he doesn’t give it much hope, regardless of the outcome of the incorporation vote.

“I just don’t think it’s sellable,” said the Valley firefighter and freeholder, who wants voters to have at least one charter option that is less-sweeping than consolidation.

Other freeholders from the 4th District are Clyde Haase, owner of a landscaping firm, and Ed Sharman, a former broadcaster, retired Air Force major and public affairs manager for the American Automobile Association.

Another freeholder, Mike Senske, does not live in the Valley but has a business here. Senske, owner of Painted Hills Golf Course, recently donated $500 to Concerned Citizens Against Valley Incorporation.