Valley Fire Board Selects Ex-Member To Fill Seat
James Fox is back on the Spokane Valley Fire District 1 board of commissioners.
The board on Wednesday selected Fox to complete the unexpired term of the late Bill Allen, who died in October.
It will be the 52-year-old Valley resident’s second stint on the board. He served as a commissioner between 1987 and 1990 before resigning to become a bishop in the Mormon Church.
Fox, the chief financial officer for Family Home Mortgage, ran unsuccessfully for election last November.
Fox, a fiscal conservative who has said he would work within the current budget to meet the district’s needs, will be sworn in Wednesday.
He will serve until 1997, when the seat will be up for election.
Ex-employee sues school district
A former University High School librarian has filed a lawsuit accusing Central Valley School District of discrimination and defamation of character.
Carol Benner and her husband, Keith, filed the complaint against the district and Benner’s former boss, Shirley Bonuccelli.
The lawsuit states that Benner had medical problems, including difficulties with her heart. When Benner became ill, Bonuccelli harassed her and accused her of being a hypochondriac, according to the lawsuit.
Ed Mikesell, Central Valley business manager, declined to comment.
The lawsuit alleges the district failed to control Bonuccelli, until the problems “caused the termination of Ms. Benner’s employment.” The complaint accuses Central Valley of discrimination by failing to accommodate Benner’s health problems and allowing a hostile work environment.
Newman Lake algae plan a go
Spokane County commissioners this week approved the 1996 budget for the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District and with it a plan to treat the lake with aluminum sulfate.
The treatment plan had generated controversy among lake residents.
Some supported the project, which is supposed to reduce algae and other aquatic weed growth.
Others opposed it, saying it wouldn’t work and was too expensive.
The project initially will cost $102,000. That will pay for equipment and chemicals.
Bigelow Gulch Road meeting
Officials from the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane County sheriff’s and public works departments will hold a public hearing Thursday to discuss plans for Bigelow Gulch Road.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Central Grange, 7001 E. Bigelow Gulch Road.
County engineers are considering plans to realign certain stretches of the winding road, which is one of the most busy and dangerous in the county. Law enforcement officials recently stepped up patrols on Bigelow Gulch, a main link between the North Side and the Valley.
, DataTimes