Letters To The Editor

Gregory bellyaching

If Valley Fire District Commissioner Tom Gregory’s comments (Valley Voice, Oct. 23) weren’t about such a serious matter they would be comical.

He talks about the cost overrides for sick leave and long-term disability.

What he didn’t say was that someone didn’t budget properly.

He would like to shift the blame onto labor.

Perhaps he doesn’t want to admit someone made a mistake in budgeting.

He also says one thing he would like to change is the laws so labor and management would have a more even playing field.

Maybe he needs to pay attention to the laws concerning labor negations and fire districts.

This fire district is more than budgets, computers, buildings and equipment. It really is the men and women working here, spending day and night serving the community.

Mr. Gregory has never spent a shift with firefighters to see what goes on.

It’s easy to bellyache and naysay. The hard job is to be part of the solution. George Orr Spokane

Re-elect Boyle

Liberty Lake residents should re-elect Frank Boyle as sewer district commissioner.

During his six years as a commissioner, Frank Boyle has worked hard to assure the sewer district pays off virtually all indebtedness. The district is now debt free, its credit rating has improved, sewer rates have remained stable, water rates have gone down, and quality service has prevailed.

During the most explosive growth in Liberty Lake’s history, Frank Boyle has balanced environmental stewardship and managed growth. He is the commissioners’ champion for managing growth with a careful eye on aquifer protection, stormwater management, watershed preservation, and a clean lake. Frank Boyle is the commissioner favoring the urban growth boundary, which preserves the watershed.

Frank Boyle has been elected, then reelected, president of the Liberty Lake Sewer District board by his fellow commissioners. He’s a board member of the Washington Association of Water and Sewer Districts, where he was recently elevated to the executive committee.

For many years prior to his election as sewer district commissioner, Frank Boyle was an active, visable participant in local community affairs. His interest and commitment began well before his election, and now includes six years as a commissioner. Frank Boyle is an incredible reservoir of community knowledge and sewer district details.

We would be wise to re-elect Frank Boyle to keep this invaluable resource working for our community. Tom Agnew Liberty Lake

Boyle gets her vote

I feel I must comment on a statement made by Liberty Lake Sewer District Commissioner Robert Gamble in his letter (Valley Voice, Oct. 25) concerning Commissioner Frank Boyle.

In his letter, he states that “Mr. Boyle has done nothing but suggest that public money be spent” to mitigate the outlet channel problem at the lake.

This is not consistent with Mr. Boyle’s past history of keeping rates and costs as low as possible for homeowners being served by the Liberty Lake Sewer District.

I have had the opportunity to participate on the Citizen’s Stormwater Advisory Committee for the past two years. Mr. Boyle has served as the sewer district representative to this group.

Mr. Boyle DID attend the meetings.

Mr. Boyle DID discuss the outlet channel.

Mr. Boyle DID explain that we would have to explore funding options.

Mr. Boyle WILL get my vote on Nov. 4. Joan Steele Liberty Lake

Schweda dedicated

I am writing to encourage the voters of the West valley School District to support the re-election of Pete Schweda to our school board.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Pete during the 10 years that he has served on the board with me. I can testify that there is no one more dedicated to providing the very best educational services possible to our kids.

Few people realize the hours and hard work necessary to be an effective and knowledgeable school director. Pete has a strong sense of responsibility coupled with an intense desire to make a difference. He puts in much more than the required or expected effort.

His opponent’s motto is “time for a change.” I would like to point out to him that there have been many positive changes in our schools thanks to Pete and change is continuing.

We are on a path for progress and this board is striving to lead our district down that path. It is critical that we continue without the distraction of a new member with his own agenda and no understanding of what has gone before.

When Pete Schweda was elected, he joined a split board that could not accomplish anything and could not manage their own affairs, let alone the affairs of the district.

His solid thinking and steady hand was instrumental in forming the management team that has served us so well. Jim Williams Spokane

Don’t impugn Boyle

This letter is in response to your article on the Liberty Lake Sewer District commissioner race (Valley Voice, Oct. 23) and the letter from Robert Gamble (Valley Voice, Oct. 25).

As a former Liberty Lake sewer commissioner, I know that the sewer district has done much more than simply install and maintain sewers and a treatment plant.

A large part of the district’s responsibilities has included watershed protection. This ultimately serves the goal the original founders of the district sought, that being saving the lake which had deteriorated dramatically.

Frank Boyle has been an intregral part of the lake restoration effort, as a sewer district commissioner and even before he was elected as an interested citizen.

Further, Frank Boyle has strongly supported the popular and safer alternative of not designating the watershed area as a high density urban growth area.

To impugn Frank Boyle’s motives with respect to the outlet structure and drainage system solutions is unfair and inappropriate. That problem has existed for many years, and the solutions are complex and expensive. Had it been easy and cheap to fix, it would have been done over 20 years ago.

Frank Boyle has worked on this problem as he has participated in solutions to many difficult problems that have been presented to the district over the years, with thoughtful consideration both as to cost and, most importantly, the environmental considerations. Arthur H. Toreson, Jr. Liberty Lake

Community involvement

We live in Highland Estates in Otis Orchards. It is a beautiful setting on a hillside with about 65 homes.

We moved to the area three years ago and love it here.

I have a wish that there were some amenities in our area.

We would love a park in the neighborhood, riding trails or walking trails. Maybe a community hall nearby to congregate for holiday functions, summer picnics, etc.

This area has much to offer and maybe not so much interest as mine. I hope there are more people like me who want community involvement, who want to make the effort.

How does a Christmas light show in Highland Estates sound to you? We couldn’t go wrong. All it takes is a little work and initiative.

Please join me in getting this off and running. I care. Debbie Nedrow Otis Orchards