Action Committee Reactivated

Sat., July 29, 2000

By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com (509) 459-5446

Incorporation advocates are reactivating their Community Action Committee to once again study the possibility of forming a Valleywide city.

Ed Mertens, who started in the citizens’ committee in 1990, said it’s time to have a meeting to update residents on the group’s efforts and gauge the community’s interest in incorporation.

Mertens said the Community Action Committee strongly favors Valley incorporation and has been working with the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Valley Business Association to launch a community survey and financial analysis.

“People are indicating they want to work with us and that’s what we’re looking for,” Mertens said.

Dentist Philip Rudy, chairman of the Valley Chamber’s governance committee, said the groups have received a proposal for the cost to provide a report on the estimated revenues and expenses a Valley city would generate.

Rudy said the Valley Chamber has started fund raising to pay for the study, although he was reluctant to release the estimated cost. He said it will depend how detailed the committee decides the report should be, a decision that has not been made yet. Previous estimates for a community fiscal study have been between $50,000 and $75,000.

The Valley Chamber has not taken a position on Valley incorporation during past attempts. Voters have rejected plans to incorporate the Valley five times since 1990.

Mertens said the Community Action Committee will hold an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Valley Library, 12004 E. Main.

The focus of the meeting will be to update residents on the emerging incorporation effort and rejuvenate interest in the committee, Mertens said.

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