Thorny council meeting

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District extended an olive branch to the City Council. But it had thorns for Planning Director Doug Smith.

At Tuesday’s Liberty Lake City Council meeting, Sewer Commissioner Frank Boyle read a letter meant to encourage cooperation between the city and district. However, the letter also said Smith is delaying issuing a building permit for the $11 million sewer plant expansion.

After the meeting, he expressed frustration that plans approved by Spokane County and Washington State Department of Ecology are being further scrutinized by the city. The only thing delaying the project, Boyle said, is the city.

“We would be moving dirt today if it wasn’t for that,” said Boyle, who said the district submitted its paperwork Aug. 30.

After the meeting, Smith said his department is requiring the district do additional environmental impact studies because he isn’t comfortable with the three-year-old State Environmental Protection Act study the district provided.

“Ecology isn’t the only agency out there,” Smith said – the city wants area Indian tribes and other municipal dischargers to review the plans, as well. “I’m just not going to put the city in the position of issuing a building permit if adequate review hasn’t been completed,” Smith said.

The fight over the permit comes against the backdrop of a larger battle over the city’s effort to take over the district. On Tuesday, the council detailed its reasons for pursuing the takeover, which a Superior Court judge has ruled invalid. Among its goals are forming a Utilities Advisory Committee to ensure all customers are represented, and to maintain protective standards.

Some council members think the resolution will help clear up misconceptions. Knowing the council’s intent may factor in when the feasibility study is done and if “assumption” of the district is put to a public vote.

A draft version of the feasibility study was circulated among the council, which had one closed-door meeting with the principal engineer to discuss the study. The Spokesman-Review requested a copy under the state open records law. The city declined to provide a copy.