City Council, invites sewer district to meet

Liberty Lake’s city council took a step toward mending a rift with the local sewer and water district.

On Tuesday, the council invited the commissioners to participate in joint meetings.

The two governing bodies haven’t met together since the sewer district facilitated meetings a year ago. Mutual distrust increased during the past year, after the city moved to takeover sewer services and assets and the district sued to block that attempt.

State law gives cities the right to absorb special purpose districts if over 60 percent of a district’s assessed value falls within city limits. However, last September a superior court judge ruled the city failed to follow proper procedure when it moved forward with assumption, putting takeover proceedings in limbo.

Councilman David Crump, who proposed the meeting, suggested tabling any talk of the “A-word” in hopes of rebuilding trust and forging a working relationship.

“I think there are issues that impact this community that would make it worthwhile,” Crump said.

Council members agreed the meetings could lead to better communication about planning, lake quality, water rights and other local issues.

“I think at this point the City Council and sewer district don’t really know how to talk to each other,” Councilman Brian Sayrs said. “This will be a good opportunity.”

After the meeting, Commissioner Tom Agnew said he was encouraged by the offer.

“They want to take assumption off the agenda. I think that’s great news.”

Judges present pros of County court service

The council heard a presentation from Spokane County District Court representatives that detailed how the county is researching and implementing alternatives to expensive incarceration costs.

Last meeting, the council explored canceling its contract with the county to provide municipal court services, but ultimately voted against it.

Part of the argument for starting a municipal court in Liberty Lake was potential savings in jail costs because of the ability to utilize more alternative sentences and time saved for officers who travel to Spokane to book suspects.

Judge Annette Plese described lower-cost alternative sentences that include two days a week of day detention at Geiger Corrections Center. Detainees would spend entire days watching self-help videos.

“It’s like detention in high school,” she said.

Home monitoring may soon include ankle bracelets that monitor blood-alcohol levels.

The county may also reopen jail cells at the Spokane Valley Precinct, which would save Liberty Lake officers a drive to Spokane.

Other actions

The council approved a tourism promotion agreement, which levies a 50 cents to $1 tax per room per day, depending on gross revenue, for local hotels. The money collected goes to promote local tourism.

Council members supported drafting a resolution calling for improved monitoring of conditions at Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co, which recently leaked diesel fuel and waste in the regional aquifer. The aquifer provides drinking water for about 500,000 living in the region.

In two weeks, council members will head to Olympia for the annual Association of Washington Cities Legislative Action Conference.

Although the council has no formal agenda, an informal letter stated concerns ranging from improving prescription assistance and health-care access for the poor and preserving social services that provide safety nets for the low-income.