In brief: Chief candidates wrap up forums

The four police chief finalists ended their interview session for Spokane’s head police job Wednesday with a third two-hour forum, at the Southside Senior Center.

About 65 Spokane residents asked questions about the importance of volunteers in the Police Department, how officers use force during arrests and how long each would stay if selected as Spokane’s next police chief.

The four candidates – Bruce Alan Roberts, Anne Kirkpatrick, Linda Eschenfelder Pierce and Roger L. Peterson – were more relaxed as they answered the queries posed by residents on Wednesday than during the previous two forums.

But perhaps that’s because the last forum was the end of an exhaustive three-day whirlwind of interviews, public and private meetings, and tours around Spokane.

“It’s like running a race,” Kirkpatrick said. “You feel good, but you’re exhausted.”

The four finalists now await Mayor Dennis Hession’s decision on who will be the next chief, which is expected to be announced next week.

Profiles of the candidates can be found at spokesmanreview.com/ sections/chiefsearch.

The city has set up an e-mail account to take comments from residents about the job and the finalists. The e-mail address is chiefsearch@spokanecity.org.

Phosphorus plan OK’d by dischargers

Companies and governments that release wastewater into the Spokane River said Wednesday they agree with a new state plan to reduce phosphorus levels.

The state Department of Ecology met Wednesday with local government leaders, businesses and environmental officials about the plan. The group has been working for 16 months to develop an agreement on phosphorus.

The plan will require river polluters, including wastewater treatment plants, Kaiser Aluminum and Inland Empire Paper, to try to reduce phosphorus in treated wastewater to the same level of phosphorus as would be in the river naturally.

Inland Empire Paper is owned by the Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.

In 20 years, dischargers would have to meet that goal. However, the goal could be changed in 10 years if dischargers find it unobtainable.

High levels of phosphorus in Long Lake have caused an influx of algae, which deplete oxygen from the water and make survival difficult for fish.

The two environmental groups involved in the project, the Lands Council and the Sierra Club, gave differing views of the plan.

The Sierra Club said the plan will have many benefits to the river but criticized the stipulation that allows goals to be changed.

The Lands Council praised the agreement and stressed the importance of working with waste dischargers to improve water quality.

State ecology leaders will meet at 1 p.m. today at CenterPlace at Mirabeau, 2426 N. Discovery Place, in Spokane Valley to present the plan to local elected officials who will have to give their approvals for the agreement to move forward. The meeting is open to the public.

Former politician appointed to CCS

Former state Rep. Don Cox has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Community Colleges of Spokane, the colleges announced Wednesday.

Cox, who served several terms in the House of Representatives as a Republican from Colfax, was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 1997 and elected several times thereafter. He retired in March.

He served as superintendent of Colfax School District before that.

Gov. Chris Gregoire cited his background in education and the Legislature in announcing his appointment, effective in October.

Cox replaces Tom Kneeshaw, of Colfax, whose second term on the board expires in September, CCS said in a news release.

Cox attended Whitworth College and Washington State University, earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Before his term as Colfax superintendent, he worked as a teacher, counselor and administrator at public schools in Washington for nearly 30 years, CCS said.

Spokane County

Day-reporting program extended

An experiment meant to reduce jail populations was deemed a success this week by Spokane County commissioners, who vowed to fund the program for the rest of the year.

This year, commissioners allocated $30,000 for a 90-day test of a day-reporting system, which allows convicts to avoid jail time by spending eight hours a day at work or school.

From March 20 through July 7, 102 of the 133 people sent to day-reporting by judges had successfully completed the program.

County commissioners Tuesday said they would pay an extra $70,000 to continue day-reporting, even though commissioners had not budgeted for the item. The money will come from a reserve fund.

Officials noted that sending convicts to day-reporting is cheaper than sending them to jail.

“This is one that definitely pays for itself,” said Commissioner Phil Harris.

Spokane County’s day-reporting program is run by Friendship Diversion Services, an Olympia-based nonprofit agency.

Convicts sent to day-reporting check in at an office and account for eight hours of their day Monday through Friday.

If they have jobs, work counts.

If not, they must look for a job, go to treatment such as Alcoholics Anonymous or attend job training.

Program employees assist the offenders in finding job and training opportunities.

Day reporters are charged $1 to $20 a day, depending on their ability to pay.