Forum to address variety of river topics
From flyfishing to whitewater parks to new licenses for dams, a forum on the many issues facing the Spokane River will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Spokane. The event will be held at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council Center, 6116 N. Market, and is free to the public.
The first annual Spokane River Anglers’ forum is sponsored by the Hunting and Fishing Conservation Coalition. The forum will include brief presentations from experts on a variety of issues, including the biology of the river, a city’s shoreline planning process, public access points and the current dam relicensing process. Mayor Dennis Hession will be one of the speakers.
Jeff Holmes, who is helping to organize the event, said the river is facing huge changes now. His goal was to make it easy for local residents and river lovers to understand what’s happening and learn how they might be able to shape the river’s future.
– James Hagengruber
Blanchard, Idaho
Questions welcomed on water fee proposal
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is having a public workshop Feb. 21 in Blanchard, Idaho, to discuss Stoneridge Water Company’s proposal to nearly triple monthly water fees for residential customers.
The company, which serves about 374 households in Bonner County, also wants to increase water hookup fees. Because of new development, the company will eventually serve 1,207 households.
The increased revenue would help the company close out a series of loans from the state Drinking Water Revolving Fund totaling about $438,500, according to a utilities commission press release.
The company proposes increasing residential fees from $14 per month to $38 per month. It also wants to increase the commodity charge from 30 cents for every 1,000 gallons of water to 67 cents for every 1,000 gallons.
Commercial customers would pay an additional $18 a month and the commodity charge would increase 37 cents.
Under the proposal, hookup fees for new customers would total $1,200.
The workshop will allow customers to ask questions of the utilities commission staff. The three-member commission will make the final decision. The 7:30 p.m. workshop is at the Stoneridge Event Center, 104 Chatwold, in Blanchard.
For more information, call the Idaho Public Utility Commission at (208) 334-0339.
– Erica Curless
Coeur d’Alene
Class offers tips for fire-safe landscaping
Fire-safe landscaping is the focus of a workshop for homeowners on Feb. 26 in Coeur d’Alene. The class will be held at the county administration building from 6 to 8 p.m.
The session will show people how to lessen their home’s risk of being destroyed in a wildfire through landscaping practices. The program is sponsored by the University of Idaho Extension Service.
Participants must register by Feb. 21 at the University of Idaho Extension office in Kootenai County at 1000 W. Hubbard, Suite 140. Registration costs $5. For more information call (208) 446-1680.
– From staff reports