PF Urban Renewal Agency’s director resigns
Luke Malek leaving to attend GU Law School
POST FALLS – A tumultuous summer for the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency has culminated with the resignation of the group’s executive director.
Luke Malek is leaving to attend law school at Gonzaga University. His resignation is effective Sept. 7.
Malek said the agency’s recent disputes with the Post Falls City Council and the departure of Urban Renewal Agency Chairman Len Crosby did not factor into his decision to leave.
“My leaving has nothing to do with that at all,” Malek said. “That’s a sad part, that things are working out now, and I don’t get to be there for that in the future.”
He said the problems with the City Council were simply the result of miscommunication, and those issues have been resolved.
In his resignation letter, Malek wrote, “The past few months have been trying, as we all know, but I firmly believe the Agency is on the right path, and that not only have the issues been resolved, but we are on a better path for avoiding similar issues in the future.”
The Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency came under fire earlier this year from the City Council for the way it disbursed funds for the projects the group was supporting. Shortly after the agency moved into offices at the new City Hall, city officials asked them to move out.
The agency is not a city department, but is independent.
“They thought the nexus was too close with us in City Hall,” Malek said.
City Administrator Eric Keck said the decision to evict the agency had to do with space. “The mayor said we needed that space,” Keck said.
It now appears that the urban renewal agency will move into a new Post Falls Chamber of Commerce building planned to be built next door to City Hall.
Malek said he didn’t apply to attend GU until the beginning of this month, well past the law school’s typical application deadline.
“They gave me special permission to apply. I did, and they let me in,” he said.
Post Falls Urban Renewal Commissioner Peter J. Smith said the organization will launch a search for a new executive director.
Meanwhile, Malek said he is looking forward to attending GU this fall.
In the letter announcing his departure, Malek wrote: “I am very thrilled to be going to Law School. I feel it is a necessary step towards becoming the type of public servant that I want to be.”