Cheney officers get more enforcement authority

Written complaints no longer needed before residents asked to clean up yards

Thu., Aug. 28, 2008

By Lisa Leinberger lisal@spokesman.com (509) 459-5449

CHENEY – City code enforcement officers no longer need to wait for a formal written complaint before warning residents to rid their yards of junk cars, garbage and perform some yard maintenance.

The City Council on Tuesday OK’d a resolution allowing the officers to act on potential code violations they see themselves.

“It wouldn’t mean they would be roaming the streets on patrol,” said Brian Jennings, the community development director. In the past, code enforcement officers in Cheney could only respond to written complaints – residents would have to visit the city’s Web site, download the complaint form and either mail or deliver the form to code enforcement.

Now, officers can take a more pro-active stance and approach houses they see on an everyday basis.

In other action Tuesday, the council discussed renewing an interlocal agreement with the Cheney Public Schools to continue the ECHO after-school program. ECHO is an anacronym for Every Child Has Opportunities.

This will be the fifth year the city and school district have collaborated to provide the program for students in Cheney. The school district will provide the building and the city will manage the program.

The council also agreed to enter into a contract with Valley Empire Collection Agency for any bond costs or collection fees specific to Thomas E. Myers, the owner of Myers’ Mobile Home Park.

Terri Cooper, the court commissioner and administrator, said that Myers owes the city more than $800,000 and the city would not pay Valley Empire any fees unless the agency actually collects funds from Myers.

City Attorney Stanley Schwartz said he received a copy of the contract last week and recommended making one addition to it.

“Indemnity bonds shall not be purchased through the agency without alerting the city,” Schwartz said.

The council unanimously voted to approve the contract with the addition recommended by Schwartz.

The council also gave final approval to an ordinance regulating the use of golf carts within the city and on public property.

The next City Council meeting will be Sept. 9.

Contact staff writer Lisa Leinberger at 459-5449 or by e-mail at lisal@spokesman.com.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.