County sewer vote set for Jan. 6
The final decision on whether to build a $142 million sewage plant that would serve Spokane Valley and Spokane County is set for Jan. 6.
County commissioners set the date in a unanimous vote on Tuesday.
CH2M Hill is in line to win the contract. A committee recommended the Colorado-based firm over the other company that bid, Veolia, which is based in Paris.
The proposed plant would be built on 20 acres at Freya Street and Boone Avenue.
County officials want to break ground on the project as soon as possible so that it’s ready before 2013 – about when the county is expected to be out of sewage capacity at the city of Spokane’s sewage plant. They fear that a longer delay could force a moratorium on building.
But Sierra Club representatives have argued that the county should not lock itself into a multimillion-dollar contract until it is certain it will be allowed to discharge into the river. County officials respond that if they can’t get a permit to use the river, they still would need the plant and may have other discharge options, such as discharging treated water on former farmland.
Park-and-ride lot open at Fairwood
Spokane Transit Authority has opened a new park-and-ride lot for North Side commuters at the Fairwood Shopping Center, 511 W. Hastings Road.
The new 200-vehicle lot is served by the North Express bus No. 124, which runs every 15 minutes on weekdays from 5:15 to 8:45 a.m. and from 3:15 to 7:15 p.m.
Commuters had been parking on the street at the Hastings park-and-ride lot at Hastings Road and Mayfair Street, so opening an additional park-and-ride lot at Fairwood will allow commuters to get their cars off the street.
STA is also seeking additional parking areas for express buses serving Liberty Lake and Five Mile Prairie.
Movie scene will close streets
Downtown streets will be blocked today as film crews shoot a movie scene.
The scene involves a trailer driving in a loop and being followed by a police escort. Filming will begin at 1029 W. First Ave., and the crew will drive on First Avenue to Washington Street, from Washington Street to Sprague Avenue, from Sprague Avenue to Adams Street, then back to First, according to a news release.
Filming is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SNAP offers emergency help
Low-income residents in Spokane County can turn to Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs for emergencies with frozen pipes and non-working furnaces.
“For the most part, these have to be severe emergencies for SNAP clients who have established relationships with SNAP,” said Ron Hardin, SNAP’s communications manager.
Residents must call the SNAP office closest to their homes. The downtown office – (509) 456-7164 – serves these zip codes: 99001, 99004, 99008, 99011, 99014, 99020, 99022, 99029, 99031, 99201, 99204, 99205, 99210 and 99224.
SNAP’s East office – (509) 456-7106 – serves 99012, 99015, 99016, 99018, 99019, 99023, 99025, 99027, 99028, 99030, 99033, 99036, 99037, 99039, 99202, 99203, 99206, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99216 and 99223.
SNAP’s Northeast office – (509) 487-1114 – serves 99003, 99005, 99006, 99009 (Spokane County portion only), 99110, 99021, 99026 (Spokane County portion only), 99207, 99208, 99217 and 99218.