Council, Pavillion Park group reach reimbursing agreement

LIBERTY LAKE – During a quick meeting this week, the Liberty Lake City Council ironed out how to handle a planned $40,000 contribution to the Friends of Pavillion Park to help pay for the annual summer concert series put on by the group.

The council voted last year to give the organization the money, but earlier this spring the group asked for the money in a lump sum immediately. Council members balked, saying they had agreed to reimburse the group for expenses, not pay up front.

The group’s president, David Himebaugh, told the council Tuesday that his organization was counting on the money and would be in the red by the end of the year without it. He brought documentation that showed $20,000 in expenditures so far. “We are all unpaid volunteers,” he said.

Council members were happy to see the documents. “I’m really comfortable with reimbursing for the concert series,” said council member David Crump.

It was decided that the Friends of Pavillion Park would submit documentation for their expenses and the council would reimburse them as they go. “We have no problem paying the vouchers,” said Councilwoman Judi Owens. “We just don’t want to front the $40,000.”

In other business, the council approved continued participation in discussions with other local governments on plans for the Little Spokane and Middle Spokane Watersheds. An executive session was held to discuss real estate acquisition.