Council member’s absenteeism draws comments

The often-empty chair of Liberty Lake City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Brian Sayrs received some attention at Tuesday night’s council meeting. The council meets twice a month and Sayrs has missed six meetings since his failed bid for Spokane County commissioner in November.

“We’ve been very hush-hush about this,” said council member Patrick Jenkins. “We’re not getting feedback on why he’s not coming.”

On Tuesday and on March 17 neither the mayor nor any City Council members received a call from Sayrs explaining his absence. Several council members said they have called Sayrs to find out what the problem is with no results. “I don’t know why Brian is not here,” said council member David Crump.

Sayrs missed both meetings in January and one in February. His most recent meeting attended was on March 3. In light of those absences, Jenkins argued that the council should select a new mayor pro tem, who fills in for the mayor when needed. “We got to this point by exhausting all other avenues,” Jenkins said.

No one was sure of the procedure for deposing one mayor pro tem and appointing another, however, so the city attorney will research the process and bring it back to the council.

Sayrs did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday morning.

In other business, the council voted to increase all fees at the Tailhead Golf Course by 20 percent. Greens fees will now be $12 for the first nine holes and $6 for the second nine holes for adults. Power cart fees will be $14 for nine holes and $21 for 18 holes while pull carts will be $3.50.

The rise in rates is necessary to compensate for rising costs, said community development director Doug Smith. “There hasn’t been a fee increase ever,” he said. The new fees are expected to bring in an additional $70,000 to $80,000 annually.

The council agreed to allow police Chief Brian Asmus to apply for a federal stimulus grant that would pay for two new entry-level police officers for three years. The city would have to commit to paying their entire salaries and benefits in the fourth year. Crump said it was important to keep the police force large enough to be proactive instead of simply reactive. “I am not interested in a police department playing catch up,” he said.

The council also discussed a resolution proposed by Jenkins that would form a salary commission to consider whether the pay of the mayor and City Council members should be raised. In the past the majority of City Council members have run unopposed. Jenkins said if the council’s pay is increased, more people might be interested in running in an election. “I just want to sweeten the pot a little.”

Council members make $250 per month while the mayor is paid $750 per month.

His proposal was met with some skepticism. Council member Neal Olander was in favor of reviewing the mayor’s pay, but not the council’s. “I don’t think we put in nearly the number of hours the mayor does,” he said.

Most council members seemed leery of discussing even the possibility of pay increases. “Now is not a good time to discuss this,” said Crump. “People are losing their jobs.”

“I don’t like it,” said council member Odin Langford. “I don’t like the smell of it. Not that it’s wrong. It’s just the wrong time.”

Jenkins acknowledged the unpopularity of the resolution, which the council declined to consider. “I know this won’t play well in the public,” he said. “It’s always a bad time to look at this.”