Spokane Valley plowing deal closer

Spokane Valley got as step closer Tuesday to being able to plow its own streets this winter.

The City Council unanimously approved a $90,072 contract with Poe Asphalt Paving, of Post Falls, to assemble and overhaul five used plow-sander trucks and prepare a leased maintenance yard.

Public Works Director Neil Kersten said he expects to complete the package in October when he presents another contract with Poe for equipment operators and additional equipment.

The arrangement will replace a contract with Spokane County that county commissioners have canceled.

Looking ahead to next summer, council members donated $630 of their own money Tuesday to establish a free-swimming program for needy families. They presented the gift to Connie Nelson, program director of the nonprofit Spokane Valley Partners social service organization, which will administer the program.

“This is going to be an extraordinary addition to our services,” Nelson said.

The organization will purchase $5 passes, good for five swims at city pools, and distribute them in the course of other services to clients. The passes will provide a “golden opportunity” for children to get healthy exercise, Nelson said.

Mayor Rich Munson said he and other council members hope the public will join them in contributing to the free-swim program, to take effect next summer.

Nelson said checks, marked “swim program,” may be mailed to: Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99214. For more information, call (509) 927-1153 or send an e-mail to programs@svpart.org.

In other business, the council scheduled hearings Sept. 8 and 22 on the city’s 2010 budget and agreed not to meet on Nov. 3, “allowing all of us to breathe into a paper bag in private,” Munson said. Nov. 3 is the date of the general election that will determine whether Munson and council members Diana Wilhite, and Ian Robertson remain in office. Gary Schimmels is running unopposed.

Also Tuesday, the council agreed to vote next week on hotel operators’ request to increase the room tax from $1.50 to $2 a night. The money is used to promote tourism. Deputy City Attorney Cary Driskell said Spokane County commissioners approved the increase in June and, if the Spokane Valley City Council follows suit, final action would fall to the Spokane City Council next month.

Kersten said Spokane Valley’s snow-removal plan calls for the city to expand its existing contract with Poe, which already handles summer street maintenance for the city, for its plowing crew.

The contract that was approved Tuesday includes construction of paved storage “pads” for traction sand and deicer, a drainage swale, a new motorized gate and a dozen cell phones that can double as walkie-talkies.

The site is the abandoned Waste Management complex at 11720 E. First Ave. City officials plan to lease 1.6-acre facility for three years while officials seek bids for a long-term snow-removal contract. The lease may cost up to $57,888 in its first year and calls for 3 percent annual increases.

Kersten said Waste Management is cleaning up some oil spills so the property will be ready for use on Sept. 1.

At the same time it authorized the lease, the council voted July 21 to purchase five 1995 to 1997 sander trucks from the state Department of Transportation for $92,700. They will arrive with their sanders and plows detached and in need of minor repairs, Kersten said.

He said Poe Asphalt has located four hard-to-find road graders with “wing” blades, and will provide them to the city through the contract to be presented in October.

Other contractors will be on standby with smaller road graders in case of a major storm, Kersten said.

Tuesday’s contract was authorized on an emergency basis so it can take effect immediately. Normal competitive bidding would take too long, the council said in a resolution.