Less stimulus funds for roads

Spokane Valley apparently will get a lot less federal economic stimulus money for street work than city officials had hoped in January.

Steve Worley, the city’s capital projects engineer, told the City Council Tuesday that transportation professionals now believe only $10.1 million will be available for Spokane-area road projects – compared with early estimates of $35 million to $70 million.

Another change, he said, is that local governments will have up to a year, instead of six months, to sign construction contracts for projects that are to receive stimulus money.

Worley said he hoped to learn more later in the week at a Spokane Regional Transportation Council technical committee meeting.

Mayor Rich Munson said he’d seen nothing entitling the SRTC to decide how to spend the money. But Councilwoman Diana Wilhite, who represents Spokane Valley on the transportation council, said the SRTC is in charge and she’s glad of it.

In areas without a transportation council, the governor will decide how to spend the money, Wilhite said.

“I would much rather have the SRTC, which is made up of local elected officials, make the decision,” she said.

Munson agreed, but called for more information on what he understands is a pot of transportation stimulus money that will go directly to cities on a competitive basis. Wilhite said SRTC discussions with representatives of Sen. Patty Murray, who sits on the Senate Transportation Committee, indicate the unallocated money is for projects of $20 million to $155 million that can be completed in three years.

The SRTC has suggested to Washington and Idaho congressional delegations that the Bridging the Valley project, to eliminate railroad crossings, is a good candidate.

SPOKANE VALLEY

Chocolate event benefits SCRAPS

SCRAPS’ fourth annual Chocolate Festival and Auction will be April 17 at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The fundraiser will include desserts and wine, live music, silent and live auctions, and chocolates. The Parade of Pets, featuring an array of adoptable animals, will be the highlight of the evening.

Tickets are $20 per person.

Proceeds will benefit SCRAPS programs, including the animal medical fund and the behavioral program.

To purchase tickets and for more information, call Nancy Hill at (509) 477-1967 or Jackie Bell at (509) 477-2984.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Pony Baseball needs officials

Spokane Pony Baseball needs umpires for the upcoming season.

Players range from age 9 to 14. Umpires earn $30 to $40 per game. Training and some equipment is provided. Meetings begin Monday. The season begins April 6 and runs through July. For information, contact Gary Broadbent at (509) 216-9456, the Pony office at (509) 483-4653 or go to spokanepony.org.