Region in brief: CdA council votes not to raise taxes

Property taxes will hold steady in Coeur d’Alene.

Idaho law allows cities to increase property tax collections by up 3 percent each year.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously not to raise taxes for its budget year, which starts Oct. 1.

Officials said the decision will result in delaying some capital expenses. Supporters argued that with the economy in recession, forgoing tax increases sends an important message to taxpayers.

“We can make it by this year, with 0 percent, without dramatically impacting our city services,” said Councilman Mike Kennedy.

Some council members warned that with the city’s reserve funds falling, the city may not be able to pass up tax increases in future years.

“I will support this motion, but let’s be aware that next year could be the same and it could be another whole ball game,” said Councilman Ron Edinger.

Woman recants on WSU assault

A third reported assault at Washington State University in Pullman has turned out to be bogus.

The university said Tuesday that the incident, which supposedly occurred on campus early Aug. 24, did not happen. The woman who made the report recanted.

Another woman who reported two other assaults on Aug. 19 and Aug. 24 also recanted her allegations last week, police said.

The $5,000 reward money contributed by university President Elson S. Floyd to help find a suspect in the alleged attacks will be maintained in a campus safety fund to be co-administered by the WSU Police and Women’s Resource Center as reward money for future incidents, officials said.

Leak empties part of Priest River

Downtown Priest River, Idaho, was evacuated for several hours Tuesday after a leak was discovered in a tank containing chlorine gas at the town’s water treatment plant.

The leak was discovered about 4 p.m., after a chlorine alarm went off at the Priest River water filtration plant near the corner of Treat and Montgomery streets, said police Chief Ray Roberts.

Crews discovered the alarm was due to a leaky tank, and as a precaution residents and businesses within a half-mile of the plant were evacuated.

Hazardous materials crews from Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene were called in to seal the tank, Roberts said. By 9 p.m. evacuees were allowed to return, and the tank was being loaded onto a truck back to a supply company in Washington, Roberts said.

Man hit by train dies in Valley

Spokane Valley police are investigating the death of a 38-year-old man who was struck by a train early this morning along the BNSF Railway line near Park Road and Trent Avenue.

Sgt. Dave Reagan, police spokesman, said the man was carrying a grocery bag containing beer when he was struck by a westbound freight train about 12:40 a.m. Witnesses reported that the man did not react to the approach of the train, Reagan said.

Wildfire count above average

As of Monday, Washington has seen of a higher-than-average number of wildfires this year, with 841 reported so far, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The average number of fires is 750.

Fires have burned more than 12,000 acres on public lands, and officials worry the upcoming holiday weekend could mean additional fires.

Even with predicted moderate weather conditions, officials urge campers and others flocking to area forests and public lands this Labor Day to use caution when igniting outdoor fires.

Burning restrictions are in place on most state and federal forest lands. For information go to http://fortress.wa.gov/ dnr/firedanger/ BurnRisk.aspx.

Tribal police get federal grants

Two Eastern Washington tribal police departments were awarded nearly $600,000 in federal grants to help with policing efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

The Spokane Tribe of Indians received $198,213 as part of grant money awarded through Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, Tribal Resources Grant Program.

The Yakama Nation received $400,000.

The grants – which will help pay for additional officers, technology, equipment and training – were part of $3.3 million in funds distributed statewide by the Department of Justice. Nationwide, $19.6 million was awarded to 102 tribal police departments and governments, officials said.