In brief: Developer abandons plans for heat-exchange wells

A developer who planned to sink hundreds of heat-exchange wells for a Liberty Lake development has backed away from the idea.

Whitewater Creek Inc. of Hayden alerted the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District this week that it would pursue other options to heat and cool homes, apartments and commercial buildings in the Lakemore development planned for East Appleway Avenue, said BiJay Adams, the district’s general manager.

The district had required an environmental analysis for the project, amid concerns that improper maintenance of the system could pollute the aquifer. The project called for 700 wells to be drilled, each 450 feet deep.

Becky Kramer

Hammond selected as CdA administrator

Jim Hammond has been chosen as Coeur d’Alene’s new city administrator after a nationwide search.

Hammond, 64, is a former Idaho state senator who previously served as a city councilman, mayor and city administrator in Post Falls. He is expected to start his new job this month.

Hammond served 16 years on the Post Falls City Council, including six years as mayor from 1990-96. He was Post Falls’ city administrator from 1996 to 2006. He served as a state senator from 2006 to 2012.

Hammond will take over for finance director Troy Tymesen, who has been serving as acting city administrator since May.

Becky Kramer

Ex-officer files appeal with Supreme Court

Former Spokane police officer and current federal prison inmate Karl Thompson last week appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court his excessive-force conviction stemming from the March 2006 police confrontation with Otto Zehm, who died two days after the incident.

The appeal raises a different legal issue than the argument Thompson’s attorney made earlier this year before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In the most recent filing, Thompson maintains the U.S. District Court improperly allowed evidence in the 2011 trial showing Zehm was innocent of the reported crime that prompted the police to approach Zehm.

Kip Hill