Water district to abandon well in Spokane Valley park over tiff with city

Spokane County Water District 3 is abandoning its well in Spokane Valley’s Browns Park and drilling a new well somewhere else.

That’s the latest development in a standoff between the water district and the city that began when the city discovered District 3’s lease had expired years ago.

That discovery was made when the Spokane Valley Parks Department went to hook up a new splash pad to the water supply in Browns Park. District 3 had supplied water to the park instead of paying rent and questioned the additional water use.

That prompted the city to look into the lease and suggest a new lease to District 3. But the district wants an easement because it needs certainty that the land the well is on won’t be sold for development by a future city administration, said Ty Wick, general manager of the water district.

“The city wouldn’t give us an easement, so we will be moving everything, except the building, out of Browns Park,” Wick said. “We are in the process of drilling a well somewhere else.” He declined to give the location.

In a letter to the city, the district said it had not received a response from the City Council after it asked for an easement.

“I’d like to get on the record that that’s simply not true,” said Mayor Rod Higgins.

Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard said he’s disappointed “there’s no common sense going on” and doesn’t understand why the district’s customers are alright with the the expensive construction of a new well.

The council directed Spokane Valley City Attorney Cary Driskell to write up an actual lease according to the council’s wishes and then send it to the district.

“If they don’t respond, then so be it,” Woodward said.

Wick said earlier in the day that a new well could cost several hundred thousand dollars, but that district customers have nothing to worry about.

“Moving to a new well will not impact our customers or our supply,” he said.