October 2021 Splash

OCTOBER

THE

LIBERTY LAKE

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COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

Banner Month at the Ballot election guide pages 13-17

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SPOKANE COUNTY R E D I S T R I C T I N G C O M 292 MITTEE DRAFT PLAN COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS County Boundary Municipal Boundary Major Highway Road 0

2.75 5.5 Miles

LOCAL ATHLETES AT PARALYMPICS PAGE 24

COMMISSIONERS REDISTRICTING PAGE 30

District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5

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WORKMAN GETS TO WORK PAGE 2

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2 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

DOCKSIDE Resource Reins –

Workman settles in as inaugural HR manager

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

Heidi Workman can thank her grandmother for a referral that led to a landmark hire at Liberty Lake City Hall.

Last November, Workman received a call from her grandma in Spokane Valley about a job opening for Human Resources manager in Liberty Lake. Since incorporating in 2001, the city had never had a fulltime employee in the role, opting for a patchwork approach that most recently featured the finance director and city treasurer tackling HR duties.

“My grandma called and told me about it,” Workman said.

She applied in late November and had her first interview in early December. The second interview took place with City Administrator Katy Allen and Mayor Shane Brickner.

“What was different about the position is that it was new to the city,” Workman said. “They needed someone who could build it from the ground up which was exciting. I felt confident that my skills matched what they were looking for.”

Workman’s first day as Liberty Lake’s inaugural HR manager was Jan. 19, 2021 although it wasn’t her first stint as a local employee. As a student at East Valley High School, she worked at the Safeway (now Yoke’s) on Liberty Lake Road for two years.

The duties in Workman’s current role are diverse. She is involved in recruiting staff, employee onboarding, benefits management and enrollment, fielding employee concerns, coordinating worker’s compensation as well as addressing disciplinary issues.

Workman hit the ground running in January, updating the personnel manual, recruiting a new library director and creating the job description for a project manager.

“My first major task was updating the personnel manual to be compliant,” she said. “I also wanted to make it not so daunting so someone could read it and understand what they read.”

The primary reason for the city’s previous tag team HR strategy was connected to the number of employees, Workman points out.

Once the 50-staff threshold was passed, she said, “a lot of laws apply.” Taking into account seasonal employees, the city’s staff count is now around 65 to 70.

“I think it’s been a learning curve for everybody,” Workman said. “I’ll have co-workers who have been doing some of this work before I was hired say, ‘Wait a minute, you can take it now.’”

Before breaking new ground in Liberty Lake, Workman served as the HR administrator for N.A. Degerstrom Inc., a Spokane Valleybased construction company. Prior to that, she spent 13 years in the health care field, also in HR roles.

“I enjoy helping employees and being an advocate for them,” Workman said. “I don’t find my job stressful. I enjoy the constant change.”

Workman attended East Valley High School, graduating in 2004.

Initially, she aspired to be a dental hygienist and later a pediatric nurse.

That course changed at Spokane Community College and later Eastern Washington University where she double majored in business management and HR management.

After earning her diploma in 2008, Workman was hired by an assisted living facility as HR manager and business office manager. She would work in the senior care arena until November of 2019 when she began at N.A. Degerstrom.

“HR is HR no matter where you go,” Workman said. “You just have to adapt to the environment. The biggest difference in working for a municipality is the only one who can hire and fire is the mayor and policy changes need to be approved by the City Council.”

Q: You grew up next door to Liberty Lake in Otis Orchards. What do you remember about the Liberty Lake community when you were a kid? How much has it changed since then?

A: I remember my dad would take me to Liberty Lake to go swimming. I don’t remember large

Photo by Craig Howard Heidi Workman became the city of Liberty Lake’s first full-time Human Resources manager in January. She grew up in Otis Orchards and graduated from East Valley High School and Eastern Washington University where she majored in business management and HR management.

businesses or stores. At some point in elementary school, my dad got a job for a company who leased the large building on the corner of Liberty Lake Road and Appleway. For many years I would go to work with him on the weekends, so I was able to see Liberty Lake grow.

Q: What are some of your recollections of working at the old Safeway in Liberty Lake?

A: Safeway was my first job at 16 years old. I walked in one day after school to turn in my application and the lady working at the customer service booth told me that she would get the manager. Dan DiCicco came out of his office and hired me on the spot. That was a pretty great feeling as a 16-year-old applying for their first job. Dan was a wonderful manager. I met my best friend in high school there and the whole team at our Safeway was tight knit. I still keep in contact with handful of employees from the two years I worked there.

Q: You had a few transitions in college when it came to focusing in on a field of study. How did you eventually decide to go into HR? A: I decided after taking chemistry my freshman year of college that nursing was not for me.

I grew up with my dad being an accountant and I always enjoyed an office environment. I would pretend I worked at an office as a child, so I thought maybe I was more business oriented. I initially was going to my B.A. in business management, but after speaking with my advisor, it made sense to double major and get my B.A. in human resource management as well. My first job out of college was business office manager and human resource manager in an assisted living facility.

This gave me experience in both the worlds of business and human resources. Eventually, I turned my focus on human resources because I enjoy people and not numbers. I like policy, procedure and helping employees.

Q: I would imagine that some people might shy away from applying to be the first full-time HR manager at a city that had been around for 20 years. Why did you decide to throw your hat into the ring?

See WORKMAN, Page 4

OCTOBER 2021 • 3

The Splash

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4 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

brought to you by

Student of the Month

Athlete of the Month

Citizen of the Month

Ana Sophia Arnold is the founder and executive director of Youth Against Sexual Violence, a nationwide, youthled nonprofit organization dedicated to combatting sexual violence through systemic reform. The Central Valley High School senior said the effort is about “working to accomplish reform and bring justice to survivors of sexual violence.” She was also a catalyst in the passage of House Bill 1109, approved unanimously by the Washington State Legislature in the last session that will add new training for police response to victims of sexual violence. Arnold is also a member of the Washington Attorney General’s Task Force on Sexual Assault. The senior maintains a 3.86 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.

She is president of CV’s chapter of Junior Statesmen of America and has participated in speech and debate since her freshman year.

In the premiere year of Ridgeline High football, Brayden Allen is making an impact. The freshman wide receiver has 29 catches through four games, including 11 against Mt. Spokane which placed him fifth all-time for single game receptions in the Greater Spokane League. He is averaging over seven yards per catch. “It takes our whole team to get those receptions,” Allen said humbly. The Liberty Lake resident brought a 3.9 grade point average from Greenacres Middle School where he was part of an undefeated football squad last year. In four games, he accounted for 13 touchdowns, including two kickoff returns for scores.

Against University High last month, Allen finished with seven catches for 60 yards, two touchdowns and a twopoint conversion for the Falcons. “We have high hopes,” Allen said. “We know we have a chance of proving people wrong.”

Mindy Howe recently completed a distinguished five-year term with the Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board of Trustees, a tenure that featured the hiring of two library directors and completion of the Community Assessment and Strategic Plan. “It’s been my privilege to contribute to strategy, community support and innovation for our much-loved library,” Howe said. “My fellow trustees have proven themselves to be committed and talented stewards of this precious resource.” A native of North Dakota, Howe earned a degree in Spanish from California Lutheran University. Before retiring, she worked as a high-tech marketing communications manager for companies like HP, Adobe and Symantec.

She and her husband Mike moved to Liberty Lake in 2007. Howe has served as a volunteer with Hospice of Spokane since 2017, supporting staff and patients. She will continue as a volunteer and advocate for the library.

WORKMAN

Continued from page 2 A: I read the job description and felt that I had experience in almost every job function and met the education requirements. It was not until my first interview that I learned that the position was new to the City of Liberty Lake. This excited me more because if given the opportunity, I would be able to use my knowledge and skills to turn the HR department into my own.

Q: What are some aspects about HR management that man may not understand or appreciate?

A: I think one of the many misconceptions that people have is that they think if HR is involved, they are in trouble or something serious is happening. HR is actually an advocate for both the employee and the employer. We act as a neutral party to help the employee and employer resolve any issues or concerns, according to policy, as well as being consistent. I believe in an open-door policy. Every employee, no matter their position, should feel free coming to me with an issue, question or concern. I consider myself to be very personable and HR often times is a place to go if you need talk, yell or cry. I listen and give advice if it is needed but for me, I am always

here for the employees.

Q: What were some of your initial impressions of the job and culture at City Hall during your first few months?

A: My initial impression was that I could see why the HR position was needed. The personnel manual was outdated and needed an overhaul.

There were positions being recruited for and we were preparing for an influx of seasonal employees. It was and has been very busy. The culture at City Hall is great. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful.

Q: How has working for a municipality differed from your HR duties in previous fields?

A: My experience is all in the private sector. To me human resources is human resources. There are pieces that you may have to tweak to meet the industry you are working in, but overall, it is similar. In our municipality, only the mayor can hire someone. This is different than the private sector, because generally, depending on the position, the supervisor or hiring manager makes that decision. New positions, job descriptions, personnel changes, etc., must be approved through City Council versus the private sector where the administrator or corporate officer would approve those changes.

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PAID FOR BY STEVE PETERSON FOR LIBERTY LAKE MAYOR P.O. BOX 174 LIBERTY LAKE, WA 99019 lding al Bui merci Com cast Com

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The Splash

OCTOBER 2021 • 5

NEWS

SVFD Report – August 2021 Splash news sources

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded to a total of 169 emergency calls in the greater Liberty Lake area from August 15 – September 15, 2021 • Emergency Medical Services 143 • Fires 7 • Building Alarms 7 • Motor Vehicle Accidents 3 • Dispatched and cancelled en route 3 • Service Calls 3 • Hazardous Materials 2 • Vehicle Fires 1 Of note: • Calls saw an increase from 154 last month to 169 this month.

• Emergency Medical Services saw an increase from 114 calls last month to 143 calls this month.

• Building Alarm decreased from 9 last month to 7 this month • Motor Vehicle Collisions decreased with 7 last month to 3 this month.

• Fires decreased with 14 last month to 7 this month.

Burn Restrictions remain in place. Visit spokanevalleyfire.com to know what is legal to burn.

Media Releases: August 23 - Spokane Valley

Fire Department (SVFD) Fire Chief Bryan Collins has announced his retirement effective March 1, 2022. Chief Collins has been working with the Board of Fire Commissioners for the past several months regarding his impending retirement. Chief Collins and the Board will define and conduct a process that will ultimately lead to the selection of the next SVFD Fire Chief. Chief Collins plans to work with whomever is selected to ensure the transition continues the SVFD quality of service our Fire District community has become accustomed to experiencing when they need emergency and non-emergency services.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the Spokane Valley Fire Department community these past 8 years,” said Chief Collins. “The SVFD community is fortunate to have a highly regarded fire department that receives national recognition for its ability to save lives through innovative practices like Pit Crew CPR that yield significantly higher than national average results.

With EMS calls being 80% of our response, being a high-performance department is impactful to a community. I am proud to have been a part of a fire department that is constantly seeking to improve practices and to be an innovative leader in the industry.”

While at Spokane Valley Fire See SVFD REPORT, Page 10

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6 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

Introducing the

Safety Awareness Channel

Police Report - August 2021 Splash news sources

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 563 Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 13 Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 40 DUI (Driving Under Influence) 1 Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 23 Malicious Mischief 3 Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 18 Parking Violations 1 Suspicious Vehicles 18 *The above numbers are as of 09/01/21 Reckless

Endangerment/DUI,

Least Most

Officers 08/06/21; Officers witnessed a of East Knox Avenue. vehicle driving at a high rate of contacted an older male in around speed on Liberty Lake Road near fifty walking towards a younger male the intersection of Settler Road. The in his twenties with a long wooden vehicle was locked on RADAR as stick in his hands. Officers detained traveling 86 MPH in a posted 35 the male and began to find out what MPH zone. The officers contacted took place. Officers learned the older the adult male driver and placed him male had threatened to “Cut” the in custody for the reckless driving. younger male with a machete prior While searching the male incident to their arrival. They were able to to arrest, the officers could smell a locate the machete and verify what strong odor of intoxicating beverages took place from both of the male’s emitting from his person.

The statements. The older male was male volunteered to conduct Field placed under arrest for a violation of Sobriety Testing, of which he failed, Felony Harassment and transported and he was further arrested for DUI. to the Spokane County Jail.

Upon further investigation, officers Burglary, 08/25/2021; Officers determined there was a 15 year old responded to the 1300 block of North passenger in theAugust vehicle. The driver 2021 Incident Malvern Chart Road for a person peeking was charged with DUI, Reckless into a window. Officers learned that a Endangerment, and Reckless Driving. male armed with a knife was looking

Harassment, 08/12/21; Officers responded to a report of a person with a weapon near the 23000 block

through a downstairs window and then left when the complainant’s daughter saw them through the

circles contain the number of incidents in a given area.

window. Officers were able to get a good description and located the male at a nearby residence. Officers learned the male had cut open the screen in an attempt to gain entry, but didn’t go inside the residence.

The male had previous charges for burglary within the city as well as other violations outside of our jurisdiction. The male was charged with Burglary, Malicious Mischief, and Criminal Trespass 2nd.

Traffic Collisions/Speeding violations, Month; Officers responded to a variety of different accidents and reports of reckless drivers over the past month. As the construction continues, the Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind people to slow down and be patient to allow the work crews to remain safe while making improvements within our community.

OCTOBER 2021 • 7

The Splash

The Lookout Fall Mending - Operations and Maintenance update With the change of leaves and temperature in Liberty Lake comes of course the transition to fall and winter maintenance at the parks. Some things to look out for as a resident or visitor: Court resurfacing: You may notice that tennis courts are being worked on in the city parks during this time of year. As tennis and pickle ball remain highly popular in the community, it is no surprise that maintenance must be done, and fall is a significantly more convenient time of year to do that maintenance. Resurfacing includes

grinding and sanding the courts down, washing surfaces and applying paint and coating. With the patience of the community during these projects, the city can continue to provide excellent playing surfaces.

Seasonal Trailhead changes: Weather often affects the ability to continue playing golf through fall and winter at Trailhead, but while we are still in the early part of the seasonal change, residents and visitors may notice a change in the work being done. Crews will continue to mow on a regular

schedule until the weather changes and growth begins to slow. They will also begin prep for fall fertilizer and winter disease prevention, keeping the grass healthy for the next season. Mowing will begin on the temporary tee boxes and greens for winter play and crews will cover tee boxes and greens before the snow begins to fall. Irrigation blowouts will begin mid-October on the course.

Parks and city maintenance: Finally, fall and winter maintenance will begin in the parks and around the city as the season continues to change. Pruning will

City welcomes Erika Mendez and Kelsey Wright

Erika Mendez, the new Accounting Technician for the city, started about a month ago and has been an incredible help to the Finance Department and a wonderful addition of positive energy in City Hall. A longtime Spokane Valley resident and recent homebuyer in the Otis Orchards area, Mendez has spent the last five-and-a-half years in payroll and Human Resources. Her skills are apparent and much appreciated as the city moves into the latter half of the year, preparing for budget season and all the work that comes with it. She earned her AA degree in accounting from Spokane Community College and is working toward her bachelor’s in accounting at WSU. When she isn’t busy in the world of numbers, Mendez enjoys baking, crafting and spending time with her family, including her dog.

The city is excited to see what she will continue to bring to the table and hopes the community will join in welcoming her to the Liberty Lake family.

When the city and community of Liberty Lake bid farewell to Ann Swenson at the beginning of September, it was no secret that the shoes of such a well-admired

October 2021 take place along the walking trail of the golf course, down to Sprague Avenue, beginning Oct. 4. Irrigation blowouts for the parks, streets, ballfields and facilities will begin on Oct. 18 and will last about two weeks. Park bathrooms will be closed once the weather begins to turn and crews begin to winterize them. This usually takes place between October and November, depending on the weather.

For any questions regarding the maintenance of the city during this time of year, please call City Hall at (509) 755-6700. volunteer commission that serves in an advisory capacity to the Liberty Lake City Council. The primary functions of the commission are to: • Review and make recommendations concerning recreation program offerings of the city.

• Oversee the city’s art decisions and any future comprehensive arts program.

and skilled clerk would be hard to fill. However, the search was concluded when Kelsey Wright, the city’s Permit Technician at the time, was selected to fill such a role. With constant enthusiasm, drive and dedication to her co-workers and members of the community, it is clear the position will be in very good hands. Kelsey has been with the city just over three years, starting out as an Administrative Assistant before becoming the Permit Technician.

Wright hails from Shoreline, Washington, then lived in Yakima, before ending up in Spokane. She obtained a bachelor’s in psychology and was a director and instructor in gymnastics, which she still assists in part-time locally. When she’s not providing services to the community from City Hall, she enjoys kayaking with her husband and their dog, Dixie. She is also an avid gardener and skilled with sewing as well.

Already trusted and loved by the community she has a great work ethic and is focused on service. The city is certain Kelsey will continue to shine as the City Clerk!

City looking for Parks and Arts commissioner

The city of Liberty Lake has an immediate opening for a Parks and Arts commissioner to fulfill the term for Position 2 representing Orchard Park. If you are interested in this wonderful volunteer opportunity, please complete an application and send to jcamp@libertylakewa.gov.

Members of the Parks and Arts Commission are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. They are selected from as evenly dispersed geographic areas in the city as possible and have interests in parks, recreation, visual, literary and performing arts. They do not receive compensation for their services. Positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 shall serve two-year terms and Positions 2, 4, and 6 shall serve three-year terms. Positions will be held for a student member who is/are residents of the city of Liberty Lake for a term of one year.

The Parks and Arts Commission is an eight-or-more member citizen

• Provide recommendations regarding the acquisition and development of park areas.

• Serve as the city Forestry Board and oversee the Urban Forestry Program.

• Review and make recommendations regarding the implementation of the city Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.

• Review art, recreation and park related proposals.

• Act as an advisory board for the Tree City, USA and Bicycle Communities programs.

• Complete regular reviews of fees and charges for services.

• Explore ways and methods of obtaining private, local, state and federal funds for special projects in the city’s parks, trails and open space.

• To advocate for healthy and active lifestyles and promote the quality of life that is provided through the city’s parks, trails and open space.

Parks and Arts Commission regular meetings are scheduled for the first Monday of each month.

Meetings begin at 4 p.m. and generally last one hour.

https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa • www.libertylakewa.gov

8 • OCTOBER 2021

City Council News and Notes – October 2021

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

• A council workshop on Sept. 7 featured Scott Bauer with Northwest Municipal Advisors advising the governing board on bonding and repayment options for the Trailhead Golf Course and Facility renovation. Ryan Neumeister gave an overview of the current bond market along with options for the Trailhead project. Finance Director Kyle Dixon summarized the general timeline for bonding with a focus on awarding a design contract by late November. Toward the end of the discussion, Mayor Cris Kaminskas requested that Dixon, City Administrator Katy Allen and Planning, Engineering and Building Director Lisa Key bring back a detailed timeline for bonding to council.

• Resident Tom Sahlberg thanked Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp and the city maintenance crews for their upkeep of grounds throughout the community during the public comments portion of the Sept. 21 council meeting. “Thank you for your work,” Sahlberg said.

“Our parks and landscapes shine.”

• The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District will coordinate a Beach and Leaf Pickup this fall with details to be announced.

• The city announced that Oct. 3-9 will be observed as Fire Prevention Week across the community. The proclamation included research that shows working smoke alarms reduce the

THE

NEWS

fatality rate in home fires by half.

• Council Member Annie Kurtz gave an update on the muchdiscussed Community Engagement Commission on Sept. 21, noting that a target start date for the group would be January 2022. A recruitment and application effort would kickstart the formation of the new commission.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Kennedy recommended that the process be put “on a fast track.” The group will be comprised of between five to nine members.

• Council Member Dg Garcia visited with residents of apartment complexes in the eastern section of the city to discuss transportation challenges. She told council that adding bus routes to the area should be a priority. “I think it’s time we look at that and make sure all residents of our community are taken care of,” Garcia said.

• Longtime City Clerk Ann Swenson has stepped down after working for the city since February 2009.

Swenson’s distinguished tenure included being named Washington State City Clerk of the Year. Kelsey Wright has been hired to replace Swenson.

• Parks and Arts Commission Chair Laina Schutz gave an update on the public art project at Rocky Hill Park, noting that installation of the statue is expected sometime this month. Schutz added that there is a current opening on the commission representing Orchard Park.

• The city has held over 30 workshops since Feb. 6.

• The city received 13 applications from local nonprofits for American Rescue Plan funding, according to Dixon. The city is requesting data from each nonprofit related to provide a percentage of their nonprofit’s activities that deliver a direct benefit to the Liberty Lake community. An update is expected

LIBERTY LAKE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

at the Oct. 5 council meeting.

• A ribbon cutting took place on Sept. 22 to observe the completion of the Harvard Road Bridge widening project.

• The city is considering the idea of hiring a commercial broker to look into restaurant options for the redesigned Trailhead golf facility. “We’re looking for someone who brings a lot of experience and qualifications to the table.” said Allen. A committee of residents may also be part of the selection process.

“We’re hoping for a restaurant that a wide swathe of our residents will use.” said Kurtz.

• Allen has announced she will step down as city administrator “around the end of the year.” The longtime Liberty Lake resident has served in the role since 2012. The city will begin the search for Allen’s replacement this month. Camp will serve as acting city administrator until a new hire is announced.

• Council agreed unanimously on Sept. 21 to work with Avista in adding lighting to the Harvest Parkway roundabout as a way to improve safety at the oval intersection near Orchard Park.

• A volunteer orientation meeting for the 2021 Winter Glow display will take place Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. at Orchard Park. Setup for the popular holiday light exhibit will begin Nov. 6 with an opening ceremony slated for Nov. 20. Winter Glow will illuminate Orchard Park through Jan. 1.

• Bob Schneidmiller thanked the city for their support of the Lud Kramer Memorial Concert on Labor Day weekend featuring the Spokane Symphony. Schneidmiller also expressed appreciation to Camp and her crew, Joe Frank and the Greenstone Foundation and the Liberty Lake Kiwanis Club for their efforts in making the event a success.

The Splash

• A back-and-forth discussion on Sept. 21 preceded the vote on Ordinance 280, amending the city’s development regulations regarding emergency shelters, supportive and transitional housing. Kurtz made a motion to amend the ordinance to change the distance in between such sites from 2 miles to three-quarters of a mile.

Staff originally proposed a distance of half-a-mile while the Planning Commission recommended 2 miles. “This virtually precludes most of the possible housing that may be needed,” Key said of the 2-mile restriction. “It may seem to suggest we are limiting ourselves too much but again that’s a decision for the council not myself.” Council eventually voted 4-3 to amend the distance to threequarters of a mile. The amended ordnance itself passed by the same margin.

• Garcia confirmed the dates for the Moving Wall in Liberty Lake as Sept. 15-22, 2022. The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. that has toured the country since 1984.

Garcia, an Air Force veteran, has led the charge to bring the mobile memorial to Liberty Lake.

• On Sept. 7 Kennedy brought up a question about the city’s utility tax, asking if the funding mechanism should be increased, reduced, or eliminated.

Dixon noted the city collected $820,000 in utility taxes last year, with the money supporting street improvements. The discussion will be continued as part of the 2022 budget conversation.

• Council confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Brad Hamblet to the Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board of Trustees.

Did You Know You Can Read The Liberty Lake Splash Online?

Follow Us on Facebook To See it First! www.facebook.com/LibertyLakeSplash

The Splash

NEWS

Transportation projects prioritize connectivity, safety

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

In February 2017, the Liberty Lake City Council received the lowdown on the community’s transportation challenges.

At first glance, the report resembled an arduous uphill slog.

The engineering firm of CH2M Hill compiled what was officially called the “Liberty Lake Network Analysis Transportation Study” and checked in at a daunting 197 pages.

The document began with the observation that Liberty Lake “has experienced significant growth in recent years in both housing and employment.”

The expansion, CH2M Hill surmised, “has placed additional pressure on the city’s transportation infrastructure and caused significant traffic congestion during the afternoon peak hours at key locations within the city.”

In other words, Liberty Lake was growing fast and needed a more efficient transportation system to keep up.

The goal of the study was ambitious – “to create a foundation for developing short, mid and longterm transportation solutions for the city that focus on transportation connectivity within the city and to other regional destinations, promote regional and local economic development and maintain a focus on local safety goals.”

Then in her sixth year as Liberty Lake city administrator, Katy Allen was no stranger to sweeping infrastructure improvements when the study was introduced. Before coming to Liberty Lake, Allen worked as the director of public works and utilities in Bremerton, WA. She also brought experience as a city engineer in Spokane and San Jose, CA. As Allen prepares to transition into retirement at the end of 2021, she and her colleagues at City Hall have prioritized smoothing out the uncertain road ahead for the city’s heavily used transportation network. As the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) geared up for a two-week construction blitz in late August that would widen the Harvard Road Bridge adding an additional northbound lane, improving the westbound Interstate-90 onramp

and bringing improvements to the intersection of Liberty Lake Road and Appleway Avenue, Allen encouraged motorists to view the project as “two weeks of pain for decades of gain.”

A ribbon cutting took place on Sept. 22 to celebrate the completion of the work. The day before, Tom Brasch, WSDOT project engineer, provided City Council with a summary of the construction which began Aug. 23 and concluded Sept.

3. Previously, motorists on the north/south Harvard Bridge had to merge from two lanes to one before crossing I-90, causing a bottleneck that backed up traffic on Appleway, particularly during peak times.

Brasch told council there are still some loose ends to tie up on the project, including the bridge railing and permanent plastic striping.

Lanes are currently marked with paint.

“We’re experiencing material procurement issues,” Brasch said.

“Some of this is unique to us.”

The slopes around the bridge

will also be restored, Brasch added.

Harvard Bridge is one of a trio of projects that comprise an ambitious $23 million upgrade of the transportation network between Barker Road and Harvard focused on improving the flow of traffic and creating enhanced connectivity for a burgeoning community.

The addition of Selkirk Middle School in 2019 and the opening of Ridgeline High School this fall have further exacerbated Liberty Lake’s traffic challenges.

The first project was finished last summer at the top of the Barker interchange as traffic signals were replaced by a roundabout.

With Harvard Bridge now done, the third project is about to get underway. The Kramer Parkway and Overpass Extension will deliver a new crossing over I-90, connecting Mission Avenue on the north to Country Vista to the south. The connection will bring a welcome option for north and southbound motorists now relegated to Harvard, a span that averages around 22,000 trips a day.

“There are three projects – Barker, Harvard and Kramer,” Allen said. “We in Liberty Lake agreed to pay $6 million on those, including overages. We’re trending

OCTOBER 2021 • 9

a little high but we won’t know until all those projects are over.”

Earlier this year, the city’s Planning, Engineering and Building Director Lisa Key called 2021 “an unprecedented year for capital project construction in the city of Liberty of Liberty Lake.” Allen and Finance Director Kyle Dixon meet monthly with representatives of WSDOT to discuss the latest projects.

Liberty Lake’s portion of the $23 million bill addresses design and right-of-way work. Spokane County and WSDOT’s Connecting Washington program are also part of the funding picture. Construction on Kramer Parkway (previously Henry Road) is expected to begin soon and wrap up by next summer.

A pre-construction meeting took place in late September.

The project includes the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Kramer Parkway and Country Vista Drive and a roundabout at the intersection of Kramer Parkway and Mission Avenue.

“About a month from now, you’re going to see some work starting to take place,” Brasch said on Sept. 21.

“We may work through the winter, depending on the winter.”

File photo The Harvard Road Bridge once featured one northbound lane across Interstate-90 contributing to clogged traffic that backed up onto Appleway Avenue. A project this summer added another lane, improved the westbound freeway onramp and brought improvements to the intersection of Liberty Lake Road and Appleway.

10 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

SVFD REPORT

Continued from page 5 Department, Chief Collins had many accomplishments including: • Bringing about an innovative and modern 911 system with Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC 911).

• Implementing Community Risk Reduction Programs (CRR) for fire safety practices and education.

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• Earning Accreditation, making SVFD the only 1 of 2 accredited Fire Departments east of the Cascades (Fairchild AFB Fire & Emergency Services); only 1 of 6 fire departments in WA; only 1 of 276 nationwide; and only 1 of 293 worldwide.

• Maintaining a Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB) 2 rating which directly benefits the SVFD Community through lower insurance ratings.

Chief Collins brought more than 27 years of experience in the fire service when he joined SVFD on March 1, 2013. In 2012, he retired as Assistant Fire Chief from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in San Ramon, California.

“The Board of Fire Commissioners are very grateful for the 8 plus years of service Chief Bryan Collins has given to the Spokane Valley Fire Department,” said SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners Chair, Patrick Burch. “The department has grown and accomplished many great things during his time as Fire Chief.

We are grateful for his leadership, not only in the department, but in the communities we serve. It has been a real pleasure as a board to work with Chief Collins. We wish him well in his retirement.”

Spokane Valley Fire Department wishes Chief Collins a happy retirement and thanks him for his many years of service.

September 10 - The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a reported residential fire at approximately 1030 today in the 7600 block of East Glass in Spokane Valley.

The first arriving crews observed brown smoke coming from kitchen area of the residence. The residents were not home, and the neighbors had noticed the fire and called 911.

Crews forced entry into the

structure and attacked the fire with a pre-connected 1.75” hose line.

Additional crews began searching the residence to ensure no one was inside. The fire was contained to the kitchen, with some smoke damage to the rest of the residence.

A total of 12 fire units responded to the call including units from the Spokane Fire Department and Fire District 9 as part of an automatic aid response. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

SVFD would like to remind residents to be aware of things that occur in their neighborhood.

September 11 - In the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) Administration building entryway is a 1,200-pound column from one of the Twin Towers that collapsed on September 11, 2001. The column serves as a daily memorial to the sacrifices made by so many on 9/11/2001. The column, number M009c, was given to SVFD by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The collapse of the buildings left the site devastated, with ruins towering roughly 17 stories and spread beyond the 16-acre site.

Thousands of volunteers came to Ground Zero to help with the rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts, and on May 30, 2002, the last of piece of the World Trade Center steel was ceremonially removed.

Spokane Valley Fire held a bell ringing ceremony on September 11, 6:59 a.m., the time the south tower fell, to honor the lives lost on this day.

Incidents: Brush Fire – August 29, 12:37 p.m.

- Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a call for a smoke column seen near Appleway.

The SCSO helicopter helped locate and directed crews to the exact location. Crews arrived and found the fire near Appleway and I-90 to be a 40’x40’ brush fire. The fire was quickly confined and extinguished.

The area was turned over to DNR. Service Call – August 30, 10:40 a.m. – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) VL10 crews responded to a child locked in a car.

Liberty Lake police were on scene.

Upon arrival, crews found a young, approximately 2 year old child in a car seat accidentally locked in

OCTOBER 2021 • 11

The Splash the car. The door had closed and automatically locked. Crews were able to coach the 2 year old to open the lock on her own. The child was not in distress or scared. Once out, crews returned to service.

Brush Fire – August 30, 8:29 p.m.

– Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) responded to a brush fire near Harvard Road. VE12 initially observed a slow-moving grass fire to the east of Harvard Road south

of the river and was able to access it from Harvard and the centennial trail. VE12 was first on scene of a slow-moving grass/brush fire that was 15'x50'. VE12 deployed a bumper line to a progressive hose pack for fire control. We had a good initial knock down of the fire and used the rest of the tank water from VE12 and VB4 for mop up. VE12 stayed on scene and monitored the area for and flair ups.

Help protect our lake Shoreline and/or Stormwater Permit(s) may be required for your project. There are regulations governing development activities across the entire Liberty Lake watershed.



Shoreline*

• Landscaping • Dock/Boat lifts • Modification of any existing vegetation • Anything within 50 ft. of OHWM

Stormwater*

• Landscaping • Paving/Brick work • Additions • Outbuildings *including, but not limited to

Please call 922-5443 and ask for the Lake Manager

www.libertylake.org

“ IT’S THE LAW ”

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In WASHINGTON Click or Call Two Business Days Before You Plan To Dig

www.CallBeforeYouDig.org

1-800-424-5555 or dial 811 Inland Empire Utility Coordinating Council www.ieucc811.org

ENDORSED BY THE WASHINGTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PAID FOR BY ELECT TERESA LANDA

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SPOKANE VALLEY

WASHINGTON, 99206

12 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

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OCTOBER 2021 • 13

The Splash

Special Election G u i d e 2021 Dear Readers: With the upcoming election heating up and the sea of political signs filling our streets, we at The Splash wanted to take the opportunity to provide you with some information about the candidates seeking your vote this election cycle.

It had become a tradition to bring you this election guide that showcases as many candidates as we

can get to respond.

In order to give you more insight into who these people are we reached out to all of the contenders appearing on your ballot and asked them to please provide a 300-word response to the following questions (which we would publish at no cost). That is what you are about to read now.

We asked them two questions; 1. What best qualifies you for this position?

2. What is the most

important issue that needs addressed?

This year we have also added some fun questions!

1. Where is your favorite local place to eat?

2. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

3. Most admired public servant?

While not everyone chose to respond to our request, a good number have and we hope that you find their unedited responses helpful for your voting consideration.

This year you can register

to vote even on election day by going to CenterPlace in Spokane Valley.

Thanks for reading The Splash, we hope you enjoy it!

The Splash Team P.S. If you have any feedback on how we can enhance the voter’s guide or if you found it valuable please let us know by emailing us at elections@ libertylakesplash.com or by calling our office at 509-242-7752

Vote by November 2

14 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

Liberty Lake Mayor Where is your favorite local place to eat?

Cris Kaminskas Appointed

Cris Kaminskas Fieldhouse Pizza Steve Peterson A restaurant in Liberty Lake Chris Cargill Hay J’s Jamie Freeze Baird Liberty Lake Juice Company Mike Behary Trailbreaker Cider Mike Kennedy Palenque’s Mexican Restaurant DG Garcia True Legends Teresa Landa Ron’s Drive In Bret Howell Wolf Lodge Stan Chalich True Legends Pam Orebaugh Hay J’s or True Legends

What best qualifies you for this position?

Throughout my career in Project and Account Management, I have led cross-functional teams to deliver multi-million-dollar projects, managed continuous improvement programs, presented to C-level executives, and managed customers with budgets up to $20M. This experience helps me bring people together who have differing mind-sets, goals, and opinions.

What best qualifies you for this position?

The PAST is PROLOGUE to our Future! I have spent 15 years as your Mayor making sure Liberty Lake is a Safe, Clean, Green, Well-run and Financially Secure community which has the amenities we all seek -- Parks, Trails, Schools, Greenspace and a solid infrastructure in our roads and utilities. Post pandemic our focus needs to be on business retention, recruitment and growth. Business provides more than 60 % of our total revenues.

Success in the future will require us to have a Full-Time Mayor not one interested in a part-time job.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The challenges ahead are ensuring we have adapted to New Policing Criteria by including data collection, staffing more Detectives while

Work smarter, not harder: I have taken steps to improve efficiencies at City Hall by adding staff and moving work to the proper positions. I have directed the move to bring our technology up to date – moving Office to the cloud and engaging with our IT partner to put together and implement a strategic roadmap for our other applications.

I served on the council for 11 years, have been Mayor since January, and earned the Certificate and Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. Intimate knowledge of the City’s budget, current and past projects, the Growth Management Act and how it affects how the City grows are key to making the right decisions in a timely manner to make sure our City thrives.

It is important to me to be available to our residents and

to have time for training.

For the last several years, I have most Saturdays at the Farmer’s Market talking with residents and visitors about what makes our City tick and gathering feedback from residents to bring back to the council and staff. I’m also very active on social media to help residents be heard and to find the answers they are looking for. I am fortunate that my employer supports my work as Mayor. This has enabled me to successfully handle both jobs and to take time off for local meetings, events, and conferences. www.keepmayorcris.com What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Making sure infrastructure is on track with growth and that there is funding in place to support it.

ending catch- and- release of the criminal which takes away their freedom to operate in the shadows of our neighborhoods.

Combating homelessness needs a regional approach to monitor and tract those individuals so they take responsibility for their actions and surroundings. It will require us to partner and lead the region in our fight or we will mirror Seattle.

Focusing on intelligent sustainable growth means NO More Multi-family Units! Our goal is to Incentivize single family, town home, and condo development because home ownership helps builds community wealth while increasing safety!

The Mayors’ job is to push back against unfunded mandates and administrative decisions coming out of Olympia. It will require dealing with all levels of government not just those on our City Council.

The Mayor as Chief

Steve Peterson

Challenger

Administrative Officer has to envision how we deliver services in the most efficient manner and how we can consolidate our administrative functions to achieve costeffective results.

I will always be your FULL-TIME Mayor who provides Honesty -Integrity – Transparency – Leadership – Experience for our community.

I’m asking for your vote as we continue to make Liberty Lake “Spokane County’s Premier Address”. www.MayorStevePeterson.com

OCTOBER 2021 • 15

The Splash

Liberty L ake city council pos. 4 Jamie Freeze Baird Appointed

What best qualifies you for this position?

Since 2017, I have served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Liberty Lake.

During my tenure, I have advocated for my neighbors on issues ranging from food truck ordinances, landscaping and street tree codes, sign ordinances, annexation and zoning, and even 5G cell towers. On every issue, I studied the facts, asked the tough questions, and voted for the best interest of

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am a well rounded, dedicated, and service minded person committed to improving my community.

I have over 21 years of experience in city planning and economic development.

I have worked on many complex municipal projects and consider myself a solutions-oriented problem solver. I earned a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Development from Eastern Washington University and I am certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

I am known as a hard worker that will bring commonsense policy decisions to the city.

I will oppose burdensome taxes, policies, and legislation that negatively impact the community. I will focus on positive economic development that

homeowners, residents, and local businesses. My desire is to bring that same approach to City Council. In addition to my service as a Planning Commissioner, I hold a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a M.A. in American Government, Law and Public Policy from Regent University.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Important issues facing Liberty Lake include government transparency, community engagement, and budget prioritization. I want to increase engagement and transparency by using additional tools and technology to reach citizens who are unable to attend 3-4 hours long meetings twice a month. Our citizens need to know what

is appropriate for the City of Liberty Lake.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Intelligently planning and controlling the growth of Liberty Lake is the most important issue.

A lot of people have told me they are concerned with the rapid growth that has created strains on our roads, infrastructure, and local schools. Most people I have

the Planning Commission, Library Board, Parks and Art Commission, etc. are doing and have the opportunity to voice their opinion and concerns. We need to work to make sure citizens aren’t caught by surprise when new development begins, areas are rezoned, or city codes change. I also want to use our budget or guiding principles to prioritize public safety and infrastructure, reduce or eliminate taxes for our residents when feasible, and attract sustainable businesses to the city. By voting for me, you are assured that I will listen to all sides of an issue, ask the tough questions, and responsibly spend the city’s money like it’s your money— because it is. I will be as transparent as the law allows and be accessible to answer questions and explain my voting decisions.

Mike Behary

Challenger

city

Chris Cargill

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am Gonzaga University graduate with a BA in broadcast communication studies and political science. For the past 11 years, I have worked as the Eastern Washington director of Washington Policy Center. This experience has allowed me to become an expert on key local and state policy issues, with experience operating and balancing budgets, and key connections with elected officials and business leaders across our region and state.

While I’m unopposed in this race, I still have a responsibility to earn your vote. I have the experience and strength necessary to lead our community. I am a different kind of candidate – someone who means what they say and someone who will not yield to bureaucrats.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Your priorities are my priorities: - Adopting Priorities of Government (POG) budgeting - Addressing taxes by reducing or eliminating the city’s utility tax, preventing a city income tax and adopting a Taxpayer Bill of Rights

talked to want to see more single family housing developments rather than large multifamily projects.

Lost your Ballot?

Now you can go online to get a replacement!

Input your information and it will generate the correct ballot for you.

Simply print it off and take it to a ballot drop

liberty lake council pos. 2

off location. To utilize this service go to https:// weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/ MyVote/#/login

- Opening new businesses and restaurants in Liberty Lake to help offset the property tax burden on working families I am running for office to ensure our community and neighborhoods have a strong, principled, free market voice at the table. I started out in television news to inform people of what was happening in the community. I’ve worked in my current role since 2009 to further investigate and educate citizens. Now, I am ready to take action and engage citizens in moving our region in a positive governing direction.

I am humbled by the opportunity to serve you. The future of our communities and country is at stake; now is the time to serve. I bring a trusted voice, communication and leadership skills, a policy background, budgeting experience, local and state-level connections, and a love for our community.

I hope to earn your vote.

16 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

Liberty Lake City council Pos. 6 What is your favorite book?

Mike Kennedy Incumbant

Cris Kaminskas Anthem Steve Peterson The Disney Way -Dream. Believe . Dare . Do. Chris Cargill Anything written by historian David McCullough Jamie Freeze Baird Anything by James Rollins Mike Behary The Last Lecture Mike Kennedy How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie DG Garcia David and Goliath Teresa Landa The Cold Millions by Jess Walter Bret Howell Atlas Shrugged Stan Chalich With Malice Toward None - Biography of Abraham Lincoln Pam Orebaugh - The Bible

What best qualifies you for this position?

My qualifications for re-election as a council member are extensive.

I have years of experience in banking, finance, business ownership and working with coworkers.

I have been financially responsible for budgets which required personal guarantees in the millions of dollars.

I believe I was elected in 2017 because of my

qualifications. Once elected I realized the importance of furthering my education to be an effective councilmember.

We as councilmembers are fortunate to have an organization which provides ongoing training to be an effective councilmember.

That is the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

In my first two years of my term I was able to achieve the highest level of training “Certificate of Municipal Leadership” (CML).

In addition to the AWC training I continued to be involved with Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, GSI, and a board member of STA. I am proud of my attendance record having never missed a council meeting or workshop.

In 2020 I was elected by my fellow councilmembers to take

on the added responsibility to serve as Mayor pro tem.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

THE BUDGET. Public Safety is extremely important.

However, a well balanced budget will provide the superior public safety we now all enjoy.

A balanced budget will guarantee our roads, parks, trails, public spaces and Trailhead Golf Course are beautifully maintained.

An equally important issue is the severe turnover of 5 key employees either leaving or giving notice.

It is imperative that all elected officials participate in finding the best qualified replacements.

Liberty Lake City council Pos. 7 What best qualifies you for this position?

I have the capacity, education, experience, knowledge, and qualities to contribute to a financially stable and prosperous community.

In 2017 and before my appointment this July, I worked together with the council and mayor to implement “peace of mind” legislation that benefits the community at large. I advocated the importance of community engagement and supported Councilmember Kurtz in her quest to advance a Citizens Engagement Advisory Commission.

As a veteran, I have promoted ethical, accountable, and responsible leadership and believe that public and governmental relationship building is an essential aspect of the people’s voice. I have confidence that these attributes qualify me to continue

representing Position 7 on the council.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The pandemic is the most important issue that needs to be addressed. The pandemic hit communities and disrupted everyday life. Liberty Lake was not immune to the destruction of the disease and its bearing on the local economies. Although our local financial standing was strong enough to withstand the economic impact, our education system was hit hard, and some of the businesses in Liberty Lake have been slow to recover because of ongoing restrictions and setbacks. The struggle is also felt by some tenants and landlords impacted by the moratoriums and mandates.

COVID 19 and each of its mutations have taken a sledgehammer to the lives of those depending on a healthy environment and economy.

DG Garcia

Write-In

The city is working through the logistics of turning things around for several of its businesses and will work with the county and state to secure a brighter future for families wrestling with this crisis.

The city is working on ways to best implement support by utilizing the funds made available through the American Rescue Plan so that the pain and suffering are minimized, and a

return to some semblance of normalcy can be anticipated.

HOLLY WOODRUFF IS ON YOUR BALLOT

OCTOBER 2021 • 17

The Splash

Central Valley School Dir. No. 2 Teresa (Tere) Landa incumbant

What best qualifies you for the position?

My history in Spokane Valley, my passion for teaching children and my experience in education set me apart and qualify me for the CVSD District 2 Director position.

I attended school K-12 here as did my mother, siblings, cousins, children, and great nieces. The quality of education we had allowed us to achieve post high school degrees and successful careers.

After graduating from college I was hired in CVSD teaching at South Pines, McDonald, Opportunity, and Sunrise Elementaries before moving into administration. When Liberty Lake Elementary opened, it was my privilege to be the first Assistant Principal before I was promoted to district K-12 Curriculum Director. I knew staff and parents in many neighborhood schools and had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students in the classroom and Special Programs.

After 26 years I left CVSD to accept a job as Superintendent in the Newport School District returning in 2009. I know our community and how public schools work. I also appreciate the top standing that CVSD has in our state.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The most important issues

What best qualifies you for experience managing teams, creating timelines, budgeting this position? projects, and most importantly My name is Bret Howell in problem solving. I work and I am running for CVSD with lawyers, business owners, School Board Director Position government agencies, and many 2. My best qualification for other types of professionals on this position is that I have a regular basis. I am a confident two 12 year old boys that are public speaker and a very good currently in attendance in listener.

CVSD. My motivations are What is the most important pure. I grew up and attended K-12 schooling in CVSD and issue that needs to be am proud that my children addressed? are following in my footsteps.

The mental health of our I will work hard to ensure children is the #1 issue we that all children in CVSD are facing today. Draconian have the best educational mandates have done great harm environment possible. I love to our youth both mentally and this community and am proud educationally. I strongly oppose, to be an American. Serving and will fight hard against, any the community that I live poisonous Critical Race Theory in would be a great honor. curriculum.

I oppose the I have served the PNW for governors Comprehensive Sex over 21 years as a Mechanical Education curriculum, and will Engineering Consultant advocate for this to be managed and I have an abundance of at a local level with a primary

that need to be addressed are educating students and building better trust between the School Board and all members of the community.

We need to work together to ensure our students get the same opportunities to learn and grow as I did to become successful adults. With learning loss during the pandemic, students will need a variety of programs to help them catch up. Many of our students also need social and emotional support after months of dealing with the disruption caused by the pandemic. In addition, the current divisive climate in our country has caused a level of distrust among some parents that we have not seen before.

Through communication and transparency trust levels can improve.

Most admired public servant?

Cris Kaminskas Abraham Lincoln Steve Peterson Abraham Lincoln Chris Cargill Abraham Lincoln Jamie Freeze Baird Ronald Reagan Mike Behary Frederick Olmsted Mike Kennedy George H.W. Bush DG Garcia Barbara Jordan

Bret Howell

Write- In

Teresa Landa Ambassador Ryan Crocker Brett Howell Donald Trump Stan Chalich Abraham Lincoln Pam Orebaugh Ben Carson

focus on health. I am opposed to Socialism and Marxism and am an advocate for strong families and freedom of choice. I stand for Liberty and encourage people to look to God for guidance in these difficult times.

I am anti-mandate and will work hard to support all parents choices for whatever options they think are best for their families!

18 • OCTOBER 2021

The Splash

Central Valley School Dir. No. 5 Ballot Drop Off Locations

CenterPlace 2426 N Discover Pl Spokane Valley, WA 99216 Liberty Lake Library 23123 E Mission Ave Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Otis Orchards Library 22324 E Wellesley Ave Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Spokane Valley Library 12004 E Main Ave Spokane Valley, WA 99206 Argonne Library 4322 N Argonne Rd Spokane, WA 99212

Stan Chalich Write- In

What best qualifies you for this position?

I was born and raised in Spokane Valley and went through CV schools.

For 50 years, I have been a teacher, coach and mentor. I have participated in numerous community issues.

I care deeply about our community and work to listen to all sides before making a decision. I have taught thousands of students in my career in CVSD. I have been

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am a nurse, a mom, and a Christ follower. Nurses must assess, critically think and implement solutions, and advocate. I would do all related to items that need addressed with the board including advocating for our children, teachers, and staff.

I am also a nurse educator so I have experience in educational aspects.

As a mom, I very much understand the importance of a high-quality basic education that prepares our children for success after graduation. It is vital that CVSD prepares children for trade schools, college, or other means to success after graduation.

As a Christ follower, I understand the importance of a curriculum that does not go against our values.

There are families with other,

the school representative to the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and I’m active in the Liberty Lake Trails Committee, the Watershed Committee, etc.

I created a mentoring program with a local law firm, working with the Community Outreach Program with the federal courts and with the Spokane County Superior Court. For more than 40 years I’ve integrated government and the justice system in my teaching.

I am from this community and will fight for our values.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

My opponents have been very clear on their intentions.

They have established a nonprofit and filed a petition to recall our school board. Our schools are incredible. They are incredible because of the students, parents, teachers and

staff. They are also incredible because of the prudent stewardship of the school board and our superintendent.

I could not stand by while bullies and extremists attempted a takeover of our schools.

I’m seeking CVSD School Board Position 5 as a write-in because I see the need for a level headed candidate who knows and understands our community. I will fight for the welfare of our kids—I will work to keep them healthy and in the classroom, learning from our amazing teachers and striving toward a bright future.

I never met anyone I didn’t like. I try to find the good in everyone. But I don’t like bullies.

I’m asking you to write in my name, Stan Chalich, for CVSD School Board Position 5.

or no, religious beliefs. Our schools need to respect all beliefs and ensure they are not teaching against them. This is best done by focusing on high quality basic education free of any political agendas or indoctrination..

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The most important issue that needs to be addressed is the curriculum. Our children need high quality basic education to succeed. COVID has caused our children to fall behind in their learning and knowledge. We must use every resource to catch them up including ensuring that time and resources are spent on basic education and not political indoctrination.

We must also ensure that we implement what is best for our children related to COVID policies. Our local children are

Pam Orebaugh Candidate

struggling and many have developed depression or other mental health concerns.

Many cannot understand what is being taught due to the mask muffling words.

We cannot simply focus on COVID prevention measures without looking at the bigger picture regarding how actions are affecting our children. We must analyze the consequences of a policy and determine the best way forward based upon a risk benefit analysis.

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HISTORY

OCTOBER 2021 • 19

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OCTOBER 2021 • 21

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About and for Liberty Lake seniors

The start of a senior center for Liberty Lake

By Nina Culver

Splash contributor

Liberty Lake is a small city, but it has many amenities – three golf courses, a popular library, a City Hall and a police station. In recent weeks, two retired women have been making the case that it’s high time the city had its own senior center.

Jane Baldwin and Midge Kiourkas know that even in a perfect world it will likely be years before Liberty Lake has a senior center, but they want to give the idea some traction. “We need to connect with some people,” she said.

Baldwin said she suggested at a recent city council meeting that the city set aside a room at the new Trailhead Golf Course building to serve seniors until a proper senior center can be built. She didn’t get much feedback, she said.

“Somebody’s got to start somewhere,” she said. “Fourteen percent of Liberty Lake is senior now. I looked it up. When you come to Liberty Lake, there’s nothing for seniors.”

While there are plenty of opportunities to play golf and pickleball in Liberty Lake, those sports aren’t for everyone, Kiourkas said. “We’re not all golfers,” she said.

Some may argue that Liberty Lake residents can use the Spokane Valley Senior Center at Mirabeau. Kiorkas and Baldwin have both visited to play card games and take community college classes through the Act 2 program, but Spokane Valley is getting crowded, Baldwin said.

Revel, a senior living facility, was recently built in Greenacres.

Another such facility is set to be built at Indiana and Mirabeau Parkway, close to the senior center, she said. Meanwhile, Liberty Lake already has two senior living communities. Baldwin said she expects the Spokane Valley Senior Center to get more and more crowded.

But a more immediate need is a location to host a Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels Silver Café. The cafes, scattered across Spokane County, provide a hot lunch between two and five times a week for seniors and send home packaged meals for days the cafes aren’t open. The meals are served for a nominal fee and if that’s still out of reach, seniors can eat for free.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was a Silver Café location

in Talon Hills. Most Silver Café’s have reopened, but GSCMOW has been looking for a new location in Liberty Lake without success so far, Baldwin said.

Kiourkas said their first goal, before a senior center, is to get the Silver Café back. Liberty Lake is often thought of as a wealthy community, but many seniors are on fixed incomes, Kiourkas said.

“There is a need,” she said.

The women also like the social aspect of gathering for a hot meal regularly. Kiourkas said she was a regular at the Silver Café in Liberty Lake. She enjoyed the camaraderie as well as the food.

“They had fellas that came and did music for us,” she said. “The Christmas party was always a big draw. Not all the seniors have family around.”

It can be hard for seniors living alone to cook for themselves, particularly single women who are used to cooking for a family, Baldwin said. She said she doesn’t like to cook unless her family is coming over for dinner. Seniors that don’t cook may not eat properly and Silver Cafes help with that, Baldwin said. “It does help with nutrition,” she said.

As far as a senior center goes, the women say they want to have a place of their own where they can meet to play cribbage and pinochle. Baldwin said she also likes the day trips organized by

local senior centers and said she has been on some of the trips.

“There would be a big need for that,” she said. “I know a lot of women, they want to go on trips.

Organized card games are a huge draw. We’re not all old and feeble people. There’s a lot we can do.”

A senior center in Liberty Lake could also pull from Newman Lake and Greenacres, they said.

“We’ve got some people who would be interested in coming on board,” Kiourkas said.

Having a Silver Café and a senior center would also help the mental health of seniors, Baldwin said. “We have no services, really,” she said. “There’s so many different ways that seniors need help.”

A senior center would add to the amenities Liberty Lake already offers, Baldwin said. “We have City Hall, we have pretty good parks, we have a library,” she said. “It’s a good thing for the city.”

Given the ongoing pandemic, the women know this isn’t the best time to ask for a gathering place. “It’s not an ideal time, but it’s an ideal time to start thinking about seniors, even if we have to wait,” Kiourkas said.

“For the long term, we’ll just keep working on this,” Baldwin said. “We need one. The city is just going to have to realize that.”

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OCTOBER 2021 • 23

PUZZLES

24 • OCTOBER 2021

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Local athletes soar to great heights at Paralympic Games

By Craig Howard

Splash Contributing Editor

Athens, Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo – Teresa Skinner has represented the Inland Northwest as an elite adaptive sports coach at each of these highprofile venues and more. As the eyes of the world turned to Tokyo this summer for the Paralympic Games, she was there once again, mentoring a pair of athletes from ParaSport Spokane and cheering on alumni from the program who proudly wore the Team USA colors.

“This is the second largest sporting event in the world,” Skinner said. “It’s the best of the best competing on the largest stage. It’s really fun for me to be there for the culmination of what these athletes have worked for.”

Jaleen Roberts of ParaSport Spokane soared to silver medals in the long jump and 100 meters in the games, held Aug. 24-Sept. 5. Susannah Scaroni captured gold in the 5,000 meters and bronze in the 800 while Hannah Dederick of Spokane Valley placed fourth in the 100 meters.

Isaiah Rigo of Cheney (seventh in the 100 meters and 1,500 meters) and Richland’s Chelsea McClammer (sixth in the 800 and seventh in the 400) also sparkled in Tokyo.

Scaroni was introduced to adaptive sports when she was a patient at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Spokane. The native of Tekoa, a small farming town in Whitman County, Scaroni suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a car accident when she was 5 years old, losing the use of her legs.

“The community was awesome,” Scaroni said of the support from Tekoa residents following the incident. “I was just really welcomed and integrated.”

Scaroni met Skinner when she was the lead coach for Team St. Luke’s. She began participating in basketball and track and field and trained at Carroll College in Montana after graduating

Contributed photo Hannah Dederick, a recent graduate of Central Valley High School, was one of several local athletes who competed in the Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24-Sept. 5. Dederick placed fourth in the 100 meters and also competed in the 400 meters. from Tekoa High in 2009. After she transferred to the University of Illinois in 2011, Scaroni signed up for her first marathon. She did so well at the Chicago Marathon, she qualified for the Boston Marathon and, in 2012, represented Team USA in the event at the London Paralympics.

In addition to her bronze and gold in Tokyo, Scaroni placed sixth in the marathon with a time of 1:41.04 and ninth in the 1,500 meters.

As for the gold in the 5,000 where Scaroni set a personal best of 10:52.57, Scaroni knew she would face stern competition. China, Switzerland and Australia all entered racers with impressive resumes.

“I didn’t expect to medal,” Scaroni said. “In the race, I was so surprised.

I was just looking around like, ‘Where are they?’”

Scaroni said the visibility of the Paralympics “lets people with disabilities know they have role models.”

“I love overcoming the challenges that I have,” she said. “I was so proud of the hard work I put in to make this happen.”

Skinner called Scaroni “an incredible athlete.”

“From the outside, it looked for

the first time like she realized she had every right to win,” Skinner said. “I don’t think she’s realized how talented and deserving she is.”

Scaroni said more grassroots programs are needed to bring adaptive sports to the forefront. She supports the idea of creating a curriculum for high school coaches to learn more about opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

“Everything we do in life is one step at a time,” Scaroni said. “Each practice session, I try to do things better.”

Of the 64 athletes representing Team USA in Tokyo, 30 were competing in their first Paralympics.

The squad collected 104 medals at the games, trailing only Great Britain and China.

One of those first-time Paralympians was Hannah Dederick, a recent graduate of Central Valley High School, who came into Tokyo with golds in the 100, 400 and 800 at the Move United Junior National Championships in Denver. Born in Suzhou, China, Dederick was left on the steps of a hospital as a baby and adopted by a family who moved to Spokane. She began training with ParaSport Spokane in 2015 at the age of 12.

Dederick, who attended Liberty

Lake Elementary and middle school at Greenacres and Evergreen, missed the bronze in the 100 by a whisker, finishing with a time of 16.36. She also competed in the 400.

“It was definitely a surreal experience, a whole other level from other international competitions,” Dederick said. “I really did want to medal. I knew going in, it was going to be tough. Now I have four years to improve upon the things I need to.”

Dederick said the support of her coaches and teammates at CV was a catalyst in qualifying for the Paralympics.

“They knew I was chasing Tokyo,” she said. “They were cheering me on in every race.”

Dederick will continue her studies and sports at the University of Illinois this fall where she is on scholarship.

“She’s only scratched the surface,” said Skinner of Dederick. “It’s the fun of knowing where they’re headed.

It wasn’t until after she won gold as part of the Junior World Team that she realized wheelchair racing is fun and she might actually be good at it.”

Skinner, who was joined in Tokyo by her husband and fellow ParaSport Spokane coach David Greig, said she was encouraged by the coverage of the Paralympics by NBC which included 17 additional hours as compared to the previous games.

“It’s definitely better,” she said. “I saw more interviews. NBC was there and that was great but it needs to be on prime time where everyone can watch it. We have to ramp it up.”

Skinner was hoping for around 50 inquiries to ParaSport Spokane during and after the games. Instead, she received only four. The next large event for the program – which has its home base at Valley Christian School in Spokane Valley – will be the Spokane Showdown Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, Oct. 16-17 at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake.

“We talk about adaptive sports being a catalyst for life,” Skinner said.

“I want them to achieve what they never thought was possible.”

Want to find out more?

To learn more about ParaSport Spokane, visit www.parasportspokane.org or contact Teresa Skinner at tskinner@ parasportspokane.org or 509-999-6466.

OCTOBER 2021 • 25

The Splash

WRITE IN

7

Dear Voter, Neighbor, and Friend!

Have you heard the saying “I can’t do it without you”? It’s true!

Especially about a write-in campaign. I’m hopeful for your vote because climbing Mount Everest won’t be easy!

I’m DG. I’m running to represent the City of Liberty Lake, Washington. I was appointed to replace Holly on July 13, 2021; although she was running unopposed, her move changed the dynamics of this election. I decided to run but can only do so as a write-in candidate. My name will not be on the ballot so I will be relying on you, the voters to write it in: DG for Position 7.

If you have confidence in me, believe that I will work hard for you, or trust that I am one of the leaders you can depend on, then I’ll need your support and vote on November 2, 2021. Should this write-in campaign get the momentum it needs, I will be on my way to continue my job as your city council member in position 7. Doing the heavy lifting, fighting the good fight. Working as hard as I can to serve the people by helping them maintain the

quality of life to which they have become accustomed is where I find fulfillment.

Your voice is essential, and your vote of confidence will ensure each voice in the community is heard, individually and collectively. As your representative I will ensure that your views and ideas are at the table. There is a lot going on in Liberty Lake.

Please use your voice and cast your vote. Allow me – DG – to continue my work on behalf of the great people of this equally wonderful community. Remember: a vote for Holly A. Woodruff does not go to me. To secure the vote you must fill the circle to the left of the line that reads “Write-In” and write in DG. The county registrar will register your vote for me and – with enough votes – I will have the honor of serving the city and YOU!

Respectfully, DG Garcia

Thank you to all those that have supported me in the endeavor Holly A. Woodruff Bob Schneidmiller Andrea Le Stefanie Walters Sandi Bishop Lorena Villarreal de Tunca Naim Tunca Aziza Kibamba Garry Zimmerman Wayne Gust Becky Doyle Aureleen Porter Donna Bigelow Jake Bray Cindy Troxel Mary Manley

Betsy Martin Wendy Cederblom Bob Gimlen Brandi Farris Brody Creighton Chris Lowe Linda Leeming Schneider Claudette Sayles Darline Farrar Kent Kahl Paula Kahl Kris Zarek Leslie Zilke Jeremy Staples Tom Sahlberg

Jessica Yamaura Janet Farness Ethan Ruger Fay Templeton Frieda Berkenbile Heidi Christiansen Jan Piger Emmylou Newell Terry Olson Lorie Joy Lydia Davila Madisen Kellogg Mike Farris Naomi Mitchell Nina Hofmeister

Mary Cameron Phil Hamm Rebekah Mason Rene Kibamba Robert Lloyd Rick Shutts Sharon Shutts Tom Pauley Shane Lewis Maria Bachman Connie Conley Bonita Barnes Priscilla Lewis Dan Gougherty Linda Ford and many more

Paid for by Citizens for Progress Committee 1423 N Molter, PO Box 14, Liberty Lake, WA 99019 • https://www.facebook.com/dg.garcia.771

26 • OCTOBER 2021

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OCTOBER 2021 • 27

The Splash Priorities

Nominate a deserving Veteran for a new furnace Splash news sources

For the second year in a row locally owned AirPros USA is honoring Veterans in Spokane by sharing their personal stories. The community will help select one veteran to be gifted with a fully installed furnace at no charge. In 2020, Spokane voted to give this gift to US Army Veteran Tim Mahnke to thank him for his service. The community can submit nominations until October 7 for local veterans in the Veterans Day Furnace Giveaway at airprosusa.com. Details are below and I have attached a picture of Tim Mahnke’s 2020 surprise.

Air Pros USA to Award a Furnace to a Deserving Veteran in Spokane Spokane, WA (September 20, 2021) – As we approach Veterans Day, Air Pros Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning Services (Air Pros USA) will honor local men and women who served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military. Air Pros USA launched its second annual Veterans Day Giveaway in Spokane to share the stories of local military heroes and award one Veteran or active-duty service member a free furnace with installation.

Anyone can nominate a deserving veteran for Air Pros USA Veterans Day Giveaway by filling out a short application at https:// airprosusa.com/veterans-dayfurnace-giveaway/. The deadline to submit nominations is Thursday,

October 7, 2021. The contest is open to active military, retired service members, and veterans who were discharged under general or honorable conditions. All nominees in Washington need to own a home in Spokane.

“We want to recognize the brave and selfless men and women who have served our country by sharing their glorious tales with the community. We will also be presenting the veteran with the most votes with a brand-new furnace,” says Anthony Perera, founder of Air Pros USA. “We are very thankful to our veterans for their service and are looking forward to the nominations as well as learning more about them.”

• Increase government transparency and communication • Prioritize public safety • Protect residents from increased local taxation Principles Integrity is essential to good governance. I have a strong, principled foundation that guides me not only in leadership but in every facet of life.

Experience: As an active member of the Liberty Lake Planning Commission since 2017, I’ve advocated for our community on issues ranging from food trucks, sign ordinances, landscaping codes, and housing. I asked the tough questions, listened to all sides, and voted in the best interest of our residents and local businesses. I will continue to do so when elected.

Servant Leadership: A servant leader puts the needs of the community and others first. Leadership should never be reactionary; rather, it should be visionary. Liberty Lake deserves leaders who listen, are transparent, and work for the best interest of our citizens.

Up to five finalists in Spokane will be announced on Air Pros USA’s website where the public can read their stories and vote for a winner from October 21 to November 1, 2021. The winner will be announced

by Veterans Day. For more information and a complete list of official rules for the Veterans Day Giveaway, visit https://airprosusa.com/.

Want to know more?

Call/text 336-693-8669, email freezebaird4council@gmail.com, or visit my Facebook page at facebook.com/freezebaird4council.

Paid for by Jamie Freeze Baird for Council 22809 E Country Vista Dr. Apt 175 • Liberty Lake, WA 99019

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28 • OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Fire Chief Retirement

By Nina Culver

Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire Chief Bryan Collins has announced he plans to retire on March 1, prompting the Board of Fire Commissioners to launch a search to replace him.

Collins said he’s also grateful for the leadership provided by the fire commissioners, who spend a lot of time and effort in their jobs for not much pay. “To a person, those guys have been fantastic to work with,” he said. “They’re really committed for the right reasons.”

Collins, who arrived in 2013 after retiring from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in California as assistant chief, has seen the department through many changes.

Valley Fire joined with the Spokane Fire Department, Spokane County Fire District 9 and Spokane County Fire District 8 in an agreement in 2015 to make mutual aid automatic, meaning that whichever department had a truck closest to an emergency would be sent.

Collins was also a strong supporter of the new Regional Emergency Communications Center when it opened in 2019 and served as the board chair for the center.

It’s not possible to turn off being a fire chief, which regularly involves weekends, nights and holidays, Collins said. “There’s really no escaping it,” he said. “It’s very difficult to turn off your job, your responsibilities. I’ve been doing this 38 years now. It’s just time for a break.”

Though the last year has been tough in terms of regional firefighter deaths in the line of duty, that wasn’t a factor in his decision, Collins said. “That’s always been part of the business,” he said. “The COVID stuff has been challenging.

It’s really not a factor, either, because challenge isn’t always a bad thing. For me, it’s just time to catch

“I’ll miss the people,” he said. “The relationships we have out there with the cities and the folks in the Valley, they’re great relationships. People are just very genuine and caring.”

It will also be hard to leave the firefighters working in the department, he said. “I have 200 firefighters that are special to me,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for those folks. I’ve become attached.”

Splash contributor

In 2017, the accredited department earned a Class 2 fire insurance rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau, making homeowner’s insurance less expensive for residents living within department boundaries. That same year, the department launched an Alternative Response Unit program to send a two-person team in a pickup truck to some medical calls. In 2020, the department hired its first female recruits in 20 years.

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Fire Commissioner Patrick Burch said the commissioners recently voted to hire the Western Fire Chiefs Association to handle the search for a new fire chief. The association is run by a former fire chief, Burch said, and he’ll be able to find someone who will be a good match for the department. “He really knows the personnel,” he said. “Bryan Collins (leaves) pretty big shoes to fill.”

Chief Bryan Collins my breath.”

Collins picked March 1 as his last day because it will be nine years to the day since he started the job with Valley Fire. It also gives the department plenty of time to find his replacement, Collins said, and have the two chiefs overlap for a few weeks.

Collins said there are also a few things he’d like to finish before he goes, including work on the 2022 budget, working on employee wellness initiatives and adding more personnel to the department.

“There’s a long list,” he said. “Some of that stuff will always be there.”

He has enjoyed his time with the department, Collins said. “The organization had a vision,” he said. “When I came here, that was continuous improvement. We were able to do that in a lot of different areas. Operationally in the fire department we’re doing things a lot differently than we were eight or nine years ago.”

While Collins was at the helm, the department also remodeled several fire stations and built a new

fire station in Liberty Lake. The first steps have been taken toward building a new fleet maintenance facility and a new fire station on eight acres of land the district owns near Barker Road and Garland Avenue, which are expected to be complete in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

There has been enough growth in the area to justify adding an eleventh fire station and the department has outgrown the current fleet maintenance facility on Sullivan Road, Collins said.

The department is currently doing a study on what will happen with the old fleet maintenance facility, whether it will be repurposed to use as part of the district’s training facility or whether an all-new training facility is needed, Collins said. The analysis will likely be done before he leaves, but the decision about what to do with the analysis will be up to the next chief, he said.

Though Collins won’t miss the 24/7 aspect of his job, he said he will miss the relationships he’s forged with city and community leaders.

The process is already underway.

Western Fire Chiefs will narrow down the pool of candidates and then present a list of finalists to the commissioners, Burch said. The department will have a panel of community members interview each finalist and make recommendations to the commissioners, which is what happened during the last search for a new chief.

“Ultimately it’s our decision as a board as to who the new chief will be, but we want the community input,” Burch said.

The goal is to pick a new chief by the end of the year and have him or her in place before Collins leaves. The commissioners want to have an overlap of one month so the new chief can get up to speed, Burch said.

Collins said he has no plans to move out of the area after he retires, but will relax with his wife of 34 years, Nancy. The couple has two grown children. Collins said he’s confident that the department will be in good hands after he leaves.

“There will be someone who will come in behind me and continue to make improvements,” he said.

The Splash THE

LIBERTY LAKE

COMMUNITY NEWSMAGAZINE

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Nina Culver, Craig Howard, Ross Schneidmiller

The Liberty Lake Splash P.O. Box 363 Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Phone: 242-7752 www.libertylakesplash.com The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area.

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OCTOBER 2021 • 29

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Dear Editor,

We deserve a choice.

That's why we were so excited to hear that Stan Chalich, who taught and coached at Central Valley High School for 49 years, has filed to be a write-in candidate for the Fifth Position on the CV School Board.

Stan gives us a choice because the two candidates who made it through the primary are anti-mask and believe Critical Race Theory is a thing to be opposed despite it not being a subject within the CV curriculum.

In his almost 50 decades, Stan influenced the lives of countless students as a social studies teacher and a beloved coach. His focus on civics, government and citizenship led to an award from the Washington Bar Association.

Consider the irony that he is running against a nursing instructor who appears unconcerned with the health of our children and a retired military man who had to hide his Facebook Page because of his belief in Qanon conspiracy theories.

We have always valued education and the teachers who influenced their growth. We cannot stand by quietly as someone would put the health of students, faculty, staff and support personnel at risk, and tell teachers they cannot address American history.

A write-in campaign is a longshot.

Former students, parents and colleagues who know the impact Stan Chalich has had on the fabric of the Valley need to get involved – now! Time is short and the future of our children is too much to risk.

Dave and Lori Trimmer, Spokane Valley

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Spokane County Redistricting

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Citizens for Progress

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Spokane Family Dental

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Tate Law Office

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Steve Peterson for Mayor

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30 • OCTOBER 2021 Files

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Redistricting Spokane County

Getting ready for five commissioners

By Nina Culver

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MY PRIORITIES for LIBERTY LAKE · · · ·

Policing and Public Safety Trails, Parks and Recreational opportunities Streets, Pedestrian Crossings and Signals Strong Neighborhoods and Pride of Home Ownership Schools in Our City Retail Economic Development Addressing the Homeless Problem Government Operations and Consolidation of Services Keeping Liberty Lake Debt Free and Financially Secure

· · · · ·

I am sure you want to learn more about our city.

Please contact me at 509-990-0509 or email mayorstevepeterson@yahoo.com (OHFW

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PAID FOR BY STEVE PETERSON FOR LIBERTY LAKE MAYOR P.O. BOX 174 LIBERTY LAKE, WA 99019

Splash contributor

The Spokane County Independent Redistricting Committee is in the final phases of recommending new voting districts in order to expand the Spokane County Board of Commissioners from three members to five.

The change is required because Spokane County now has more than 400,000 residents. The change will take effect in time for the 2022 elections.

The committee, which includes two Republicans and two Democrats, was appointed by the state legislature. Robin Ball and Jim McDevitt represent the Republicans and Brian McClatchey and Natasha Hill represent the Democrats. The non-voting chairwoman, Elaine Couture, was selected by the Commissioners.

The committee has been meeting every Tuesday since April, said Couture. She said she had just retired after a career as a registered nurse, most recently as the Regional Chief Executive for Providence Health Care in Washington and Montana. She said she’s not sure why she was selected, but she has experience at bringing people together to find solutions.

“I have a health care background, not anything to do with politics or municipal government,” she said.

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“I personally have learned a lot in this process.”

In creating the five new districts, the committee must make sure each district is as close to equal in population as possible and the districts should follow natural boundaries when possible. The group was required to have two public hearings to get input on the process, but they decided to host four information sessions and four public hearings, Couture said.

“Going from three to five commissioners is a big deal,” she said. “I really commend the committee for taking this seriously.

It may be another 30 or 40 years until these lines are redrawn. This will affect all of us.”

Each committee member submitted their own proposed district map in a draft plan released on Aug. 24. It was soon decided to narrow the options to the maps submitted by McClattchey and McDevitt, labeled as options C and D in the draft plan available online at www.redistrictspokaneco.com.

In Option C, District 1 would include most of Liberty Lake and a wide swath of north Spokane County that includes Deer Park and Chattaroy. District 2 would include a chunk of eastern Spokane Valley and most areas south of the Spokane, Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake city limits. District 3 would include the West Plains and the parts of Spokane south of Interstate 90. District 4 would include most of north Spokane west of Nevada up through the Indian Trails area and along portions of Highway 291. The fifth and final district would include Spokane east of Nevada, Millwood, and portions of Spokane Valley.

In Option D, District 1 would include everything in Spokane’s South Hill as well as the East Central and West Central neighborhoods.

District 2 would include most of North Spokane. District 3 would look similar to District 1 in Option C, but Liberty Lake is excluded and the district would dip into the northern part of Spokane Valley.

District 4 would include Liberty Lake, the southern portion of Spokane Valley and all of south Spokane County east of Highway 195. District 5 would include south Spokane County west of Highway 195, the West Plains and wrap up

ON THAT NOTE

The Splash to north Spokane County areas that include the Long Lake area.

Now those maps are being altered based on community feedback, Couture said. “These were drafts,” she said. “Now they have to be tweaked. Our goal is to get to one final plan the committee members can find consensus on.”

• •

There will be other election changes in addition to increasing the number of County Commissioners to five. In the past, commissioners have been voted on by district in the primary election and countywide in the general election. Once there are five commissioners in place, each will be elected only by voters in the district they represent.

“It won’t be based on a countywide vote,” Couture said.

“That’s a big change.”

County Boundary Municipal Boundary Major Highway Road 0

2.75

5.5

Miles

Comments can also be submitted via email to info@ redistrictspokaneco.com or by mail to PO Box 31508, Spokane WA 99223.

Draft Plan Scenario D District District District District District

••

• • 231

1 2 3 4 5

• • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • •

•395 •

By Diana Wilhite

• •

Guest contributor

2

• • 291

• • 206

• • 291

• • 53

•2 • •195 ••395 •

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•2 •

• •• • • • • • • • • • • • •• • ••••••••• • • ••• • ••• •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • •• • •• • • • • • • • • • •

••

90 • • • •• • ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • 902

• •

• • •• ••••••••

• •

231

904

• • 23

Page 8

• •

S P O K A N E C O U N T Y R E D I S T R I C T I N G C O M 292 M I T T E E D R A F T P L A N C O M M I S S I O N E R D I S T R I C T S County Boundary Municipal Boundary Major Highway Road 0

2.75 Miles

Once the committee has selected a final district plan, it must be submitted to Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton by Oct. 23 for implementation.

Though the process is nearing the final stages, there are still opportunities for the public to comment on the proposed districts.

The committee meets every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. The final public hearing is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino at 100 N. Hayford Road in Airway Heights. All meetings can also be attended via Zoom, with a link provided on the Redistrict Spokane website.

Your input needed

S P O K A N E C O U N T Y R E D I S T R I C T I N G C O M 292 M I T T E E D R A F T P L A N C O M M I S S I O N E R D I S T R I C T S

If the committee cannot reach a consensus, the state legislature will determine the boundaries of the new districts. Couture said the committee members are determined not to let that happen because they want the decision made locally by people who are intimately familiar with Spokane County.

“I still am very, very optimistic that this group will come together and submit a final map,” she said.

“They have worked very, very well together. I think there will be some great debates coming up about how the lines should be drawn.”

OCTOBER 2021 • 31

5.5

Draft Plan Scenario C District District District District District

••

• • 231

1 2 3 4 5

• • 291

• • 291

•2 •

• •• • • • • • • • • • • • •• • ••••••••• • • ••• • ••• •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • •• • •• • • • • • • • • • •

••

• •

290 • •••• • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • •

According to the law the districts must be as evenly balanced as possible based on the 2020 census. At present the redistricting committee has four different maps, each splitting the greater Spokane Valley area ••27• • •••• •• • • • • • • • • in three different ways. One •195 • •278 • •58 • map has the greater Valley area • • • • • •• • • • • • • • divided into three parts (Map • • •• ••• •• • • • • • • • • • B). The other map shows the City of Spokane Valley with a • • • • • •• • • • • • • • north/south split using Pines Road as the dividing line (Map • • •• • • • • • • C). And the last map (Map D) shows an east/west split using Sprague Avenue as the line.

Splitting the City of Spokane Valley using Sprague Avenue as the boundary line all the way • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • to the city limits of Liberty Lake •395 • 2 (Map D) would seem to be a • • better choice to recommend to the commissioners rather than splitting the City of Spokane •206 • Valley north/south as show on Map C. Then the City of Liberty Lake is shown on one •53 • map (Map C) as being part of the north district and the other 290 • •2 • • •••• • • • •• ••••••• • •• ••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • two maps (Maps B & C) show • • • ••• • • • • • • • •195 ••395 • Liberty Lake is in the south district.

90 • • • •• • ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • 902

• • 231

• • •• ••••••••

• • 904

•195 • • • • • • •• • • • • • • •

• •

27 • • • • •• •• • • • • • • • • 278 58

• •• •

• • •• ••• •• • • • • • • • • •

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Page 7

Did you know that the Washington legislature passed a law mandating that Spokane County be split into five county commissioner districts? There is a redistricting committee in the process of redrawing the county map into five districts.

• • •• • • • • • •

For more information on these maps go to www. redistrictspokaneco.com. The redistricting commissioners needs to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Please send an email to: info@ redistrictingspokaneco.com as soon as possible as the last date for receiving public comment is October 12th. Let your voice be heard!

32 • OCTOBER 2021

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