Jed Spencer underplays his impact as a member of the debate team during his last two years at Central Valley High School.
“I was always kind of a natural debater but mostly I was just kind of goofing around,” he said. “For me, being part of debate team was mostly about having fun.”
Asked if some of his skills and strategy from debate competitions years ago have carried over to his role as the newest representative of the Liberty Lake City Council, Spencer says he is less concerned with gaining the upper hand at the dais than making a positive difference.
“I’d like to think I’m a lot more refined than I was back then as far as restraining from arguments,” he said. “I think I’ve toned it way down.”
Spencer was appointed to the governing board on June 7, winning approval from the sitting council to replace Jamie Baird who moved out of the area. The list of five applicants included two former council members Keith Kopelson and Mike Kennedy. In March, Spencer finished runner-up to Tom Salhberg in his first attempt at a council appointment.
Spencer said he threw his hat into the ring in hopes of bringing a voice to the common citizen.
“I just wanted to be involved, provide some oversight and represent the average Joe like myself that, prior to joining council, didn’t know much about what was going on but trusted that people were spending the city’s money the right way,” he said.
Spencer grew up in the area, attending Greenacres Elementary
before there was a Liberty Lake Elementary. He is the oldest of four kids and played baseball, tennis and basketball at Greenacres Middle School and basketball at CV.
When Spencer’s parents moved the family to Liberty Lake from the Valley, some people were incredulous.
“They were asking my parents, ‘Why would you move all the way out to Liberty Lake? That’s like another world.’” Spencer recalls.
Spencer recalls the Zip Trip and a lakefront convenience store in the old post office building comprising the commercial terrain of his early youth. When a Burger
King and Albertson’s went in, he remembers Liberty Lake beginning to transform.
“Before, there was really nothing north of Valleyway,” he said.
In high school, Spencer joined the acapella choir, traveling to Chicago to participate in a national competition his sophomore year. He also took to the stage as a cast member for productions like “Oliver” and “The Sound of Music.”
After graduating in 1999, Spencer accepted a call to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Panama City, Panama. While he had taken two years of Spanish
in high school and studied the language before he left for Central America, Spencer said it took some time to communicate effectively in his new surroundings.
“I really couldn’t understand much at first,” he said.
Living in cinder block homes without traditional windows, Spencer grew accustomed to visitors like rats and cockroaches. The food was also an adjustment – rice and lentils became a staple that he still enjoys today. Getting around meant either walking or taking the bus.
“It was eye-opening in a lot of ways,” Spencer said. “You just adjusted. Like when it rained, you couldn’t have a conversation because the sound on the tin roofs was so loud. You just waited it out.”
Spencer returned from his mission in 2001 and enrolled at Brigham Young University-Idaho, not knowing exactly where his major or career path would land. He considered economics but focused mostly on getting some of his required classes out of the way.
In 2003, Spencer began a new chapter, marrying Becky, a fellow student who had served an LDS mission in Los Angeles and also spoke Spanish. The two had first met while sophomores at Central Valley .
After receiving his Associate’s degree, Spencer returned to Spokane with Becky in 2004. Their first child was born a year later. They now have four children ranging in age from 3 to 17. The family has lived in the River District since 2016. In 2018, Spencer took the online route to earn his four-year degree in Business Management.
Spencer was working at a call center for Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) and part-time for Liberty Lake-based NBS Promos Inc. – owned by his parents – when he decided to transition to NBS full-time in 2005. He taught himself Adobe Illustrator and took over art duties at the business specializing in
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promotional product distribution. He has worked there ever since, now serving as vice president and vendor relations coordinator.
Q: Having grown up in Liberty Lake, you remember a time when this community bore little resemblance to the place it is today. What has impressed you most about the way this area has grown over the last 20 years or so?
A: The fact that this community has managed to not only hang onto, but embrace, the traditions started long before Liberty Lake became a city has been impressive. Sometimes, new individuals join a crowd and completely change the dynamic of the group. Our community has certainly grown and the landscape looks very different than it did when my family moved here in 1989. But we’ve got strong roots of tradition and we continue to create new ones as well, linking the older generation with the younger.
Q: As Liberty Lake expands, do you have concerns that it will lose that friendly small-town atmosphere that has always been its signature?
A: Honestly, I feel like if we were going to lose our friendly, small-town atmosphere in our city, that would have already taken place sometime between incorporation and now. The growth has been extensive. Different areas were annexed, increasing the geographical size of the city. For a period of time, there was a struggle to unite the north side of the city with the south. But I feel like we’ve moved past that and we’re only increasing connectivity between all parts of the city. I couldn’t be more excited about the Kramer Parkway Overpass, which will further connect our city. And additions of things like the Hometown Heroes display on Country Vista have really added a nice touch and reinforced that connected community feel.
Q: Why did you and your wife want to raise your family in Liberty Lake?
A: It’s interesting how things work out. We’ve technically only lived within the city limits since 2016. Prior to that, we lived across from
the gun club and would have been facing the new Ridgeline stadium. Earlier in our marriage, we lived just south of the city boundaries a block away from the lake. Having grown up in this community, I always looked at it as an ideal place to live and raise a family. Between family and longtime friends who are like family, we have deep roots in Liberty Lake. In my opinion, there’s really not anywhere else you can live in this world that is safer, combined with all the unique amenities and traditions this community offers. It’s ideal for raising a family.
Q: As you’ve delved into your role as a representative of City Council over the past few months, is your perspective of this community any different, just in terms of being more on the inside with a grasp of all it takes to run a city and provide services that you and other residents depend upon?
A: Immersing myself in this new role has definitely given me a new perspective and a much greater appreciation for others to have taken the time to serve in this capacity previously. The decisions we make as a governing body actually affect the lives of those living in the city and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I’ve been able to see first-hand how many people are diligently serving in and outside the government for the betterment of our city. If anything, my eyes have been opened to a view behind the scenes of what makes our community so special: the people.
Q: You’ve talked about being more of a fiscal conservative and a watchdog when it comes to making sure city funds are spent wisely. What had been your take on the big-dollar investment in a project like Trailhead when at least some discussion around the dais has not been wholly supportive of spending this much on a new golf facility?
A: This has been a tricky situation. I believe all levels of government should be wise stewards of taxpayer dollars. I was appointed to the City Council on the tail end of the Trailhead discussion after a significant amount of time and money had been spent in planning and designing the new building. The size of this project
and the amount of debt we’d be going into as a result might have merited a formal citizen vote. However, the time for that decision would have come long before I was seated. While interviewing for this position, I made it clear that this project should have been planned far in advance of this moment and funds should have been reserved for this purpose. My goal is to make sure the city is never found in a similar position of needing to go into debt to fund a capital project.
Q: Quite a few new council members over the years have talked about the steep learning curve related to the first year in a chair that holds so much responsibility. How has it been for you so far?
A: Having lived in and around Liberty Lake for most of my life, my knowledge of the area and the different entities operating within the city have been very helpful. It’s also been great to have fellow council members who have been willing to help bring me up to speed. The concept of working on a council isn’t a new one for me as we use this same principle in my church frequently. The format is conducive to drawing out each member to share their opinions with the goal of improving everything we do in the city for the benefit of our citizens. The process can be fascinating!
Q: I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of Liberty Lake residents have never attended a City Council meeting. Voter turnout was under 40 percent in the last general election and three of the four council races here included unopposed candidates. Do you have any thoughts on how to increase community interest and engagement in local government?
A: People want to feel like those who are running the government are doing it in a responsible way and that they represent the values of the community. When citizens start seeing policies and practices that stray from those values, they tend to show up and voice their concerns. The larger the swing from the general ideals of the community, the greater the response. In a way, the lack of engagement may simply be due to the possibility that the citizens are generally pleased with the direction things are going. With that being said, I’ve had countless
people ask me about city business since I’ve been serving on the council and it appears that they appreciate having a trusted source for that information. I think there are ways we can amplify those conversations through social and traditional media.
Q: Do you think your background as a longtime resident of Liberty Lake and also being part of a business based in this community provides you with any added insight as you carry out your duties as one of seven elected council representatives?
A: Most definitely! We’ve all got an intrinsic motivation to make the best decisions for our city. And there’s a sense of accomplishment knowing that we’ve played a small role in doing something good for our fellow citizens. Many of these individuals have stated that while they wouldn’t feel comfortable in this role, they’re grateful that likeminded individuals are willing to step up and speak up in their behalf.
Q: The final question is a hypothetical one to someone who works as a professional promoter. Let’s say you were given an unlimited budget to design a promotional product that best represents the city of Liberty Lake. What would it be and how would you market this product to most effectively promote this community?
A: The industry I work in boasts over a million different items that you can customize with a logo/ brand. Those items are used in a vast array of applications in building awareness and loyalty, providing various levels of usefulness that other forms of marketing don’t have. Promoting Liberty Lake, I would probably focus on creating collector’s items that would keep people coming back for more. Things like custom pewter Christmas ornaments or military style challenge coins are fun because you can develop a new theme/design each year and they have a canvas large enough to tell a story through the imagery. Tying them to specific events happening in Liberty Lake could be very effective, as a number of them bring in people from outside the area and they wouldn’t want to miss the yearly addition to their collection.
at the shoppers and businesses of the greater Spok ane Valley — and as a bonus we will include your gift idea as par t of our stor y listing can’t-miss local gift ideas. (Restaurants, don’t feel left out. You can contribute a tantalizing menu item to be included in our ar ticle on dining out.) Either way, submitted photos are encouraged!
“Eat, Shop and Be Merr y ” is a special cover sec tion that will be included in the December issues of both The Current and The Splash. That ’s right — be a par t of both
Connec ting LO C A L PE O PL E with LO C A L BUS I NE S SE S
for the Spok ane Valley, Liber ty Lake, Millwood, O tis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas opies guide oughout alley eady thly “Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a community-minded project of The Splash and The Current encouraging spending holiday money.
This guide is strategically scheduled to land November 21 and 22 the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday
I t will be distributed in The Splash (12,000 copies delivered to ever y address in Liber ty Lake and available for free at more than 120 newsstands through Christmas) as well as The Current (27,000 copies delivered to 20,000 homes in Spok ane Valley and at more than 220 newsstands throughout the greater Spok ane Valley).
Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 431
Avenue. The victim stated she had been assaulted several days prior by her girlfriend. Officers observed bruising consistent with the assault. Since the assault had occurred several days prior and the suspect was no longer on scene, charges were forwarded to the Prosecutors Office.
Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 9
Citations (Traffic/Criminal/ Non-Criminal) 6
DUI (Driving Under Influence) 0
Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 13
Malicious Mischief 6
Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 16
Parking Violations 1
Suspicious Vehicles 29
*The above numbers are as of 10/01/2022
4.83 w x 5.66˝h
1/4 PAGE: $485 (normally $790)*
Assault 2, 09/22/22: Officers responded to the 1100 block of N Liberty Lake Rd for the report of an assault that had occurred the night before. The victim reported that he had been attacked by an intoxicated male who had bitten his finger during the assault. Several days later, the victim updated officers that he had gotten an infection in the bite wound, which required hospitalization, surgery and continued IV medications. Charges were forwarded to the Prosecutors Office for Assault 2 on the suspect male.
9.83 w x 5.66˝h
1/2 PAGE: $875 (normally $1440)*
4.83 w x 11.5˝h 1/2 PAGE: $875 (normally$1440)*
A holiday guide for the Spok ane Valley, Liber ty Lake, Millwood, O tis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas That
Interested in running in our publications at other
Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle/Property, 09/12/22: Officers received a “hit” from the Flock camera system regarding a stolen vehicle. They located the vehicle in the 1400 block of N Liberty Lake Rd. Officers arrested the male suspect as he was exiting the vehicle and attempting to walk away. The stolen vehicle and other stolen property were recovered.
Assault 4 DV, 09/15/22: Officers responded to a domestic violence assault in the 23000 block of Mission
9.83 w x 11.5˝h FULL PAGE: $1650 (normally$2,700)*
* Normal rates based upon the typical cost of adver tising at that size in both The Splash and The Current
As the hours of darkness get longer and the weather becomes inclement, please remember to drive with caution and use your headlights as necessary. We would like to remind everyone to secure your homes and cars at night. Please call 911 immediately for emergency assistance when needed and call Crime Check if you see something you feel may need our attention. If you don’t hear back from Crime Check in a timely manner, please call, and request officer assistance.
Stay well and be safe!
Where 2021 was a year of change, 2022 has been the year for building – not just physical assets but also building and investing in our staff and commissions and rebuilding our community events that had been on a two-year hiatus.
The city was fortunate to start 2022 with $1.3 million in the Restricted Reserve Fund and over 350 percent more cash in the General Fund than what is required. This enabled us to take on many projects, some of which are complete and some of which are still in progress. To say the staff has been busy is an understatement.
The following list of projects were started during 2022 and some will go on into 2023:
* Completion of Kramer Parkway reconstruction between Sprague and Country Vista
* Continued work on the Kramer Parkway overpass
* Approval to start the Public Works Yard building
* Start of the Trailhead Clubhouse rebuild and parking lot renovations
* Design of four additional flashing crosswalk beacons on safe routes to school
* Installation of the traffic signal at Legacy Ridge and Country Vista
* Completion of the sidewalk between Aladdin and Caufield on the north side of Mission
* Installation of the Flock Safety camera system
* Improved network security and 24/7/365 network monitoring
* Installation of a new HVAC system at
The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD) annual fall leaf dropoff will continue with the same format in 2022 as in 2021. The district has received many positive comments from the community that they appreciated the flexibility to dispose of leaves over a longer period of time – especially when adverse weather makes it difficult to address timely. Similar to 2021, the district and the city of Liberty Lake will not be picking up leaf bags curbside. We will however assist only those who are physically unable or in specific areas that are inaccessible by vehicle (lakeshore).
For those who require assistance, the district and city will have volunteers and/ or staff who can come pick up your prebagged leaves. To request assistance
City Hall and generator at the Police/Library building
* Purchase of the building at 23129 E. Mission Avenue for library expansion in 2024
* Installation of NextRequest software, a public records software that also handles social media archiving
* Implementation of FuelCloud software to better track fuel usage
* Stormwater master plan funded by a grant from the Department of Ecology
We’ve also had some additions to our staff and commissions, including a new city administrator, a city planner, a communications specialist, additional police officers, a facilities lead position and our newly formed Community Engagement Commission.
Once again, Liberty Lake has seen record sales tax revenue in 2022. Our projected collection for 2022 is $5.3 million, $1 million over what was budgeted. Our restricted reserve fund remains strong at $1.3 million but with increased operational costs I will ask the council to move $300,000 from the General Fund to the Restricted Reserve Fund before the end of 2022 to continue compliance with Financial Policy 1910, which requires 15 percent of operational costs to be set aside in this fund. This would leave the 2022 General Fund ending balance at $5.8 million.
For a second year in a row, I am proposing a zero percent change to property taxes. The 2022 Liberty Lake rate was $1.26 per $1,000 valuation. That means for a $500,000 home, the city collected $630 in property tax in 2022. With our continued growth, the rate per $1,000 valuation is expected to decrease even more in 2023 as we spread the property tax burden over more residences and businesses. Property tax currently funds the library and 54 percent of the Police Department. Everything
please contact the district office at (509) 922-5443 or info@libertylake.org. LLSWD also encourages those with the means to transport yard waste to our property to assist their neighbors and those in need. If you are interested in volunteering to assist others in need please contact the district.
The district will allow drop-off of leaf and yard waste at our Water Reclamation Facility property on Indiana Avenue. The drop-off area will be open dawn to dusk during the entire month of November only. The area for disposal will be clearly marked.
To access the site, while driving north on Harvard, turn right on Indiana Avenue off of North Harvard Road (behind our Water Reclamation Facility). Continue down Indiana Avenue just past where the pavement ends and our gated access is on the right. Proceed through the gated entrance to the marked drop-
else we do is paid for through a multitude of other resources.
During this fall’s budget season, the City Council will have further discussions on the 3-percent utility tax that the city collects that helps pay for street maintenance projects. This is currently the only way businesses pay into the cost of street maintenance.
As a community, we are at 70 percent of the anticipated population of 18,500 which we are expected to reach by 2040. Next year will bring additional development (both commercial and residential) on the west end of Appleway, north of I-90 and in the River District and on the east end of Appleway.
Next year will see the completion of many current projects and the beginning of new ones:
* Enhancements and improvements to our parks
* Installation of Smart Signal Control
* General maintenance of city assets
* Design for future projects, including road improvements
* New and replacement vehicles and equipment
* Additional pedestrian crossing improvements and solar-powered speed limit signs
* Trailhead driving range netting and pole replacement
* Development of a master plan for the remaining 4.4 acres at Town Square
* Addition of Instagram, LinkedIn and other media channels to communicate with our residents
* A Citizens Academy for people to better understand how a municipal government works
* A pilot program with S.C. Johnson for recycling plastic film
off site. Signage will be posted. Only residents within the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and city of Liberty Lake boundaries are eligible to dispose of yard waste at our site. NO COMMERCIAL USE ALLOWED. District staff will be monitoring the drop off site regularly and may require your load to be inspected prior to unloading.
You may bring your yard waste for drop off (bagged or unbagged), but please limit materials to leaves, yard/ garden vegetation, pine needles and grass clippings. Please do not pile bags on other bags. It is very time consuming to uncover and remove them. While it may seem counterintuitive, spreading the bags out is our preference to speed removal. Finally, the most difficult aspect of this program is removal of the bags. If you would be so kind, the district requests that you empty the contents of your bags before leaving the site.
* Reconvening both the Youth Commission and the Civil Service Commission
* Continued discussions with the Army National Guard to potentially build a readiness center on the north side of I-90
* Possible implementation of an additional payment system that would net the city a 1-percent rebate of any payments made to vendors accepting this system. This could be a potential offset to the utility tax.
Between now and the end of the year, the council will continue to review the budget, evaluate priorities and request changes and additions based on those priorities.
Community input is very important in this process and I encourage all of you to participate whether it be in person, by Zoom or by emailing the council.
To all our city employees, I thank you for your dedication and hard work to keep Liberty Lake running smoothly and looking great. I will continue to support additional training to help you grow your career with us at the city. None of what we do would be possible without you.
Lastly, I can’t begin to say how proud I am to be a member of this community. As I looked over the list of events that took place in 2022, I was reminded that everything that happens here is because we have amazing volunteer groups and amazing individuals who contribute all year to make Liberty Lake what it is.
I challenge every one of our residents to get involved – whether it is helping your neighbor shovel snow, joining a non-profit group or stepping up to fill a seat on one of the city’s many boards and commissions.
We may be small by some standards but we are mighty and we will continue to make Liberty Lake one of the best places in the U.S. to live!
Please note that the disposal area is unimproved. The district does not assume liability for any vehicular damage or claims resulting from accessing the site. In addition, if you place bags on the curb expecting LLSWD to collect them, you may be assessed additional fees from Waste Management if they collect these bags.
The purpose of the annual fall cleanup is to protect the lake, aquifer and river from nutrient loading from stormwater that may transport decaying vegetation. Yard waste is beneficial to the landscape when composted but can be a detrimental nutrient source when mixed with stormwater that discharges to waterbodies.
The following items are prohibited at the Water Reclamation Facility: Rocks, stumps, root balls, trees, branches, limbs, shrubs, sod, pumpkins and garbage.
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
• Deputy Chief Greg Rogers with the Spokane Valley Fire Department kicked off Fire Prevention Week last month at the Oct. 4 council meeting. Residents should practice safety by: installing smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. Approximately twothirds of fire-related deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily. Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet. Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night. Test smoke alarms every month by pressing their test buttons. If your alarms use regular batteries, swap in fresh batteries at least once a year. A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years.
• City Engineer David
Williams updated council on street projects at the Oct. 18 meeting, noting the signal project at Country Vista and Legacy Ridge was mostly completed with road crews putting some final touches on the work.
• Finance Director Kyle Dixon gave a report to council on the city’s third quarter, noting that the ending cash balance was $4 million, down from $6.4 million at the beginning of the year. Dixon said frontloading significant capital projects like the Kramer Overpass has decreased the fund but should be reimbursed by Spokane County through the Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT). On the utility tax side, revenue from the phone portion is down but has been largely offset in other areas like waste disposal, cable, electric and gas.
• City Administrator Mark McAvoy and Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key attended the Inland Northwest Economic Outlook last month, which offered a macro-perspective at the local economy. McAvoy noted that in 2022, for the first time in history, the U.S. had more people exiting than entering the work force. The presentation concluded with a projection that inflation will continue with a mild recession likely on the horizon.
• Library Board Trustee Tim Olsen gave a quarterly report at the Oct. 18 meeting. Checkouts at the library are up over 17 percent while visitors have increased by 36 percent. The library has also added a study room. “This is going to support individual and group study sessions,” Olsen said.
• Dixon gave a report on major sources of revenue for next year. The
city is projecting $5.1 million in sales and use tax revenue in 2023. On the planning and permitting side, the city is anticipating $1.1 million. Real Estate Excise Tax projected at $1.2 million with Dixon describing it as “more of an elastic tax” based on the housing market. When it comes to property tax, the mayor has proposed no increase for 2023. If council opted for the 1 percent hike, it would generate just under $130,000. Property tax revenue in the city is directed to a portion of public safety and library services with the balance coming from the general fund. Property tax brings in just shy of $3 million annually.
• “Light Up Liberty Lake” will make its premiere as a holiday fundraiser this month. Illuminated stars will be on sale at the Liberty Lake Ace Hardware store, 1425 N. Liberty Lake Road, from Nov. 12 to Dec. 15. Proceeds will benefit PTA/ PTO programs at local schools and support families in need. Founder Marla Larson said the stars make a statement “that we are proud of our community, we treat each other with respect and we demonstrate compassion for all.”
• Mayor Cris Kaminskas presented an overview of the 2023 municipal budget on Oct. 4. The address included a summary of 2022, which Kaminskas called “the year for building, not just physical assets but also building and investing in our staff and commissions and rebuilding our community events that had been on a two-year hiatus.” The year began with $1.3 million in the Restricted Reserve Fund and over 350 percent more in the General Fund than required to be compliant. Additions to city staff this year included a
city administrator, city planner, communications specialist, a facilities lead position and more police officers. “To all our city employees, I thank you for your dedication and hard work to keep Liberty Lake running smoothly and looking great,” Kaminskas said. The mayor proposed a zero percent increase in property tax for 2023. The rate this year has been $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Kaminskas brought up the idea of reconvening both the Youth Commission and the Civil Service Commission and forming a Citizens Academy to help residents better understand their local government. “I can’t begin to say how proud I am to be a member of this community,” the mayor said. “As I looked over the list of events that took place in 2022, I was reminded that everything that happens here is because we have amazing volunteer groups and amazing individuals who contribute all year to make Liberty Lake what it is. I challenge every one of our residents to get involved, whether it is helping your neighbor shovel snow, joining a nonprofit group or stepping up to fill a seat on one of the city’s many boards and commissions.”
• Police Chief Damon Simmons introduced two additions to the Liberty Lake Police Department on Oct. 4 –Officer Jason Lee and Officer Shane Widman.
• Council approved an amount not to exceed $80,000 for liquid de-icer and granular salt as needed for 2022-23 winter road maintenance.
Each year – typically in concert with the process of installing a budget – the Liberty Lake City Council reviews the pluses and minuses of the utility tax.
This time around, the conversation about removing, or at least reducing, the 3-percent tax on electric and natural gas power, cable TV, phone and garbage collection has ramped up to a new level.
At a workshop on Oct. 18, Finance Director Kyle Dixon walked the governing board through an array of numbers that showed what various transitions to the tax would mean to the city’s Streets Fund, the beneficiary of utility tax revenue since 2013. Over the last decade, the tax has generated $831,986 in average annual income.
The city is considering four options regarding the tax, starting with leaving it at 3 percent on all five utilities. The second alternative would be to remove cable and garbage collection, resulting in an anticipated revenue decrease of $170,000.
The third scenario would involve reducing the rate on all five utilities to 2 percent, translating to a dip of $280,000. The final option would drop the rate to 2.5 percent, decreasing revenue by $140,000.
Council Member Wendy Van Orman was serving as mayor when the utility tax was first introduced in 2011 at a rate of 6 percent to counteract revenue losses brought about by the housing collapse and general economic malaise of the Great Recession. She told her fellow council members at the workshop that the move could be compared to the income tax increase in place nationwide during World War I to fund the American military effort.
When the war ended, the tax went away. Van Orman said the economic conditions over the past several years have made the utility tax obsolete.
“There’s no reason we should have a tax in there when we are fully capable of sustaining our services with what we have in the budget,” Van Orman said. “There’s no reason when we had $5.5 million in excess last year. We don’t need the utility tax. Have it on board if you need it in the future but you don’t need it as a tax for the future.”
Mayor Cris Kaminskas pointed out that the surplus could be attributed in part to funds that were accumulated between 2020 and 2021 when the city was cutting costs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and potential revenue losses.
There was considerable talk around the dais of looking out for residents who have difficulty covering the tax on a fixed budget or other circumstances. Elderly, lowincome residents and those with disabilities are eligible for a utility tax rebate each year.
“If we can reduce something, let’s start by helping those who don’t have the ability to make more money,” said Council Member Tom Sahlberg.
Kaminskas was among those who mentioned publicizing the rebate option more effectively in order for eligible residents to reduce the impact on their respective household budgets.
“We need to a better job about citizens being able to get a rebate on those taxes,” the mayor said.
Council Member Chris Cargill stressed that the council that initially passed the tax said it would be a temporary safeguard for a budget shortfall that could threaten municipal services.
“Let’s go back to what the council said about this being ‘a temporary fix,’” Cargill said. “We promised that this was going to be temporary. We should follow through on that promise. This is also impacting working families dealing with huge inflationary pressures right now.”
While many cities charge the maximum rate of 6 percent on utilities, Liberty Lake has maintained among the lowest rates.
“Other cities are maxing out what they collect for utility tax,” said Council Member Jed Spencer. “We’re using half of that. Right now, it looks like it’s serving a purpose for our community.”
Since 2013, revenue from the city of Liberty Lake’s utility tax has been dedicated to the Streets Fund and projects like the one on Appleway pictured above. The tax was originally instituted in 2011 as a way to offset revenue loss due to ripple effects of the Great Recession. Now, City Council is considering eliminating or decreasing the tax with the latest discussion coming at a workshop on Oct. 18.
Cargill pointed out that one of the exceptions is Liberty Lake’s neighbor to the west, Spokane Valley, which only utilizes the tax on one utility – phone service at 6 percent.
“What is our competitive advantage over the city of Spokane Valley when we’re charging 3 percent on everything and they’re charging 6 percent on one?” Cargill said.
The tax in Liberty Lake applies to both residences and businesses. Several council members pointed out that the mechanism makes it possible to collect revenue for the Streets Fund from companies that use municipal roads. The average expenditures from the Streets Fund over the past 10 years check in at $825,457. The city also benefits to the tune of around $200,000 annually from state-shared revenue toward road maintenance.
Mayor Pro Tem Phil Folyer brought a visual aid – his own utility bills from the preceding month – to make a point about what the city collects on the residential side. Folyer’s total came to $26.95 paid in utility tax for the month.
“I have a suspicion that most of the revenue comes from the
businesses,” Folyer said. “A Huntwood (Cabinets) bill for example, I can’t imagine what they pay for power.”
Echoing others around the dais, Folyer said he appreciated the dedicated revenue stream toward roads.
“I like the fact that it all goes to streets and nothing else,” Folyer said.
Council Member Annie Kurtz expressed concern that no concrete plan had been proposed to fund street maintenance if the utility tax goes away. Ideas like a golf tab tax has been mentioned in passing.
“I don’t know if removing this tax and putting in another one removes the problem,” Kurtz said. “I haven’t heard a replacement plan to fully fund the roads.”
By the end of the workshop, no consensus on the future of the utility tax had been reached. The mayor pointed out that if council does not reach a decision before the 2023 budget is approved, “the utility tax can be changed at any time.”
Any decrease or elimination of the tax would take 60 days to implement following a council vote.
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
In 1907, Aubrey White – the first president of Spokane’s inaugural Park Board – made an inquiry with Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects of Brookline, Massachusetts.
White got word that one of the founders of the firm, John Olmsted, was making trips west to consult with cities about designs for urban parks. The Olmsted name was a national brand by then, thanks in large part to Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., recognized as the father of American landscape architecture and innovator behind projects like
Central Park in New York City, the U.S. Capitol grounds and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
John and his stepbrother, Fredrick Olmsted Jr. had carried on the family legacy by establishing their own firm that took on ambitious projects throughout the country. In their spare time, they became founding members of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
John Olmsted accepted Spokane’s invitation and tackled the challenge with characteristic helpings of ambition and creativity. The team scoured Spokane’s undeveloped riverfront acreage, bluffs and forests, eventually proposing a master plan for greenspace in 1908 that would include four large parks, five smaller parks and 11 playfields. Well-known sites like Downriver Park, Finch Arboretum and Manito Park all bear the Olmsted trademark to this day.
A year after Olmsted presented his blueprint to the city of Spokane, another park cropped up to the
east in a bucolic community known as Liberty Lake. The Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad – which built an electrified rail line in 1903 to transport crowds from Spokane to the shores of Liberty Lake – made a significant capital investment in establishing Liberty Lake Park. The railroad promoted the site as “Spokane’s Inland Seashore” chock full of recreational opportunities like boating, fishing and swimming.
These days, public access to Liberty Lake has dwindled to a boat launch and Liberty Lake Regional Park, a sprawling 50-acre site that is part of a 3,600-acre property featuring a pair of conservation areas and off-road vehicle park. Each year, Liberty Lake Regional Park draws around 300, 000 visitors, according to Paul Knowles, Spokane County’s Parks Planning, Development and Real Estate manager.
Knowles was in college when he first heard about the impact of the Olmsted family on his field. He counts the biography of Frederick Law Olmsted as a favorite read.
Known for his skill at leveraging the Conservation Futures program to secure thousands of acres in Spokane County for trails and natural space, Knowles is part of a team working on an overhaul of Liberty Lake Regional Park that is slated to begin construction next year.
“This project is really just catching up to the heavy summer use we see at this park every year,” Knowles said.
Buoyed by an anonymous $50,000 grant in 2015 to kickstart the design of upgrades to the park, Spokane County has gathered public input and secured $2 million for the first phase of the project with just over $1 million coming from the Real Estate Excise Tax and $906,000 through a grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
The renovation blueprint for the first phase is around 30 percent complete, Knowles said. The plan includes a new loading and unloading area near the lake for canoes, paddleboards and kayaks,
improvements to the parking area that currently consists of an unmarked gravel lot and ADAcompliant parking that is closer to the lake. A new restroom and dock are also in the mix as are a picnic shelter and smaller shade structures.
“That dock is really undersized for the amount of use it gets,” Knowles said. “This is going to add linear feet.”
Bernardo Wills Architects, a familiar name in Liberty Lake development circles, will provide the design oversight on the park’s master plan.
Based on future funding, other phases could bring improvements like replacing the antiquated ranger station with a building that could be used for community events, paving a portion of the road that leads into the park and installing a new boardwalk to replace the park’s signature version that is no longer functional.
“That’s going to better connect visitors to the wetlands,” Knowles said.
Also on the wish list is sprucing up an aging picnic shelter and modifying the campground area to create separate sections for tents and RVs.
Knowles said the goal is to gather bids on the project by next spring and begin construction by the end of August when park use begins to decline. Phase one could be completed by spring of 2024. The park remains open year-round but only operates as a full-service site from late April to early October.
“We’re trying to balance out both worlds, between public use and construction season,” Knowles said.
Another greenspace to the west Construction has already transformed at least part of another well-used recreational landmark in Liberty Lake as crews upgraded the parking lot at Trailhead this summer, the first phase of a project that will bring a spacious clubhouse to the city-owned golf course.
As parking spots narrowed from close to 80 down to 20, golfers were not dissuaded. Many parked next door at Safeway and carried their clubs across the street. At one point, there was no on-site parking available for four days. The pro shop now consists of a trailer that
actually represents a slight increase in space over the old space. The final layout will feature 117 parking spots.
Piles of dirt and fragments of asphalt have also not had an effect on revenue at Trailhead. From Jan. 1 to Oct. 17, the course generated $914,000, up $7,000 over last season’s record-setting total.
Joey Toews of Architects West – the design team for Trailhead –said he’s been impressed by public interest in the project, starting with an open house in May where attendees leaned heavily toward an expanded, more expensive version of the clubhouse. Feedback received later at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market, although not as heavily weighted in favor of the higher price tag, still showed the majority supporting a blueprint with added amenities.
“They needed something new and the worst thing you can do is build a building that you’re going to outgrow in a few years,” Toews said.
In September, City Council approved an expenditure of $7,295,000 toward Trailhead 2.0. At the same meeting, an ordinance proposing the issuance of $7 million in general obligation bonds was given the green light by council. The balance will be addressed by $300,000 from the Golf Operations Fund.
Toews points out that the facility – which will feature a restaurant, community room, golf simulators and pro shop – will be the first new building the city has invested in
since incorporating in 2001. Other municipal sites like the library, police precinct and City Hall are housed in structures renovated to fit the new respective purposes.
The old clubhouse spanned 7,500 square feet while the new footprint covers nearly 12,000 square feet. The community room will take up 1,500 square feet and have capacity for 100.
“This facility is not just for people who golf,” Toews said. “This will offer something for everyone.”
The old building came down Oct. 6 and Bouten Construction has wasted no time since, starting on an ambitious timeline slated to have the building ready by next July.
“It’s a super-fast schedule,” Toews said.
Tanner Peterson, project manager with Bouten, said the construction agenda includes utilization of the existing three-sided concrete foundation walls. The plan is to establish the footings, foundation and floor slabs, then construct the wood frame.
“By the end of this year, you’ll start to see a structure,” Peterson said.
In the meantime, it’s business as usual at Trailhead as the course adds on to a record-setting season. Warm autumn temperatures have meant a steady stream of reservations while the driving range offers 14 practice cubicles, including 10 covered and five heated stations. It’s part of a layout that has long been billed as the region’s only year-round golf facility.
When David Williams began as Liberty Lake’s city engineer last October, the Kramer Parkway Overpass was high on the capital project priority list.
The ambitious design included a bridge to connect the southern section of Liberty Lake between Country Vista and Mission with the neighborhoods to the north while also adding a new traffic light and roundabout.
A year later, the structural rebuild of Kramer Road and roundabout are essentially done while the overpass itself is still a work in progress.
“It’s over halfway done, I’d say around 55 percent,” Williams said.
Timeline for completion of the bridge is late summer or early fall of 2023, according to Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key. The span is expected to relieve congestion at the Harvard Road Bridge and provide a welcome link between the established part of Liberty Lake and burgeoning community on the north side, including popular areas like the River District and Trutina.
Key uses the word “bifurcated” when describing the effect Interstate 90 has on dividing the city’s two sectors.
“Kramer will create connectivity, help disperse traffic and make more of a grid system,” Key said. “This will be probably the most critical piece of infrastructure the city has, short of the Harvard Road Bridge.”
Work has been delayed after a girder fell on one of the retaining walls last month, requiring repairs. The city is contributing $6 million to the project’s $12.8 million cost as part of an agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The city acquired the rightof-way for the project prior to managing the design portion. Funds for the city’s portion of the bridge bill will come from the Harvard Road Mitigation Fund and TIF (Tax Increment Financing) and LIFT (Local Infrastructure Financing Tool).
“I think it’s going to significantly change travel patterns,” Key said. “As soon as we open this up, the benefits are going to be apparent immediately.”
On October 12, 2022 at Ridgeline High School and October 13, 2022 at East Valley High School, students of those school asked candidates questions they have developed over the last several weeks. At the conclusion of the event all candidates were given a one minute opportunity to address the community in attendance. With the assistance of the Spokane County Elections Office we then held a mock election to give students the opportunity to experience the entire process. These are the results of that election.
U.S. Senator
Patty Murray 61%
Tiffany Smiley 39%
Congressional District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers 44%
Natasha Hill 56%
Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs 40%
Julie Anderson 60%
Leg. Dist. 4 Rep. 1
Ted Cummings 46%
Suzanne Schmidt 54%
Leg. Dist. 4 Rep. 2
Rob Chase 25%
Leonard Christian 75%
Spokane County Commissioner Dist. 3
Josh Kerns 91%
Wild Bill Schreiner 9%
Spokane County Commissioner Dist. 4
Mary Kuney 69%
Brian Noble 31%
Spokane County Auditor
Vicky Dalton 77%
Bob McCaslin 23%
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Haskell 32%
Deb Conklin 68%
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels 61%
Wade Nelson 39%
District Court Judge 3
Jenny Zappone 85%
Eric Dooyema 15%
District Court Judge 6
Deanna Crull 68%
Andrew Biviano 32%
Thank you to the students and staff at both Ridgeline High School and East Valley High School for their hard work on these events. We look forward to working with you again next year!
3211 & 3211AP
WHAT: Central Valley School District Board has invited school principals to discuss how the Transgender Policy has affected their schools. Please come learn what is happening in your children’s schools. Other subjects may be addressed.
DATE: Monday, November 14, 2022 TIME: 6:30 PM ADDRESS: 2218 N Molter Rd, Liberty Lake, WA
Paid for by: A Washington 501c3
Oct 29 | HUB Drive in Move
Double Header - 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. HUB Sports Center. HUB Sports Center is taking you back to the good old days! 6.p.m. show featuring Coco Sponsored by Greenstone Homes and Hocus Pocus at 8:30 p.m. $25 per movie per carload (carload = number of seatbelts in car) and is recommended to be purchased ahead of time at https://www. hubsportscenter.org/drive-inmovies/
Oct 31 | Tunk or Treat – 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Legacy Church, 23129 E Mission Ave. Legacy Church will be hosting a free trunk or treat event for the community.
Nov 1 | KiDDs Dental Candy Buyback – 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. KiDDs Dental, 1327 N Stanford Ln. Bring your Halloween candy to KiDDs Dental and received $1 for every pound of candy.
Nov 5 | Annual Heritage Program Fundraiser: Out of the Gravel, The Business of History – 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N Discovery Place. Join the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum for the 18th Annual Heritage Program presented by Jayne Singleton, Spokane Valley Historian. Admission is $20, for more information visit spokanevalleymuseum.com or call 509-922-4570.
ACT 2 Senior Classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are
offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area. For more, search for “Act 2” at scc.spokane.edu.
Catholic Singles Mingle | Meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www.meetup.com/CatholicSingles-Mingle.
Liberty Lake Library | 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club, and more. More at www.libertylakewa.gov/library
Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org.
Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. More at scld.org.
Spokane Falls Needlework Guild | 12 p.m.-3 p.m. first Thursday of the month at Senior Center at Mirabeau. Open to anyone who enjoys cross stitch, embroidery, needlepoint and other needlework arts. For more information, contact Chris Baldini at 509-993-8971. Hope to see you!
Toastmasters, Liberty Lakers
#399 | 5:45 to 7 p.m., 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, we are currently meeting online only. RSVP to get the link on www.libertylakers. org. This is a speaking and leadership development club.
Nov 5 & 6 | Central Valley Marching Band Craft Fair – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central Valley High School, 821 S Sullivan Rd. The CVMB Craft Fair is not just a craft event, it’s a shopping party! Shop CVMB Craft Fair at Central Valley High School for one-of-a-kind hand boutiques, handmade items, baked goods, and specialty small businesses from Spokane Valley, WA. Admission is $2
Nov 12 & 13 | Ridgeline Band Booster’s First Annual Fall Craft Fair – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ridgeline High School, 20150 E Country Vista Dr. Come get a jump start on your holiday shopping while supporting the Ridgeline Band Program. Admission is $2
Nov 17, 18, 19 | Ridgeline Theatre Production “You Can’t Take It With You” -- at Ridgeline High School Theatre. The son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development. Frank Capra
Nov 18, 19, 20 | Custers Christmas Arts and Crafts Show – various times. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N Havana. Featuring NW artisans, fine art, hand craft, and
specialty foods. Admission $8 visit custershows.com for more information.
Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, rehearsals at Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 866-6354.
Nov 11 | Free Dentistry for Veterans – 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Spokane Family Dental, 1222 N Pines. Must be prescreened prior to Veterans Day. For more information visit spokanefamilydental.com or by calling 509-924-0381
Al-Anon Meetings | Mondays, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., Liberty Lake Library. No meetings on holiday Mondays. Is there a problem of alcoholism with a relative or a friend? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. For more information, call 509-4562125.
Al-Anon Family Meetings | Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m., 708 N. Pines, Spokane Valley. Is there a problem of alcoholism with a relative or a friend? Al-Anon/ Alateen family groups can help. For more, call 456-2125.
Veterans Assistance Groups | The Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Eligibility: combat veteran from all eras, military
sexual trauma survivors. For more, call Steve at 893-4746 to make an intake appointment.
DivorceCare Recovery Support Group | Mondays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or eastpointchurch.com.
Drumming for Wellness & JOY! | August, 9:00-9:45am. Drumming in Community serves to “de-stress the body, improve the mood, and allow self-expression.” Just $6 p.p. or bring a friend for a 2/$10 rate. No experience necessary. All instruments provided. For more information: email: carla. carnegie@gmail.com, or call: 509 592 7875. Willow Song Music Therapy Center. E. 21101 Wellesley. #102. Otis Orchards Wa. 99027.
Family and Friends of Addicts | 6 p.m. Wednesdays, The ONE Church, 15601 E. 24th Ave., Spokane Valley. Support group utilizing tools and principles to help navigate relationships with addicts and finding peace, strength and hope. For more, call 590-2422.
HUB Sports Center | 19619 E Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including:
• Pickleball drop-in: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; $4 online, $5 at door. Pre-registered players have priority, limited availability for drop-ins. Clinics held twice a month. For more info www.hubsportscenter.org/ pickleball/
• Classes including Kenpo Karate, Taekwondo and Fit for YOUR Life. See hubsportscenter. org for cost and times.
Liberty Lake Running Club | Meets at Liberty Lake Physical Therapy, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through October. Weekly threemile run/walk. Earn T-shirt after six runs.
Liberty Lake Couples Golf League | Meets at Liberty Lake Golf Course, 10 a.m. Thursdays through September. Open to all levels of golfers, new members are welcome all season. Cost to join is $15 per couple plus green fees. For more email dianerudnick@gmail.com
Military Sobriety Support Group | 10 to 11:30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. For more, call Steve at 893-4746.
Mindful Music & Movement | 1:00-1:50pm Wednesdays, Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 21101 E. Wellesley #102-103, Otis Orchards. All are welcome to this session specifically designed for adults living with chronic health issues. Session addresses physical function, vocal wellness and strength, self-expression, breath work, movement, and increase of mood through music experiences, as facilitated by board-certified music therapist, Carla Carnegie. $10 per person. For more, email carla.carnegie@ gmail.com or call 592-7875.
Nov 2 | CVSD Community Workshop – 6 p.m. at University High School, Commons 12420 E 32nd Ave. We want to hear from you as we begin our Strategic Planning process for the district. What can CVSD do better to ensure all students have the support they need to thrive? The future is in all our hands. Let’s make it the best – together. For more information email communications@cvsd.org
Nov 3 | CVSD Community
Workshop – 6 p.m. at Ridgeline High School, Library 20150 E Country Vista Dr. We want to hear from you as we begin our Strategic Planning process for the district. What can CVSD do better to ensure all students have the support they need to thrive? The future is in all our hands. Let’s make it the best –together. For more information email communications@cvsd. org
Nov 10 | CVSD Community Conversation – 6 p.m. at Selkirk Middle School, 1409 N Harvest Parkway. These events are an opportunity for twoway conversations with your School Board Directors and Superintendent John Parker in an open house format. Join us as we talk about our upcoming plans and hear your feedback
about what you want to see for our students in the future as part of our upcoming fiveyear strategic plan. For more information visit cvsd.org/ communityconversations
Central Valley School Board | 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 2218 N Molter Road
Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive
Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission | 4 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive
Liberty Lake Community Engagement Commission | 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E.
Country Vista Drive
Liberty Lake Kiwanis | 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Liberty Lake Portal Building, 23403 E Mission Ave.
Friends of Liberty Lake Municipal Library | 1 p.m. the last Thursday of each month, Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave.
Liberty Lake Lions Club | 5:30 p.m. every second and forth Thursday of each month at Barlow’s Restaurant, 1428 N. Liberty Lake Road. Please join us!
Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club | Noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday at the Meadowwood Technology Campus, 24021 E. Mission Ave. For more, visit LibertyLakeRotary.org.
Liberty Lake Merchants Association | 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Liberty Lake Portal, 23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite
120. For more, call 999-4935.
Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 1:00 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave or via Zoom.
Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.
Liberty Lake SCOPE | 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.
Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.
Submit items for The Splash Community Calendar by the 15th of the previous month by emailing editor@ libertylakesplash.com. Priority is given to noncommercial local events open to the public.
Talia Emmerson is a proud part of Ridgeline High School’s inaugural senior class after helping to establish a foundation for Falcon Nation as a junior last year. She maintains a 3.97 grade point average, is part of National Honor Society and also competes in DECA, a business and marketing club. In her first two years at Central Valley, Emmerson participated in varsity volleyball and track and field. Last year, she contributed to a strong Ridgeline volleyball effort that missed state by a mere five points. In track, Emmerson was a standout in throws, earning All Greater Spokane League first team honors in the javelin with a personal record of 123.9 feet. She also competed in the discus and shotput. Emmerson was recently named a recipient of the Washington State University Regents Scholarship. She would like to pursue a degree in nursing.
Brandon Thomas has been the epitome of courage as a studentathlete at Central Valley High School. As a sophomore linebacker, he was named to the All Greater Spokane League first team. In the spring of 2020, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and, that May, had his right foot amputated just above the ankle. After taking the following season off to rehabilitate, Thomas returned to the field in 2021, earning All GSL Honorable Mention. This year, he has been a pillar of the Bears’ defense, collecting 82 tackles, including 20 for losses. He returned an interception for a touchdown in a win against Cheney. Thomas maintains a 3.7 grade point average as a Running Start student and is part of the Leadership program. In track, Thomas won state in the shotput (42.45 feet) and the 100 meters (13.91 seconds) – both meet records.
Marla Larson is known for her positive energy, ever-present smile and commitment to community causes. The longtime Liberty Lake resident was a teacher and counselor in the Central Valley School District for 30 years. She has her degree in education and a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling. She is a supporter of Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and a volunteer with Lumen High School. She is part of a philanthropic educational organization that provides scholarships to local female students. Marla and her husband Steve have lived near the shores of Liberty Lake for 35 years. They have three grown children and six grandkids with a seventh on the way. She is the founder of two community events – the Fourth of July Boat Parade, which began in 2020 and Light Up Liberty Lake, a holiday fundraiser that will benefit local families in need.
Thanks you for all you do in our community
&
brought to you by
Deborah Finck has had a vision for decades, a vision of a neighborhood designed for parents with children with developmental disabilities that is as comforting and supportive as an extended family.
But it hasn’t stayed a dream. She formed a board of directors for her non-profit organization in 2013 and has been working steadily to bring her dream to life ever since. The name of the organization is Ohana, which means “family” in Hawaiian. “We all had a lot of work to do to imagine how this would come about,” she said.
Now Finck, who serves as Ohana’s executive director, is coming tantalizingly close to realizing her dream. She’s currently looking for land on which to build her specially designed development and has narrowed her search to the Liberty Lake area.
“We found that my very own home of Liberty Lake has one of the most welcoming jurisdictions for innovative communities,” she said.
Finck’s dream was rooted in her own personal experience. Her son Jonathan has profound autism and is non-verbal, but is very social. Like many parents, Finck worried about the isolation her son’s condition can cause and what would happen to him after she and her husband were gone. So she set out to plan a small neighborhood where people would look out for one another.
“We just knew we didn’t want our loved ones to lose their parents and their family and their
community,” she said. “What we didn’t know about creating a neighborhood is that we’d have to become developers.”
They tried to partner with developers, but everything fell through so Finck forged ahead. For the last two years she’s been working with designers and families and health care providers to design a neighborhood that fosters community and belonging.
The neighborhood would have a mix of housing designs available, including homes and apartments offering independent living, co-living and supportive living. Finck said she is thinking of a co-housing model like the one that exists in the Perry neighborhood in Spokane. She would like to see 55 or 60 units offering housing for about 150 people, with four pocket neighborhoods surrounding a central zone where people who need assistance will live.
Ohana has a long residential interest list of those who have expressed an interest in living in the neighborhood once it is built. That didn’t surprise her, but what
did surprise her is that many of those people don’t have children with developmental disabilities. Some are even seniors. “So many people find this type of community is for them,” she said. “I think that surprised me. I thought it would all be people like me.”
But Finck said she’s thrilled about the interest in the project. “We want a diverse community with a variety of backgrounds,” she said.
Having diversity in the neighborhood can also help people learn how to interact with people with disabilities, Finck said. She’s watched her own neighbors struggle with how to interact with her son. Finck said they’re great neighbors, but just didn’t have any experience in interacting with someone with her son’s disability.
Going out in public can often cause issues for children with some developmental disabilities and the reaction to that for many people is to pull away, Finck said. “That pain often causes families to withdraw,” she said. “Whole families are isolated when there’s
someone with disabilities.”
The project needs roughly 7.7 acres of land to proceed, but it could be slightly smaller if necessary. Finck has identified several parcels in Liberty Lake that might be suitable. “It’s not easy to find properly zoned land in a jurisdiction that has a planning department that really wants to work with a new model of community living,” she said.
Her son is now 27 and has had to move into a group home in Spokane Valley because she and her husband, both in their 70s, could no longer provide the around the clock care he required for his autism and other health problems. But they visit often and take him to Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church every Sunday. Finck said he gets the hugs and attention he craves from members of the congregation who have known him for years.
It is an example of a community connection that can be a part of their son’s life even once they die, Finck said, and something that she hopes will be a part of the Ohana project. “They’ll be here when we’re not,” she said.
So far Ohana has received $1 million in donations to be used to purchase land. Some large donors have stepped forward, but there have also been plenty of small donors. Finck said there is one man who has been sending $5 every month since 2013. He has autism and has no family and wants to live in the neighborhood when it is finished, so he sends what he can afford, she said.
“This is an isolation no one can fix themselves,” she said. “We have to do it together.”
The goal is to purchase land for Ohana by March and then start to build using a mix of loans, grants and private donations to pay for it. “We’re moving as quickly as we can,” she said. “We have the interested partners. If we can find the workers, we think we can be on the ground in 18 to 24 months.”
By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor
In the wake of four narrow losses to some of the area’s best teams, Hudson Dayton echoed the sentiments of his Central Valley teammates:
“We could very easily be 7-0,” said the senior receiver. “We’ve really been one possession away from winning all those games.”
The Bears started out the season with three straight victories, rolling over Ridgeline, 33-0, in the opener on Sept. 2 before hammering Lewis and Clark, 38-7, a week later. In that game, senior quarterback Dylan Gravelle completed 14 of 21 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns while also scampering for 97 yards on 10 carries.
A 17-0 victory over Cheney followed on Sept. 23, vaulting CV to the top spot in the Greater Spokane League and prompting talk of a significant post-season run. On the Bears’ first defensive stand, senior linebacker Brandon Thomas picked off a Cheney pass attempt and promptly returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
“I was just watching the quarterback and saw where he threw it,” Thomas said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Senior running back Zac Abshire led the Bears on the ground against the Blackhawks with 104 yards.
Central Valley traveled to Moses Lake on Sept. 23 for a nonconference matchup with the Mavericks from the Columbia Basin Big 9. A Bears’ defense that
had stymied offenses in the first three games gave up 358 yards in a 25-22 overtime loss.
CV resumed league play on Sept. 30 against Mead. Despite another stellar effort by Gravelle – 19-of-35 for 244 yards – the Bears fell 21-17 as the Panthers scored the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute left in the game. Dayton led the Central Valley receiving corps with nine catches for 127 yards.
At the start of the year, CV head coach Ryan Butner had visions of his team pulling away from the GSL crowd.
“I truly believed we could be a bit of a dark horse and run the table in our league,” he said. “Injuries have impacted our ability to be consistent.”
CV visited Mt. Spokane on Oct. 7 with the beginning of the game closely resembling the Bears’ electric start against Cheney. On the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, senior defensive end Aiden Labrosse stepped in front of a slant pass and returned it 20 yards for the game’s initial score. After Mt. Spokane found the endzone, Gravelle connected with Dayton for a 68-yard touchdown throw to put CV up 14-7.
The Bears went up 28-14 shortly before halftime when Kaden Harkin hauled in a 12yard toss from Gravelle. CV’s offense sputtered in the second half while the Wildcats scored two touchdowns to send the game to overtime. Ethan Keene’s 1-yard plunge proved to be the difference in a 35-28 Mt. Spokane victory.
The defeat was aggravated by an injury to Abshire, CV’s top rusher and co-captain, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Other key Bears have been sidelined this season with the same prognosis, including starting linemen Caden Priebe,
See SPORTS, Page 29
penalties on property tax. Previously we had worked together successfully in the Spokane Country Treasurer’s Office to allow partial payments of any amount at any time. Coupled with HB 1410 sponsored by Rep. Volz which passed unanimously we culminated a ten year effort to help distressed tax payers.
Community and Economic Development CommitteeRanking member we made long strides to get broadband Internet out to rural areas of Washington State for work, school, and healthcare.
Children, Youth, FamilyRanking member overseeing Juvenile Justice, Foster Care, and Early Learning we worked to help youth to overcome present day challenges while endeavoring to maintain fiscal responsibility to tax payers.
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By Ashley Humbird Splash contributor
Fifteen months ago, the Ridgeline Regiment marching band had their first practice on a new field at a new school. Ridgeline High School had officially opened for students and they were welcoming Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen. The marching band had an original group of about 70 students join the program under the leadership of experienced director of instrumental music Eric Parker.
Eric began his band career over twenty years ago and before helping create the Ridgeline music department, he was the band director at Central Valley High School where he taught both band class and marching band. He led the Central Valley marching band to great success and when the opportunity came to help create a new band department, he welcomed the challenge.
While talking about the first year of marching band for the Ridgeline Regiment Eric reminisces, “it was a lot of fun to start from scratch. We had a lot of success and we finished
first in our first competition and then we finished second in our other two competitions.”
On a crisp chilly autumn evening it would be easy to forget that this marching band did not exist just a short 15 months ago when watching the marching band perform their 2022 fall marching show, Birds Set Free, for the community. Since then, they have won awards across the state both this fall and the previous fall. This year they have been named Grand Champions at three of their competitions including Washington State University’s Marching Band Championships, Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships, and Cavalcade of Bands in Kennewick.
Since the marching band is a newer program, they have yet to acquire a trailer to haul their musical instruments in. They are working with the band booster club to raiser funds to purchase a trailer. This past summer the Liberty Lake City Council donated $100,000 to the band department towards the fundraiser for an equipment trailer; they are now over two-thirds of the way through their fund-raising goal. At this point, the Regiment marching band is the only school in the Spokane area that does not have a trailer to allow safe and reliable transport of their instrument when traveling to and from marching band competitions.
The Ridgeline Regiment’s Birds
Set Free show has many unique moments. It started with the simple idea with the theme of birds was suggested by James Hienes, one of the marching bands coaches. Since the school’s mascot is a falcon, this was a fitting theme. Eric and his team began coming up with ideas that would tell the story of birds through music. It features opera music and minimalistic music style.
With knowing who would be in the 2022 marching band, Eric was able to showcase students that would add a unique touch to the show. One such talented student plays multiple saxophones and switches instruments numerous times throughout the show. He smoothly transitions from the alto saxophone and the soprano saxophone. Another student who plays the trumpet joins the color guard and dances gracefully with the ladies in brightly colored dance costumes while wearing the bold green marching band uniform.
Junior Alma Mc Donald plays both the clarinet and bass clarinet during the show. “I really love the whole community and how many friends I’ve been able to develop.”
“I’m like a proud dad with these kids,” Principal Jesse Hardt shares, “being able to be a part, even from a distance, of their success is super satisfying.” Principal Hardt tries to attend as many performances as he can. Riding up on his Harley on warm days to watch his Ridgeline
Falcons express their talents through music during both practices and performances.
While preforming their marching band show, the unity, fellowship, and bonds that the students have built during their two years at Ridgeline High School is an incredible sight to witness. The joy that the senior drum major Owen Rich brings to the field is electrifying. He moves with the beat, and shows passion while directing his fellow students.
“I’ve made friends with all of the band. I know all of the kids and they know me. I love everyone in the band!” he shares about his time in the Ridgeline Regiment marching band. “Being a drum major isn’t something you get to do every day. There’s little check points, that’s what I call them, in the music that if we hit I go ‘Oh that was really crisp!’ I just feel empowered!!”
The Ridgeline Regiment drum major encourages future students by saying, “All I can say is, do marching band. You’ll love it!”
Friday, October 28th will see the Ridgeline Regiment takes their first overnight marching band competition trip to Hillsboro, Oregon. They will participate in the Century Showcase on Saturday, October 29th 2022 at 1:24pm. If you missed watching a performance of their Birds Set Free marching band show this fall, you can stay up to date on future performances on their website ridgelinebands.org.
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ben Wick
ben@libertylakesplash.com
CO OWNER Danica Wick danica@libertylakesplash.com
CIRCULATION Larry Passmore circulation@libertylakesplash.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Nina Culver, Craig Howard, Ashley Humbird
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Carter Albertson and Richie McSwain.
“Our depth was decent at the beginning of the season but it’s been dwindling,” said Butner.
Despite the string of downto-the-wire defeats, Butner said he has been encouraged by his team’s sustained effort.
“They’re playing hard,” he said. “It’s just a matter of conveying to our guys that they are still a good team. We’re playing these tough teams really close and are just a play or two away.”
CV’s string of close losses reached four after dropping a 28-21 home tilt to Gonzaga Prep on Oct. 14. After trailing 14-0 at half, the Bears roared back on the strength of three touchdown passes by Gravelle. The Bullpups eventually secured the win on the strength of their traditional ground game led Lilomaiava Mikaela who pounded out 150 yards on 27 carries.
“Those four losses have been demoralizing but also uplifting in another way, just knowing that we’ve played really good teams like Gonzaga Prep tough,” said Dayton who had eight catches for 114 yards against G-Prep. “We don’t get down on ourselves. The offense is always picking up the defense and the defense is always picking up the offense.”
Thomas – who sat out the 2020 season after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma and having his right foot amputated just above the ankle – speaks with a unique level of experience when it comes to the topic of resilience.
“It’s been frustrating but you have to learn from it and grow as a team,” Thomas said of the Bears’ four-game slide. “We just have to focus on our opponent and give it our all.”
Thomas has been making the most of his final season, compiling 82 tackles, including 20 for losses, three forced fumbles and an interception. He missed the Moses Lake game with a fractured thumb.
“Brandon’s having an incredible year,” said Butner.
“He brings so much intensity, enthusiasm and leadership.”
On the offensive side, Gravelle has seamlessly replaced Luke Abshire – now at Montana State – as CV’s field general. The senior began his prep career as a quarterback, transitioned to wide receiver, then moved back to signal caller upon Abshire’s graduation.
“It’s pretty dynamic in terms of what he’s able to of doing, whether it’s passing or running,” Butner said. “He’s an athlete back there.”
Butner, who played football at CV and graduated in 1996, received some words of wisdom recently from his old coach Rick Giampietri who led the Bears to a 4A state title in 1997 with Butner on the sidelines as a volunteer coach.
“He said, ‘Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen,’” Butner said. “He reminded me that every team is 0-0 when you start the postseason, that the regular season doesn’t really matter at that point. It just depends on the way the ball bounces.”
The Bears controlled the ball and the line of scrimmage in a 35-0 drubbing of Ferris on Oct. 21. Gravelle threw for 264 yards and five touchdowns, including two to Dayton who moved into a tie for eighth on the all-time GSL single season reception list with 50. He is also 76 yards away from joining the league’s top 10 single-season yardage club. The CV defense held the Saxons to 100 total yards.
CV’s victory combined with Lewis and Clark’s loss to U-Hi clinched the No. 2 seed on the 4A GSL side for the Bears. They will host Kamiakin from the Mid-Columbia Conference in a crossover playoff game on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
“The team played hard as always and we got back to our style of defense,” Butner said of the Ferris win. “We’re playing well right now given the number of injuries we’ve sustained. Once we get to the post-season, if our confidence is high and we’re playing well, we could make a dent.”
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The saying goes that a dog is man’s best friend. But in the case of a Liberty Lake eleven-year-old resident, a dog is a girl’s best friend.
Vivienne Edminster is a full of life 6th grader that has become the youngest to Junior Handler to win a national stake [for bird dog hunting] that was held in Peck, ID this past summer. Her journey started many years ago while most children are still toddling around.
Angie and her husband Joel Edminster both grew up in the Pacific Northwest and were hunters at a young age. When they met, and had child of their own, they continued the tradition of both hunting game and bird dog hunting. Angie and Joel have owned bird dogs for several years, and Vivienne grew up going on hunts with her mom, dad, and older sister and brother. Angie recalls that she has pictures of Vivienne holding up pheasants from a successful bird dog hunting day when she was just three years old.
When Vivienne turned nine, she was able to complete her hunter safe course. “She shot a couple quail and grouse and she says, ‘I feel like I need my own bird dog.’” Angie explains.
The family has friends that raise German Wire Hair Pointers in Burns, OR and decided to work
with them to find the perfect puppy for Vivienne to raise to become a bird dog. Vivienne began saving her money to put a deposit down on a puppy. The family had it planned to surprise her that after she handed the breeder her deposit money, he would say “here’s your puppy” and let her pick one out.
In November of 2021 Ichabod, a German Wire Hair Pointer, came home with Vivienne and has been attached at the hip to her ever since. The name Ichabod is a unique one. Vivienne loves to watch the Addams Family, and Wednesday Addams tree is named Ichabod. Like Wednesday Addams, Vivienne too likes things that most girls her age does not. The name also pops up in one of Vivienne’s favorite stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The name fits the dark brown, “ribby” pooch. He is lean, and you can tell just by looking at him that he is faster than the headless horseman and enjoy the hunt.
Once Ichabod came home to Liberty Lake, Vivienne started obedience training with a local trainer. She would take him into the local Home Depot to get he adjusted and use simple commands like sit, stay, come. They progressed to taking him on walks and runs around the community. Vivienne
taught him how to dive into the water to retrieve a rock that she would have thrown from the bank.
He has since spent time with a professional trainer, where he was taught the fundamentals of being a bird dog. After two months of being separated Vivienne and Ichabod were reunited in the spring and the fun began.
Vivienne has competed in Field Trials throughout the spring summer and fall. She trains Ichabod daily and looks to take her bird dog hunting to the next level by hunting with him on a horse. The commands she uses while hunting with Ichabod include “Hey Ick”, a shortened version of Hey Ichabod, for him to stay in range with her. Where the command “All Right” would normally mean nothing to a regular dog, for Ichabod it means to go out further finding the bird. “Attaboy” means to continue going straight and “wowp” means to STOP!
Mara Crowell and her husband are the owners of the Pawpular Companions Pet Supplies in Liberty Lake. She is a proud sponsor and supporter of Vivienne and Ichabod. “We were so impressed by her abilities at such a young age. To be so involved with her dog Ichabod and what she has accomplished today is just great!” Mara shares that they provide training snacks and other items, but they are proud and excited to help sponsor the purchase of a horse for Vivienne, named Greg, that she would be able to ride while she bird dog hunts. “It’s important to us to sponsor young adults in the community!”
The family makes very frequent trips all over the Pacific Northwest to hunt with their dogs. Opening season for pheasants started Oct 21 and the family made the trip down to Kennewick to hunt for the weekend. It was a long weekend that resulted in just one shot from Vivienne’s 20-gauge Mossberg Supermini shotgun,
they were not able to locate it.
“The bird hunting is great because we can all go out as a family,” Angie share about her family with pride in her eyes while having talked about Vivienne and Ichabod. “It is a good walk, and we talk, and we have the dogs. We pack a picnic or a lunch. It’s always fun and the five of us like to do it together. It’s fresh air!”
