A long-term project to provide a stable water supply to Airway Heights is once again back in the funding cycle, albeit with a few change.
City legislative lobbyist Holly Sanabria told the City Council at its April 1 meeting that $14.95 million in funding the city received from federal Covid-19 relief funding and was in danger of losing had been recovered and was available. The money was preserved thanks to changes the city made to a proposed project to provide a new source of water to replace Airway Heights existing sources that have been contaminated by PFAS chemicals leaked into the groundwater from Fairchild Air Force Base firefighting activities.
Originally the city had proposed drilling a new well to draw water from the Spokane Valley / Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. That was would have led to the city losing a much of its water rights on the West Plains. The city was also informed it would lose the $14.95 million in federal funding for the project if the money wasn’t used by the end of the year.
Instead, the city worked with local officials and state legislators on an agreement to receive more water from the city of Spokane while also beefing up its water storage and transmission capacity. The four projects to do this total almost $36.78 million and include construction of two new water storage tanks capable of storing 7.1 million gallons, a new water transmission main and a new booster pump station.
Airway Heights’ portion of these projects totals almost $15.1 million, with the $14.95 million in secured funding factored into the expenses.
Shelter replacement, new police investigator
Also at the April 1 meeting, the council unanimously approved resolutions maintaining and replacing picnic shelters and structures at Martella Park along with a measure to hire a full time investigator for the Police Department.
The council awarded a $309,643.51 contract to Bosco Construction, LLC to replace the roofs of shelters 2 and 3 along with residing the city’s storage shed at the park. The bid for this was $174,037.50, however an addendum to replace the entire shelter 1 was also included in the bid packet.
This will be done through Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc. at a cost of $135,085.81. The city has received a $100,000 grant from the state’s Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities (COAF) program to help with the project costs.
Parks & Recreation Director JC Kennedy said the have 60 days to complete the project per the grant’s requirement.
“Time is our biggest enemy at this point, but it’s a pretty straightforward project,” Kennedy said.
Council approved a request by Police Chief Brad Richmond to begin addressing some of the department’s lagging personnel needs by hiring a fulltime detective corporal investigator. The cost for the position will be $120,000 a year, which City Manager Albert Tripp said would be covered by redirecting funds currently going to a city debt service, which is sent to end soon.
A 2022 Police Safety Assessment study concluded the department needs to hire the investigator, four fulltime patrol officers, four additional police vehicles and a contract grant project manager in 2024 – 2025. The city has made no changes to its law enforcement needs since 2019, but has seen yearly call volumes rise from 9,223 that year to 21,519 in 2023, with 4,364 calls for service already received in 2024.
Richmond told the council the city has 37 active cases it is investigation — a number recently added to by a homicide and reported child assault over the last couple of weeks. Of these cases, 54% involve child molestation / assault, requiring 120 man-hours to investigate.
City approves new surplus property sales, utility agreements
At the March 18 meeting, the council passed the second reading of Ordinance C-1021, which would change how the city conducts its sales of surplus property. The proposed changes allow staff to dispose of any personal property whose value is $0 by “the most efficient means possible.” Personal property valued less than $25,000 but greater than $0 can be sold without council approval.
Personal property greater than $25,000 must receive council approval to be appraised and sold. The means of any personal property sales are left the City Manager or a designee.
All real property would still require council approval for appraisal and sale.
Council also approved agreements accepting state Department of Ecology funding for two projects: a water reuse system and storage expansion and the Southside Sewer projects. The two are actually four projects grouped into two funding pots.
The agreements, totaling just over $1.135 million, allow for the design and engineering of the four projects along with a wastewater facilities plan, water reclamation plant SCADA and membrane upgrades.
Other action items and ordinances
Council also approved the following items:
- A $48,000 contract with Loomis Public Affairs for assistance with public outreach for the city’s August primary levy lid lift ballot measure to fund law enforcement.
- Two right of way dedication deeds with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, JR Enterprises and GPI, LLC for a roundabout at U.S. Highway 2 and Lyons Road.
Council also approved the first reading of ordinances creating a new Capital Projects Fund entitled “Public Safety Building Purchase and Remodel Fund,” and one entitled “Public Safety Building Debt Service Fund.”
