Sorted by date Results 117 - 141 of 330
CHENEY – City officials are taking several steps to address the strain on Cheney’s water system due to growth and a reduction in water supply — one of which is how the city looks when it comes to landscaping. To that extent, planning department staff has proposed several changes and additions to Cheney’s municipal code on landscaping — proposals reviewed by Planning Commission members at their Feb. 10 meeting. Those changes center on conservation measures derived from encouraging the use of low-water-demand foliage, irrigatio...
CHENEY – A public hearing has been set for March 9 on changes to a pair of ordinances, one addressing residential occupancy issues and the other designed to encourage water conservation. Both ordinances changes acome after repeated concerns from citizens. The most vocal has been the issue of residential occupancy, specifically the concept of “functional family” and how that definition impacts such things as parking and noise complaints in neighborhoods. According to the Notice of Application from the city publishing the p...
CHENEY – The state Legislature began its 60-day short session on Monday, Jan. 13, and legislators will be hearing from a lot of people on a lot of issues over the next two months. You can count representatives from the city of Cheney among those vocalizing concerns. Specifically, a list of seven priorities for the city passed by the City Council in December — at the top of which is continuing advocacy for funding for a water re-use system and conservation programs. The city has at times imposed irrigation restriction mea...
A year ago, much of America’s heartland was inundated by Missouri River flood waters. At least 1 million acres of U.S. farmland in nine major grain producing states were under water. More than 14 million people were impacted. Damage exceeded $1 billion. With 11 dams on the Missouri, why was the flooding so severe? Why didn’t the dams absorb the excess waters? Its dams are above the flooded areas. The last impoundment is at Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota and heavy rai...
CHENEY – Mayor Chris Grover on Wednesday, Jan. 8, blamed voter approval of the $30 car tab tax cap for an expected transit funding shortfall and possible increased traffic congestion between the city and Four Lakes. “Unfortunately, I-976 (Initiative 976) takes a lot of money away from transit overall,” said Grover, who is also a Spokane Transit Authority board member. Grover's comments came during a report he gave during a meeting of the Cheney Merchants Association at Holid...
CHENEY — Whether it was e coli in Medical Lake, dealing with the consequences of contamination from firefighting chemicals in Airway Heights or supply in Cheney, water issues generated a number of stories in 2019. Cheney led the way, and comes in No. 2 on the year’s top-10 story list, beginning with dealing with leaks that resulted in the city’s two main pumps producing over 350 gallons per minute more than average through the winter before the leaks — in eight different locations within the system — were found and repaired...
CHENEY – The City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract to lease some of their dark fiber optic lines, hold a hearing on the vacation of property along 1st Street and approved the first reading of the 2020 budget as action items at their Nov. 26 meeting. The council reviewed the fiber optic contract with Ptera at their Nov. 12 meeting, but held off on voting on the document until staff could clarify some conditions and agree to changes with the Liberty L...
CHENEY – Outside influences may play larger roles in the future on the city’s Light and Public Works departments, City Council members found out during budget presentations at their Nov. 26 meeting. Light Department Director Steve Marx told the council it’s unclear what impacts the prospect of dam removal on the Snake River and implementation of the state’s 2025 Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act will have on the city’s ability to purchase power. On the Public Works side, Director Todd Ableman said passage of a vote...
CHENEY – Hoping the agreement leads to better internet service in the city, the City Council appears ready to approve an agreement with telecommunications provider Ptera to lease the company strands of dark fiber optic cable owned by the Cheney Light Department. The potential contract was brought to the council for approval at its Nov. 12 meeting, but after discussion, the council asked City Administrator Mark Schuller and staff to go back to Ptera to “tweak” some of the language and return it for consideration at the Nov....
Hillman vs. Hilton CHENEY – The race for City Council Position 7 pits incumbent Dan Hilton, serving his second term, against Planning Commissioner Dan Hillman. 1. Cheney is facing issues with its water supply system. What measures would you take to address the problem if the decision was solely up to you? Dan Hilton – We’re pretty good right now, but I don’t want to be in the situation again where we’re not planning ahead where we have to cut people’s lawn watering in the middle of summer, so we really need to start think...
Among other weather records that were set last week, we just might have seen our shortest fall ever. Just five days into the autumnal equinox - the fancy Latin term for the swing from summer to fall - much of the Inland Northwest got belted by winter, or at least a distant relative. The area's summer, which in itself was significantly cooler than normal, drifted into history on Monday, Sept. 23. And then, bang, here comes the first measured snowfall in September since 1926 on...
SUNNYSIDE – State officials want farmers and ranchers to notify them before shutting off irrigation for the winter. On Monday, state Department of Fish and Wildlife employees requested 2-4 weeks advance notice of irrigation shutdowns so they could “rescue fish” in irrigation canals. "We are available to help people shut down their irrigation systems in a way that protects fish," agency Fish Screening Manager Danny Didricksen said. "We work with diking districts, irrig...
Cheney's latest water increase didn't sit well with resident Mike Mulholland – and the Harvest Bluff resident let the City Council know how he felt at their Sept. 10 meeting. Mulholland told the council during citizen comments that he wanted a "clarification and adjustment" on his latest water bill, date Aug. 30. The issue, he said, was the bill charged him for his water usage between July 15 and Aug. 15 at the new rate imposed by the council on July 23 and effective Aug. 15....
Cheney’s City Council authorized the purchase of $119,737 of equipment for the city’s Light and Public Works departments at its Sept. 10 meeting. First, the council approved a request from Light Department Director Steve Marks to purchase a T590 T4 Bobcat Compact Track Loader. The track loader will be purchased from Bobcat of Spokane, which according to city documents has the state contract for this type of equipment. Marks said the purchase was a discretionary request budgete...
From the outside it may look like a traditional multifamily complex, but inside, the new apartments arising along West 1st Street near Salnave Park are anything but traditional. In fact, Cheney Park Apartments — 1026 W. 1st St. — may be the first of its kind in Cheney in several aspects. To start, the four-building, 90-unit complex is being built using a “pod” and “stack” modular design. Each pod consists of a studio, a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom unit. At 480, 613 and 1,0...
You have waited all season for that first red ripe tomato only to discover less-than-perfect fruit. But don’t worry, you can still have a great harvest this year while improving things for next season. Blossom end rot is a common problem. It’s due to a calcium deficiency often caused by fluctuations in soil moisture, often seen on the first set of fruit and those grown in containers. Adjust your watering and mulch the soil to help keep it consistently moist. Have your soi...
Cheney water rates are going up — again. City Council members voted unanimously at their July 23 meeting to approve a 10 cent increase in usage rates from $1.47 per 100 cubic feet (CF) of water — about 748 gallons — to $1.57/100 CF. The change also comes with a new, tiered water usage rate for residential customers who use 3,000 cubic feet or more per month. Customers exceeding this will be charged an additional $3.14 per 100 CF. As an example, a customer using up to 4,000 cubic feet would be billed $47.10 for the first...
The Cheney Water Department will begin water main flushing from area fire hydrants beginning the week of Aug. 19. Flushing these water mains will cause water to discolor. Residents who experience colored water should flush their cold water tap and/or irrigation system for 10 to 15 minutes to see if it clears up. If it doesn’t clear up, contact the Public Works Department at (509) 498-9293. The flushing program is estimated to take 8–10 weeks to complete. The city will update its website where crews will be flushing. Ple...
Cheney officials had hoped to have the city’s newest potable water well up and running by now, but have been prevented from doing so by what’s essentially a housing shortage. In order to bring the recently re-drilled Well 3 online in time for this summer’s irrigation season, the City Council approved a change order to the original contract with Wesslen Contractors that allows them to build a temporary, more traditional structure than the prefabricated one order from CXT in Feb...
Cheney’s City Council received an overview of what a revised water rate structure might look like should such a measure be implemented in the near future. During an information-only presentation at the council’s June 25 meeting, representatives from FCS Group consulting firm gave four alternatives for making changes to the city’s water policies — two of which could be implemented almost immediately following council approval. FCS project manager Andy Baker outlined details of the two alternatives – referred to as “Full Best P...
With a new well scheduled to go online July 9, Cheney officials are looking at some options for servicing the city’s water supply system in the future. Barring unforeseen circumstances, a re-drilled Well No. 3 is set to go online at the end of this month, providing the potential for 1,200 — 1,500 gallons per minute of additional potable water. Because of its proximity to the city’s reservoirs, Well 3 could aid not only in providing more water during the irrigation season, but...
So far, the weather has actually helped the city of Cheney's water system and its struggles with supply meeting demand created by irrigation. "The weather pattern has been a little strange, which has helped us out," Public Works Director Todd Ableman said in a June 7 interview. That may change, and change soon if weather forecasts prove accurate. Daytime highs are projected to climb at the end of this week and into the next, possibly running 15 degrees above average and with...
The Airway Heights City Council had a full plate at its June 3 meeting, hearing a presentation from Avista Utilities on the introduction of smart meters to the West Plains and getting a legislative update from the city’s governmental affairs representatives. Avista began a $165 million dollar rollout of smart meters across the utility company’s Washington service territory in February, starting with Spokane. Avista representatives said smart meters will be coming to the West Plains in October. Local residents can expect to se...
Proper watering is key to gardening success, but untangling and dragging heavy hoses across the yard, smashing delicate flowers and young vegetable plants along the way is a common occurrence in many yards. If this describes your escapades when watering garden beds and planters, it may be time to look for some time-saving solutions that reduce the hassle of hand watering. Protect edging plants, especially those at the corner of the bed with hose guides. You can make your own from colorful wine bottles inverted over a section...
Jenny Graham, 6th District state representative, listens as Cheney water reclamation plant operator Dan Ferguson explains how the facilities supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system allows operators to monitor and control its functions remotely during a tour on May 15. Graham, along with fellow 6th District Rep. Mike Volz and state Sen. Jeff Holy, played a part in securing $2 million in state funding to upgrade Cheney’s plant to a full water reclamation f...
