By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
Doug Nixon does not approach his run for City Council Position No. 2 with a project or a pet peeve, but he does understand the priority the city is placing on economic and residential growth.
He also believes in doing the right thing for the right reason.
Since relocating to Cheney over eight years ago, he has thoroughly immersed himself in the community. He is a home and business owner, his adult children have also remained in Cheney, and his grandson is enrolled in the Cheney School District.
He currently serves on the Cheney Planning Commission.
“This is a neat community. I love it,” Nixon said.
Nixon said the general fund is projected to be in a deficit in three to five years if Cheney doesn't change the way it is doing business.
Nixon also said more police and fire fighters are needed, but a way to pay for them is unknown. Because of their rapid growth, Airway Heights has to purchase water from Spokane.
“This should never happen in Cheney if we plan properly,” Nixon said.
Of the moratorium, Nixon said that it may be needed, it may not be needed. What needs to be done is figuring out what is needed. He said businesses need to work together and develop a well-thought out plan, which has not been done.
He believes the moratorium could have been prevented with proper planning.
“We know what we want, we just don't know how to get there,” Nixon said.
Nixon decided to run for City Council following the recommendations of numerous friends and business acquaintances. Because he is a business owner, he is more accessible to the community.
He coached college basketball for four years, so he understands the benefits of a team effort and making tough decisions for the benefit of the greater number, rather than a select few.
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
Pat Rast, the incumbent in City Council Position No. 2, wants to resolve the water issue and stimulate the economy.
His forecast for Cheney's meager surplus will not last any more than four to six years.
“We need to try to stimulate the economy in Cheney,” Rast said.
The impending industrial park will be a big help, but it's not enough, he added.
The water issues have become a priority.
“I was a little surprised that the moratorium came to us without any advanced notice at that council meeting,” Rast, a 30-year resident of Cheney, said.
He rebukes being a “finger-pointer” but said a policy needs to be established on how ERUs, equivalent residential units, or their equivalence, are set up and how water use is determined and what percentage the city wants as a cushion.
He is eager to get well No. 8 complete. The well drilled at Sutton Park was a setback because water coming out of the well is not potable. The water has been dedicated for use in irrigation so it does relieve pressure on the existing water.
“We should have been a little more proactive,” Rast said.
Budget concerns are another issue about which he feels strongly. He said city employees are understaffed, but he has high praise for the Fire Department and the job they do with the amount of people they have. He advocates caution in hiring to avoid shortcoming in funding.
During his term on City Council, Rast was most visible about Eastern Washington University police doing traffic patrols in the city.
Though he's not opposed to the university police being available for assisting Cheney police, if needed, he is opposed to them doing traffic stops in the city. “There's no check and balance on it, Rast said.
“The president of the university is the only one who has the final say through the campus police department.”
His involvement in city government began when several neighbors and friends said he should run for an office.
Rast ran against Al Ogdon for mayor in but lost. When a council position opened, he ran unopposed.
Rast said that he is responsive to community concerns. He also said the duty serving on the council is more a public service than it is as a politician.
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
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