By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
The staff and elected officiasl from city of Cheney addressed the public in a town hall meeting last Thursday, May 29.
During the meeting, department heads from the city updated the public on what has been accomplished since the last meeting and what their plans are.
Cheney Mayor Allan Gainer said economic development remains one of his primary goals for the city. He said the Cheney Merchant’s Association will be voting on their bylaws and one of the organization’s first projects is to get merchants’ association signs at both entrances to the city.
He added that retail “leakage†(revenues lost to Spokane businesses) has dropped from $32,000 to $20,000 since 2005. Gainer said it’s good to see people spending their money here in Cheney.
Gainer said he looks forward to the comprehensive plan revision getting completed.
“We need something that (works) well on getting us where we need to go,†he said.
There are ongoing issues within the city he and city staff continue to work on. He said the city is still working toward reducing the noise from train whistles.
Although the problem has improved in the last couple of years Gainer said there are still incidents of rusty tap water that need addressing. The city has growth challenges to be resolved.
“There’s been a lot of growth,†Gainer said.
He added that he wants to see Cheney become a Tree City by the end of the year.
City Administrator Arlene Fisher further praised the city’s staff performance.
“They work extremely hard for you everyday,†she said.
Fisher touched on two other points. She said the city is going to continue to beautify Cheney to make it more appealing to visitors and she said they are going to start enforcing residency codes also.
Cheney Police Chief Jeff Sale said total crime in the city dropped 12 percent compared to last year. He said calls for service and traffic stops are up 9 and 19 percent respectively. He added the departments budget is in good standing. Sale said they have spent 28 percent of their annual budget with 33 percent of the year lapsed, which puts the department slightly ahead.
Cheney Fire Chief Mike Winters said his department is continuing with equipment upgrades from the grant received last year. He said calls are up 10 percent from last year but he also has two more firefighters on staff. Winters has also taken on the task of getting a Cheney public ambulance. Currently the city calls American Medical Response (AMR) who are under no contract to serve the Cheney area.
“They respond here out of the kindness of their heart,†Winters said.
Public works director Don MacDonald said the Department of Ecology has finally approved the work on Well No. 8 after what Macdonald described as “bureaucratic delays.†He added that getting the approval required Gov. Christine Gregiore intervening.
MacDonald said the irrigation, lighting and landscaping of the SR-904 enhancement project is slated to begin. He also said the city will begin road projects but added that the price of oil will be problematic for those projects.
The wastewater treatment plant expansion project is progressing. MacDonald said the cost of service analysis and the council approval of the connection charge has been completed.
He is excited to get the industrial park project started, which should break ground this September.
“We would love to have technology-based businesses in there,†MacDonald said.
City clerk Cindy Niemeyer said the 2007 annual report and 2008 budget is complete. The budget still has to be approved by the City Council. She said the council will hear most of the budget details in a series of public hearings during their meetings in October and November.
Niemeier said the City Council agenda, ordinances and resolutions will be available online soon. She said the city is also working to get a budget billing so that it is automatically deducted from a credit card. She said the feature is not online yet, but will be soon.
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
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