Cheney Year in Review 2010 - Part 1: School support is still a priority for Cheney

District residents pass record bond issue to build new middle schools

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

January

The city of Cheney began its own garbage collection service with the help of city of Spokane equipment and crews. Three men were hired to run Cheney's collection—Harlan Helm, Tom Stern and Tim Reinbold—and equipment was purchased. City leaders said the transition from contracted collection was going smoothly.

Terra Vista developer Steve Emtman applied to change the city's zoning code to allow smaller lot sizes. Emtman planned to build attached townhouses along Alki Street on 2,000 square foot lots. The city's established minimum lot size was 5,000 sq. ft.

Fred Pollard was seated in the Cheney City Council position vacated by Curt Huff after winning the November election. Graeme Webster, Pollard's opponent in the close race, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Tom Trulove.

Cheney School District supporters ramped up efforts to gain backing for a $79 million bond to build two new middle schools to replace the 30-year-old Cheney Middle School.

The Cheney Park Board discussed options following the failure of a $5 million bond to begin building a park and new community center on the 50-acre plot on Betz Road. Plans were made to determine costs of renovating the Wren Pierson Building or finding another location for the community center, and commissioners discussed whether or not to try the bond again at a future date.

The Cheney Police Department received a perfect score on an accreditation evaluation from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Chief Jeff Sale commended Cmdr. Rick Campbell for his work preparing department documents for the evaluation.

February

The Cheney Industrial and Commerce Park was platted and 32 lots were made available for sale, with prices ranging from $2.75 to $4 a square foot. NAI Black was contracted to market the industrial park. Leaders from the city and AllPak Trojan, which owns half of the park, were optimistic about filling the park despite the economic recession, pointing out the complete infrastructure, leasing and buying options and the park's proximity to Spokane and the airport.

Residents in the Cheney School District overwhelmingly voted to support the district's $79 million construction bond, with 65 percent voting yes. The 20-year bond will provide funds to build two new middle schools—one to replace Cheney Middle School at its existing site and a second near Windsor Elementary School—as well as utilizing state matching funds to build a fifth elementary school in the district.

Leaders and the public at park board and City Council meetings discussed several options for the future of Cheney's community center—including rebuilding the Wren Pierson Building, using an existing building to house the center and building a new community center. Rebuilding the Wren Pierson made the best sense financially and a survey was sent out to the public to gather opinions.

The Cheney Clothing Exchange, which closed after losing its location in the WPB, reopened in the United Church of Christ's education hall basement.

City Council approved a planned unit development for 33 acres of the Terra Vista development with an amendment to require a development agreement regarding an unplatted 16-acre area within the PUD. Council members said the agreement would provide some city control over the area.

The Choices for Cheney comprehensive plan rewrite effort hosted a land use and policy workshop, at which attendees assessed draft land use policies and shared their opinions for the new 20-year comp plan.

A 17-year-old male was arrested for drive by shooting after he shot an EWU student in the hand in the wee hours of Feb 21. Three others were arrested after Cheney police tracked the shooter's vehicle to Zip's.

March

Cheney resident Natalie Tauzin began the Feed Cheney Free Restaurant, a hot meal served to the community free of charge at the United Church of Christ the last Monday of each month.

Spokane Transit Authority announced possible cuts to service due to budget reductions. Cheney riders circulated petitions and contacted STA protesting the proposal to cut service to the Salnave area.

Citing budget difficulties, Spokane County Parks and Recreation announced it would reduce maintenance service to Fish Lake County Park. County parks located the farthest from the county's Spokane Valley maintenance facility, including Fish Lake, were slated to lose bathroom facilities and garbage collection. The county was working with the Marshall Coalition, a group of volunteers that has supported the park since the 1990s.

City Council voted unanimously to rebuild the Wren Pierson Building community center, citing a sizeable insurance contribution and the short time it would take to renovate the building. Tentative plans included reconstructing the collapsed multipurpose room, reorganizing interior spaces and installing a new kitchen in the senior center. The parks and recreation department began interviewing architects to handle the design work.

April

The Let's Move Cheney Coalition launched, led by parks and recreation director Paul Simmons, to champion outdoor recreation opportunities and physical activity in the community. Several community and business leaders attended the kick-off meeting April 9, where they defined goals and future events.

Owners John and Jessica Jacobsen closed their Highlind Learning Center in Cheney after a judge ruled they were in default of rent. Dozens of families were scrambling to find a daycare center to take their children on short notice.

The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the future of the historic Cheney Depot, which was threatened with demolition by the Burlington Northern Railroad if it was not moved. Commissioners agreed that a group of concerned citizens would need to spearhead efforts to raise the money to move the building and create a new use for it, since the city wouldn't likely contribute to such a project.

The Cheney School Board approved an application for Qualified School Construction Bonds. The interest-free bonds, part of the federal stimulus package, required adherence to prevailing wage laws and added reporting, but the board agreed to apply, saying they could always turn down the bonds if they determined the savings weren't worth the extra work.

As plans were finalized for the Wren Pierson Building renovation, city leaders looked for options to begin building fields at the 50-acre park on Betz Road. Parks and Recreation staff members were working on a $500,000 grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office to build three fields, restrooms and parking. The 50 percent match would come from parks and rec reserves, utility installation paid by Eagle Point apartments as park mitigation and donated work from a grading company.

The Spokane County Library District released a draft facilities plan for the next 20 years, which called for rebuilding and relocating the Cheney branch and expanding the Airway Heights branch.

Cheney High School students and Future Business Leaders of America, Clint Bonnett, Jacob Falconer and Zach Madison qualified for the national championships in programming and management information systems.

A late night fire damaged the newly opened Droop's Dawgs restaurant at 28 W. First Street.

May

The Cheney School District sold $51 million in construction bonds, garnering a low 4.14 percent interest rate. The lower-than-predicted interest rate was projected to decrease citizens' property tax rates from $4.96 per $1,000 in assessed property value to $4.76 by 2014.

Cheney High School principal Tom Gresch was named the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association District 7 administrator of the year.

Special education students from CHS participated in an eight-week therapeutic riding program, which has been shown to improve posture, attention span and more. Adaptive PE teacher Wes Hobbs arranged the program with support from the school and private donations.

Bernardo Wills Architects was hired to design the renovation of the Wren Pierson Building community center. The firm was given three months to create the plans before the project went to bid in August.

The first phase of construction at the Eagle Point apartments neared completion. The development, owned by Lancze Dougless, was slated to include 24 buildings and 576 units, the largest in Cheney's history.

Brett Lucas was hired as Cheney's new planner following the resignation of Elisa Rodriguez. Lucas came from planning positions at the city of Vancouver and Cowlitz County.

Seven retirees, including Windsor Elementary principal Kaye Aucutt, were honored at the Cheney School District's Employee Recognition Night May 12.

Residents remembered May 18, 1980, the day 30 years ago when Mt. St. Helens ash descended on the West Plains.

The Cheney Rodeo and Mayfest capped off the month with rodeo events, a parade, kids' games and more. A mural painted by Tom Quinn was unveiled at Mayfest; it was to be placed on the wall of a downtown building.

June

The Cheney Care Center earned a top five-star rating from Medicare following annual surprise inspections of the facility. Nursing director Carol Sands credited the Care Center's employees for adhering to high standards in their daily work.

Cheney school board member Kerry O'Connor resigned after 12 years on the board. The board also received a preview of summer capital projects, including new portable classrooms and roof work.

Cheney's specialized recreation program started an inclusive theater group, with 13 individuals participating to put on “Alladin” May 22. Director Lavertta Lawrence said the group was already looking forward to next year's performance.

Cheney sought $34,000 in unpaid park mitigation fees for Brewster Hall. Original developer Rob Brewster signed a letter of credit guaranteeing the payment, which expired in 2007, before selling the building and adjacent property to current owners John Pilcher and Art Sontgerath. The city was in talks with Pilcher and Sontgerath about the mitigation and about an empty lot next to the building. At a June 22 City Council meeting, Council approved a lawsuit against Rob Brewster and University Parking, LLC, “for abatement of violations of Cheney municipal code and state law” for nuisance code violations on the lot.

Plans for two new middle school buildings in the Cheney School District were taking shape, with the middle school design task force and NAC Architects working to design the layouts of the two identical schools. The school board approved educational specifications at their June 9 meeting.

An ambulance contract was completed between a group of Spokane County cities, including Cheney, and fire districts with area ambulance provider American Medical Response. The contract would set maximum response times to Cheney and outlying areas.

Development of the Cheney Industrial and Commerce Park had stalled. NAI realtor Earl Engle, who was marketing the property, said there had been little interest due to the overall inactivity in commercial and industrial development.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].