The Airway Heights City Council will be saying goodbye to one of their own.
Councilman Barron Williamson announced his resignation from the council at the June 2 meeting. Williamson said he accepted a new job in Atlanta. His resignation is effective, July 1.
Williamson has served on the City Council since 2011. He moved to Airway Heights in 2006 and was a member of the Planning Commission for four years.
Williamson extended his gratitude to the council and thanked them for making him and his family feel welcome in the city.
“It’s been a great place to life and a great part of our lives,” Williamson said.
Mayor Patrick Rushing congratulated Williamson and thanked him for his service to the city.
Former mayor Matthew Pederson said Williamson was one of his best appointments to the Planning Commission.
“He’s been a fantastic council member,” Pederson said. “As a Planning Commissioner, I have never seen someone more educated, prepared and technically sound on the issues. He will be impossible to replace as a community member.”
Rushing said the city would send out announcements and begin the process of searching for Williamson’s replacement.
In action items, the council approved a training agreement between the city and Spokane County to allow the fire and police departments to conduct training exercises at the empty Solar World Estate apartment complex, located at 18th Avenue and Lawson Street.
The complex is owned by Spokane County and is scheduled to be demolished. Prior to any demolishing, the county will allow the Fire Department, as well as any other emergency service agencies, to conduct training in the complex.
Deputy Chief of Training Don Malone said there might be little to no chance of the department actually burning the buildings, as it will be mid-June before training could take place in the complex.
“We’re not sure what we’re going to do yet,” Malone said. “We may do some breaching doors exercises and some multi-company operations.”
Under the agreement, the city will notify the county, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane International Airport, and all residents and businesses within a set distance of the premises of the dates and times when training exercises would be conducted.
In other business:
• The Spokane Emergency Department presented study courses to the council to help them prepare for disasters that may occur within the city.
• Gunnar Watson was welcomed to the Airway Heights Police Department.
• The council approved the second reading of Ordinance C-827, which amends budgets of various funds for the year 2014..
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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