Medical Lake City Council supports upcoming school maintenance and operations levy

The Medical Lake City Council started the year with a quick Jan. 5 meeting that was focused on education.

The City Council voted unanimously to support the Medical Lake School District’s operations and maintenance renewal levy, which is up for vote on a special Feb. 10 ballot.

During the meeting, Medical Lake School District Superintendent Tim Ames explained that the levy rate will remain at $2.20 per $1,000 assessed property valuation and funds will go toward supporting school programs and activities.

Councilman Howard Jorgensen made the motion for the council to support the levy. Mayor John Higgins reminded the council that many of the city’s activities and sports programs take place in the school gyms.

“We need to try and help out any way we can,” Higgins said.

Councilman Art Kulibert brought up the city’s discussions of possibly billing the state institutions for fire and EMS (emergency medical service) services and asked if the school would be affected. City Administrator Doug Ross said that would not likely happen.

“Residents are already paying for and using the schools as opposed to the state facilities,” Ross said.

Russ Brown, who served as the treasurer of the district’s levy and bond committee, praised the city for supporting the schools.

“I’m happy to report that we’ve never failed to support a school levy,” Brown said. “We almost did one time (in 2012) when it failed to pass the first time, but it passed on the second vote.”

The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance that prohibits residents from intentionally feeding deer, elk and moose.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].