The city of Airway Heights is seven months into its new agreement with Spokane County and the city of Spokane for solid waste disposal services and things seem to be going well.
Back in November they entered into an agreement with Spokane County and Spokane for with gate fees of $70.50 per ton. The City Council passed a resolution that legally binds the agreement at its Monday meeting. According to the resolution, Spokane County must prepare a Solid Waste Management Plan for Airway Heights, as well as the other cities and unincorporated areas within the county.
One upside to the agreement is that residents and local businesses may notice a reduction in the disposal portion of their garbage bill. The city is considering asking residents to use the savings to help fund public safety.
Earlier this year the city adopted goals for 2015-16, one of them being enhancement of public safety services to meet the community’s needs.
“The city looked at continued population growth, as well as the effects the recession had on services,” City Manager Albert Tripp said. “During that time, the needs for public safety increased though we didn’t necessarily meet them at the time.”
Methods the city proposes for increasing public safety include hiring two additional police officers, part-time firefighters and upgrading equipment for both departments. Tripp said the cost for wages and equipment upgrades would equate to about $360,000 annually for seven years.
Aside from using the savings from the garbage bill reduction, the city is reintroducing the emergency medical services (EMS) six-year levy in the Nov. 3 general election to help pay for public services. The levy will increase property taxes 25 cents per $1,000 assessed value.
If residents approve of the city using the savings toward public safety, it would receive $123,963 per year and increase over time. If the EMS levy is approved, it would receive a total of $237,995 in the first year.
“Does it fully meet the need? No, it doesn’t but it does address some of those needs,” Tripp said. “It’s part of a means to a solution to meet and enhance public safety standards.”
If residents do not approve of the proposal, the savings will go to them. Tripp said the city will reach out to residents and take feedback on its Open City Hall forum on its new website. He added the savings can be seen online so residents and businesses can see what they would potentially save.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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