News briefs

Medical Lake surpluses recycling equipment

At their Oct. 20 meeting the Medical Lake City Council approved the surplusing and sale of a city-owned baler used to bale cardboard at the recycling center. Sunshine Disposal was the highest of three bidders on the baler, coming in with an offer of $2,900.

The council also agreed to surplus a glass breaker used at the recycling center and set the method of disposal as sale to highest offer or donation. City Administrator Doug Ross said the city hasn’t received many “bites” from prospective buyers on the glass breaker, although Spokane Recycling is taking a look at it.

If no buyer emerges, Ross said the Salvation Army has expressed interest in receiving the glass breaker as a donation.

Ross also said the city’s composting trailer will close for the season on Monday, Nov. 16. The last day to use the trailer will be Sunday, Nov. 15.

State seeks input on public transportation 20-year plan 

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Transportation is asking the public to weigh in on a multi-modal plan that will shape transportation in the state for the next 20 years. 

Released Wednesday, Oct. 21, the draft Washington State Public Transportation Plan aims to better integrate all modes of public transportation to meet the needs of Washington communities for the next two decades. In order to gather feedback, WSDOT invites individuals to learn about the plan and provide input online or attend any of the public meetings taking place across the state.  

The future of Washington’s public transportation system—which includes buses, light rail, ferries, and trails for bicycles and pedestrians—will be shaped through partnerships between communities, government agencies and service providers. This draft plan, developed by WSDOT along with transportation agencies and service providers throughout the state, is a step in defining these partnerships.

The plan can be viewed online at http://www.watransplan.com. The itinerary of meetings is also available at http://www.wsdot.com.

WSDOT will accept comments about the plan until Jan. 4, 2016.

County lifts burn bans for some areas 

Spokane County officials announced Oct. 23 that they were rescinding the burning restrictions order implemented June 17, 2015 for recreational fires. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has lifted burn restrictions on DNR-regulated lands, and it is anticipated that the cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley will issue similar notices. 

As a reminder, there may be other burning restrictions in place concerning air quality within the region. For information regarding air quality restrictions, please contact Spokane County Regional Air Agency’s burn info hotline: (509) 477-4710 or visit their website at SRCAA Current Conditions.

Second half of property are taxes due

The Spokane County Treasurer’s Office wants property owners to remember that the second half of their property taxes are due by Oct. 31.

Payments mailed to the Treasurer’s Office must be postmarked on or before the due date as state law dictates county treasurers only recognize the cancellation date applied by the U.S. Postal Service to determine timeliness of payments.

Payment options include ACH, debit and credit cards via through the Internet at http://www.spokanecounty.org/treasurer, in office, or via phone by calling (509) 477-4713 and pressing option pound sign (#) 2.

Office business hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Friday. The exception is Friday, Oct. 30 when the office will close at 4 p.m.

Payments can be mailed to the Treasurer’s Office at the following address: Spokane County Treasurer, P O Box 199, Spokane WA 99210-0199.