The Cheney City Council approved a pair of resolutions at its Jan. 26 meeting that entered the city into a community trip reduction plan with Spokane County and a three-year agreement for banking services from Banner Bank.
Like other qualifying jurisdictions in the county, the commute trip reduction plan is a two-year agreement between Cheney and Spokane County allowing the county to develop and implement a trip reduction program for city employees. In exchange for the county’s work, Cheney agrees to pay $7,267.36, money originally distributed from Washington State Department of Transportation funding to the county, who then doles it out to local jurisdictions.
The contract with Banner for banking services began Feb. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2019, with two, two-year extensions after the initial period if agreed to by both parties. The contract covers a variety of financial services for the city, including areas considered mandatory, ranging from checking accounts to credit/debit services, card transactions, payroll direct deposit, image retrievals, wire transfers and stop pays.
The contract cost structure to the city is based upon a unit price for specific transactions, with the city providing an estimated monthly volume of each service in its request for proposal (RFP). Cheney Finance Director Cindy Niemeier told the council that in that context, Banner would be saving the city money.
But one of the main factors called for in the RFP was involvement in the community by the financial institution and its employees. According to its proposal, Banner Bank employees are involved in local organizations such as the Cheney Merchants Association, Mayfest, Cheney Rodeo and the West Plains Chamber of Commerce.
“They’re a nice community bank and they’re involved in our community,” Niemeier said.
Banner noted they have made “significant community development lending in Washington State,” ranging from more than $16.68 million in 2012 to $42.86 million in 2014. With a branch in Cheney on First Street, Niemeier also said the bank provides local representation for problem solving and assistance.
During information items, Fire Chief Mike Winters presented firefighter Tyler Gustafson with the “Resident of the Year” award. A Cheney High School graduate, Gustafson is also attending Gonzaga University, majoring in education, and has been with the department for a little over two years.
The council also heard from Cheney Free Press publisher Harlan Shellabarger regarding the business’ new smart-phone application.
Launched Jan. 5, the free app “See Eastern Washington” is designed to keep users informed on what’s happening on the West Plains, including the cities of Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights, through breaking news notifications as well as links to local businesses and events.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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