Three residents have thrown their names into the hat for Medical Lake City Council Position No. 2 — Elizabeth Rosenbeck, who currently serves on council, Monica Manza, a long-time member of the Fox Ridge Homeowners Association and John Merrick, former Medical Lake firefighter.
Monica Manza
Although this is Monica Manza’s first time running for a City Council position, she has over 10 years of experience on the Fox Ridge Homeowners Association, and serves as its current president. She said a resident approached with the suggestion she run for mayor. Being a full-time speech and language pathologist, Manza turned down the idea of a mayoral campaign and decided to run for a council seat instead.
If Manza is elected to council, she would focus on helping small businesses grow and bring new ones to the community. She suggested the light industrial zone on South Graham Road where the old Nike Missile site was located might be a good spot where a manufacturing business could locate and create jobs for residents.
Manza believes Medical Lake could be a town that is more attractive to visitors. Some aesthetic changes she would like to see include upgrades to the parks, cleaning the vacant buildings and lots, amenities at Waterfront Park and a community center.
She would examine the feasibility of reestablishing Medical Lake’s Police Department, with having officers living in the city. Manza would also like to fund the Fire Department.
“Public safety is huge and we’ve got to have a safe community,” Manza said.
John Merrick
Before he decided to run for a council position, John Merrick was a volunteer firefighter for the Medical Lake Fire Department for 13 years and served as the local Firefighter Association’s president. Merrick, who served in the U.S. Navy, has an extensive background in public safety. He is currently a paramedic for American Medical Response (AMR) and was a part of the negotiations for AMR’s ambulance contract extension with Spokane County.
Merrick’s main priority as a council member would be to address the city’s current needs and helping it grow with the surrounding communities of Airway Heights and Cheney. One way he would accomplish this to bring new business to the city and make them feel welcome. He said this would also create more jobs.
On the public safety side, Merrick would like to bring more full-time firefighters to the Fire Department. While he would like to bring back the city’s police department, Merrick would first like to solicit input from residents. If he learns that citizens do not want a police force, he would “change his goals.”
“I’m just trying to make a difference,” Merrick said. “If there’s a problem, I want to go in and say ‘let’s fix it.’”
Elizabeth Rosenbeck
Elizabeth Rosenbeck has sat on Council Position 5 since she took over for former councilman Howard Jorgensen last year. Rather than re-run for Position 5, which is a two-year term, she decided to apply for Position 2.
During her time on council, Rosenbeck has learned the ins and outs of operating the city and has sat on various committees. She also gained insight into the work that goes into a small town’s operating budget and how officials need to set, and sometimes readjust funding priorities.
Rosenbeck’s main concern as a council member would be to improve the city’s fire department and emergency medical services. She said the department is struggling to respond to calls with its current staff levels and retaining personal, and that coming from a firefighting family, the matter “is close to her heart.”
While the fire department has seen progress in bringing in firefighters recruits, Rosenbeck would like to continue to research ways and work with council and elected officials to improve its level of service.
“I hope to continue to learn on council and stay on the public safety committee until I’ve done everything I can,” Rosenbeck added, referring to her other goals on council.
Reader Comments(0)