Maybe it was the tug-o-war and preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Or, perhaps, the fact that the front door of City Hall remained inadvertently locked?
Or it could be that having had the opportunity Nov. 6 for input on the city’s expectation to spend $3.394 million in 2019, compared to $3.255 million in 2018 — approximately a $140,000 increase in the new budget — there were no further concerns.
Whatever the reason, the council chambers were noticeably absent of the public at the Nov. 20 Medical Lake City Council meeting where final input was scheduled to be heard.
By law, a hearing had to be officially conducted, and it was started at 6:33 p.m., moments after the meeting was gaveled to order by Mayor Shirley Maike. She closed the proceeding at 6:35. The rest of the evening was almost equally as short with the meeting closing in under 20 minutes.
“Budgets don’t change a lot year to year,” City Administrator Doug Ross said, adding that the one he oversees day-to-day is one with no frills and just enough to operate. That’s why seemingly small requests could easily toss things $500,000 out of balance.
If a department needs something, the money is found, Ross said.
In between, Maike brought council up to date on the Spokane Transit Authority’s Small Cities representation on that group’s board of directors. Five communities rotate a single seat, including Cheney, Airway Heights, Millwood, Rockford-Waverly and Medical Lake, which will next be represented in 2022, Maike said.
The council had the first reading of Ordinance 1068 setting salaries and wages for 2019. The only change was a 2 percent increase in wages, unanimously approving that. They also provided a 5-0 vote on Ordinance 1067, the first reading of the 2019 budget. Both Laura Parsons and Jessica Parsons had excused absences.
Ross spoke to a few bits of unfinished business with the 2019 spending package, noting that there still may be some slight fee increases — none requiring further public input — with a final budget presented for approval at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
Councilman Ted Olson announced that the city has received a $504,365 transportation improvement board (TIB) grant for the South Lake Terrace subdivision for fixing drainage issues with a variety of streets. Medical Lake’s match is $25,218.
Olson also noted that new lights have been installed at the wastewater treatment plant which will provide better lighting for both the facility and for those using the walking path.
The next council meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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