City of Airway Heights thanks state legislators for work during past legislative session

In late April, communities across Washington State welcomed back their local legislators from Olympia after the conclusion of the 2019 Legislative session. The 2019 session was a long, 105-day session and the Legislature finished their work on time concluding at midnight on the 105th day.

While many issues were resolved over the course of the session, a major issue for the city of Airway Heights this session was to identify funding to help complete the Highland Village Housing project. The project is designed to remove an encroachment on the operations of Fairchild Air Force Base — the region’s largest employer generating over $1 billion in annual economic activity.

Highland Village Housing will offer quality affordable rental units to current mobile home residents, providing them with better and safer housing at a lower cost than they are currently paying. The project is also an integral part of the Fairchild Air Force Base Preservation and Community Empowerment Project initiated in 2012, and is the result of a four-year community-wide collaborative effort by Airway Heights, Spokane County, Greater Spokane Incorporated, Community Frameworks and Habitat for Humanity as well as other local organizations and non-profit developers. However, with the large price tag that came with the project, the city needed to turn to the state legislature — specifically our local legislators — for help.

This session, the city was represented in Olympia by Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Spokane), Rep. Mike Volz (R-Spokane), and freshman legislator Rep. Jenny Graham (R-Spokane). Airway Heights is grateful for the hard work and leadership of our 6th District legislators who successfully secured $5.5 million in the State Capital Budget for the Highland Village Housing project.

The city also supported a budget ask by the Department of Corrections for a reclaimed waterline at the Airway Heights Correction Center that would allow the city more access to clean water for households. The budget also included the full amount of nearly $2 million in funding for this reclaimed waterline.

Airway Heights is very fortunate to have the representation of legislators that are effective and work as a team to do what is right for our community. The city couldn’t be happier with the funding our local legislators helped bring to our community, and we appreciate the continued support of the 6th Legislative District delegation. We wish them well as they continue their advocacy for our community into the 2020 legislative session scheduled to begin in January.

Mayor Kevin Richey

City of Airway Heights