AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Looking back over his time as mayor, Sonny Weathers said he is privileged to have served.
Weathers expressed he is also enthusiastic to continue serving as a councilman and said the city has overcome many obstacles to accomplish a lot in the wake of COVID.
“I count it a great privilege and honor to play a part on City Council as we shape our community into the kind of place worth living, working, learning, and playing through retirement, and I cherish the opportunity to have been mayor of Airway Heights this past year,” he said last week.
The councilman said this journey started when he was simply an “engaged neighbor” that wanted to learn about the city and contribute to the conversation.
So, he joined the Planning Commission.
In 2017, he decided to try running for council and was elected.
Reflecting on his first council experiences, Weathers said:
“My early hopes were to improve community engagement, increase the quality of our neighborhoods, encourage more schools, and advance the responsibility and accountability of local government. I quickly learned that I was in good company.”
Pointing to the idea the councilman was in good company and able to hit the ground running, he continued, “The members of City Council were both passionate about and unified in delivering important outcomes, and our city staff was second to none.”
Councilman Weathers said his colleagues had “an insatiable appetite for learning and some great partners” that identified and acted on several important matters here.
These areas of emphasis included contaminated wells, identifying land for school development with Cheney Public Schools, working in partnerships to identify more affordable housing options, opening the new recreation and aquatic center along with updating the city’s comprehensive plan.
Weathers said he was honored to be chosen as deputy mayor in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic also surfaced and brought new challenges.
He said the city was continuing to grow, and they had to make sure it stayed within Growth Management Act compliance.
This included planning for potential traffic issues along with keeping public transportation routes in mind as well. The issue of having schools nearby was continuously brought to the table as was finding an optional water source to replace the polluted well.
The economic troubles didn’t help matters either including recovery efforts for business struggling due to COVID, and he said, “The needs were stacking up and our resources were running thin.”
The councilman said the previous mayor resigned in 2021 to become the Spokane Valley assistant police chief, and Weathers was “fortunate to have the confidence of City Council” to fill the position.
He said city leaders quickly moved to fill two vacant council positions at the time, and they also implemented the Awaken Airway Heights Strategic Plan.
Multiple discussions regarding amendments to the Urban Growth Area came to be, and Weathers said Airway Heights was, “recognized as the Governor’s Smart Community Award for Vision with our Downtown Strategic Plan.”
Weathers said he was mayor when the Legislature allocated $14.9 million for an alternate water supply, completed some long due road projects, had an assessment done to find the childcare needs in Airway, and got to celebrate the completion and opening of the Highland Village neighborhood.
The councilman said he also benefitted from taking some courses offered by the Association of Washington Cities, in which he received a certificate of municipal leadership.
Weathers said he also found valuable resources from the Municipal Research and Services Center and the National League of Cities.
As a councilman once again, Weathers said he believes it will be important for the city to allocate sustainable revenues, because all potential improvements need funding.
The city needs to be able to stay ahead of the public safety needs that come with the growth Airway Heights is experiencing, as well, along with finally obtaining the much-needed alternative source of water, he said.
The former mayor said he still has goals as a councilman, and he wants to “keep telling our amazing story and painting a clear target for our efforts as we continue collaborating with citizens, stakeholders, and partner agencies to create an engaged community and enhance quality of life in the City of Airway Heights.”
Reporter Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected]
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