Airway Council approves various grants

CHENEY—The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) recently awarded a $50,000 grant to the city of Airway Heights for a feasibility plan for broadband. City Manager Albert Tripp asked council to consider accepting it during the April 4 city council meeting.

Add that money to the $22,000 in other allocated funds and the city now has $72,000 to ensure its completion.

“This grant was specifically to establish a feasibility plan for broadband,” Tripp said. “To look for areas with gaps and opportunities where additional capacity could be added. This past month there was an opportunity to make that case to the CERB board, and the city was successful in receiving the $50,000 grant.”

Following the grant’s acceptance, Tripp said he could move forward with the project. He reassured the council that the project would be shovel-ready after the study was complete. Allocating money for installation would follow.

The next item on the table for the council to consider was a Language Access Grant request presented by Judge Angelle Gerl that could help fund a court interpreter. Gerl said the grant could total up to $6,889 and could be used to pay for 50% of the annual court interpreter fees. She also explained the importance of these services for the court.

“We often use interpreter services for the court, and they can get quite costly,” Gerl said. “We have to have interpreters present and pay a specific amount whether the defendant shows up for court.”

The motion was carried, and grant approval was unanimous.

Following up on a childcare feasibility study and needs assessment from last year, the city is working on getting a grant to help fund the design process for a childcare center.

Alise Mnati, a contracted grant writer, said the city had asked for a follow-up grant of $100,000 to pay for design services but received $60,000.

During the council meeting, Sergeant Jake Keith from the Airway Heights Police Department announced the retirement of one of the department’s K-9 units. Legend served in the narcotics division for five years and has 75 narcotic finds to his record.