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News Briefs
3/17/2010 10:38:35 AM
Spokane County Commissioners are nearing a decision about limiting parking on the narrow, lakeside roadways in unincorporated Liberty Lake.
At a public hearing last week, the majority of people who testified told commissioners they thought the restrictions were overboard and only necessary for Fourth of July, when the lake teems with traffic, said Commissioner Mark Richard.
Still, commissioners are concerned about residents' safety, Richard said. Last year, Spokane Valley Fire Department requested the restrictions, saying it was a matter of public safety because the narrow roadways are difficult to maneuver for fire trucks.
Some residents complained, saying the proposed restrictions would be a hardship for homeowners who already have limited parking options. As a compromise, the fire department has toned down the proposal for some roadways.
"There's no easy solution," Richard said this week. "If something were to, heaven forbid, happen, does the county then own some responsibility? That's going to be part of our conversation, whether it's real liability or whether there's the perception of liability; both can lead to a lot taxpayer money being spent."
County officials plan to deliberate on the issue at their meeting March 24 and make a decision on April 6. Written testimony still will be accepted until March 24.
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For more information about contacting commissioners, visit www.spokanecounty.org.
Library offers more audio books
Patrons of Liberty Lake Municipal Library now have access to NetLibrary, a second audio book download service that expands the library's downloadable collection by more than 2,000 titles.
NetLibrary provides audio titles the library's first service does not, particularly young adult and children's titles, Library Director Pamela Mogen said. The service partially is funded by a grant.
Users must set up a free account at the library, but then may browse and download at home. For more information about the new service, visit http://www.youseemore.com/elibrary/whatis.html and click on the flashing eBook icon.
LLES briefly evacuated last week
Smoke from the failing motor of a rooftop heating unit forced the brief evacuation of Liberty Lake Elementary School just prior to the start of class last week.
Five Spokane Valley Fire trucks responded to the initial report of smoke in a fifth-grade classroom at about 9 a.m. on March 10.
The motor, accessible by a catwalk that runs above classrooms on the south side of the building, caused the classroom to fill with smoke, but there was never any fire or flame, said Melanie Rose, Central Valley School District's public information officer.
Students were back in the building by 9:40 a.m., although the fifth-grade class where the smoke collected was moved for the day while the classroom was vented.