The city of Liberty Lake was recently recognized by the Association of Washington Cities Employee Benefit Trust as a 2014 WellCity Award recipient. 

According to a press release, a total of 96 cities and public entities met the stringent WellCity standards to demonstrate their commitment to employee health. As part of meeting the standards, the city earned a 2 percent discount on medical premiums. 

"This recognition shows that our city employees and the citizens of Liberty Lake are committed to a lifestyle that encourages us to be more productive, more energized, require fewer sick days and provide a better image of our community," Mayor Steve Peterson said. 

AWC's Employee Benefit Trust is a health insurance pool that provides coverage to 14,000 city employees across the state. For more, visit www.awcnet.org/wellcityawards.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department recently announced that the stations located at 10319 E. Sprague (University Fire Station 1) and 22406 E. Wellesley (Otis Orchards Fire Station 4) will be undergoing upgrades. During the remodel process, which will occur mainly on the building interiors, services  will be temporarily relocated.

According to SVFD Chief Bryan Collins, these upgrades will ensure that stations are in compliance with current laws and safety standards, and remain functional to deliver fire and emergency medical services on a regular basis. 

The project is anticipated to take no more than six months. While the stations will be fully functional for a majority of the upgrades, SVFD staff has put a plan in place to minimize service impacts. For more, call 928-1700.

In honor of Arbor Day, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources selected several Eastern Washington cities, including Liberty Lake, as Tree Cities USA.

To be selected by the Arbor Day Foundation, a city needs to have either a tree board or a city department that is responsible for tree care and management, establish a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on tree care and celebrate Arbor Day.

In addition to Liberty Lake, other Eastern Washington cities named included Airway Heights, Chelan, Cheney, Colfax, Colville, Fairchild, Fairfield, George, Millwood, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Pullman, Ritzville and Spokane.