 |
| Splash photo by Craig Howard |
Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson was elected to his most recent term in November 2011. He served as the city’s inaugural mayor from 2001 until the end of 2007.
|
More News
March Marvel-Calvary a catalyst for historic Gonzaga run
In Gear for Good
Kramer puts integrity first at Christian Brothers
City commissions offer chance to serve, enhance community
When Danetta “Dg” Garcia’s bid for a Liberty Lake City Council seat fell short, she didn’t give up on the idea of serving the city she calls home.
TT's Brewery and Barbecue Expands to Neighborhood Liberty Lake Location
In the smoky realm of barbecue, TT's BBQ has carved a niche for itself as a beacon of mouth watering flavors and culinary expertise for both their beer and food.
Daughters of The American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a volunteer women’s organization that has been dedicated to historical preservation, education, and patriotism for over a century. Across the United States, there are over 3,000 chapters supporting an estimated current membership of 200,000, with over one million total members since their founding in 1890.
HOA’s have different rules what it means for Police and streets
The city of Liberty Lake is known for its winding paths, street trees and homeowner’s associations. Recently, however, residents of some neighborhoods have been questioning the services they receive from the city, particularly police patrols and traffic enforcement.
Vietnam Veteran Pat Payne Receives his Combat Infantry Badge
Spokane Valley resident and Vietnam Veteran Pat Payne personifies bravery, resilience, and a profound commitment to supporting his fellow service members. Having served in the Vietnam War, Pat received both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals for his exceptional contributions and sacrifices. Unfortunately, at the time of his service discharge, a key ‘box’ was left unchecked, and he did not receive his Combat Infantry Badge or CIB until fifty-six years after leaving Vietnam.
Return Ticket Home; Fisher helped establish LL city roots
In the acclaimed 1940 novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” author Thomas Wolfe paints the picture of ambitious writer George Webber who leaves his rural hometown roots to seek fame and fortune in New York City.
At Home on Air – Media fixture Owsley relishes local roots
Sean Owsley’s first big break in the media world came when he was living in a modest apartment on Skipworth Road in Spokane Valley.
Spokane Valley Library employee is recognized by the Library of Congress
Spokane Valley Library was recently honored to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Library of Congress for its involvement in the Veterans History Project. The Library of Congress recognized the library's continuous dedication to preserving the stories and experiences of our nation's veterans. As part of this recognition, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Jeremy Mullin, a local resident actively involved in the project.
Council social media training degenerates into confrontation
Spokane Valley City Council training on policy regarding social media accounts and use of the city’s logo turned from benignly informative to heatedly combative after an exchange between two council members at the Jan. 9 meeting.
Central Valley School District Prop. 1
Eat, Shop, and Be Merry
Water Works
2023 Candidate Guide
Sporting in Liberty Lake
Closing the Chasm
Congratulations First Ridgeline High School Graduating Class of 2023
2023 Liberty Lake Kiwanis Yard Sales are Coming!
Click here to register today! Only $15 to get into the printed and online guide!
Public Safety Raised to New Level
Parks and Art Commission
Looking Ahead to 2023
Eat, Shop and Be Merry
New city administrator
Liberty Lake Kiwanis Yard Sale Interactive Map!
Liberty Lake Kiwanis Yard Sale Guide - Now Available!!
Conrats 2022 Senior Graduates
Pavillion Park
You Are Invited
Destination Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake's Lego Home
Making and Impact 2022
|
|
|
|
Cup of Joe: Community cornerstone — Peterson a catalyst as mayor, citizen
11/25/2014 12:41:00 PM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
Look around Liberty Lake and you will see Steve Peterson's influence around nearly every corner - the municipal golf course, the pedestrian bridge and, most recently, Town Square Park.
The city's inaugural mayor helped create the framework for Liberty Lake following incorporation in 2001 and he served until the end of 2007, when he lost a narrow election to City Council Member Wendy Van Orman. Peterson returned to City Hall at the start of 2012 with a flourish after claiming nearly 75 percent of the vote against Council Member Josh Beckett.
Recognized as an astute and straightforward leader with a savvy grasp of municipal finances, Peterson has been a well-timed fit for the city's "strong mayor" form of government. Those who know him best, like his wife, Charmaine, will tell you that there is a tender persona behind the tough exterior. An avid reader, Peterson will occasionally quote passages from books on leadership or finance to his municipal colleagues.
It would be a challenge to find a more enthusiastic promoter of Liberty Lake than Peterson, who has called the area home since 1998. His catchphrases describing the city - "Spokane County's premier address" and "a safe, clean, green community" have become part of the community's identity.
While the city's progress and list of accomplishments during Peterson's tenures have been considerable, he will tell you that he has also learned valuable lessons along the way. Looking back on the city's attempt to acquire the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District in the early 2000s - a move that was met with opposition by district personnel and supporters while costing both sides substantially - he says the city was off base. He has worked to repair the damage and now maintains a healthy rapport with LLSWD. Peterson has also orchestrated magnanimous moves like Liberty Lake loaning the city of Spokane Valley $50,000 after its incorporation was official.
Peterson grew up in Normandy Park, a suburb of Seattle. The city, incorporated in 1953, provided Peterson with an idyllic example of community life at its best. Part of his neighborhood bordered the waters of Puget Sound while salmon fries and festive gatherings brought the town together.
He attended events at a popular gathering place called "The Cove," a community hub that still stands today. Public hearings and speeches by well-known politicians like Henry Jackson, Dan Evans and Warren Magnuson were part of the agenda.
Peterson gained an appreciation for parks, public safety and citizen involvement in his hometown, lessons that have influenced his priorities and goals as mayor.
"Folks took an interest," he said. "There are a lot of parallels between Normandy Park and Liberty Lake."
Peterson left the Pacific Northwest to attend college at Arizona State University where he majored in marketing. His career path started in the wholesale paper business back in Seattle. In 1975, he ventured across the mountains to relocate in Spokane. He has been an easterner ever since.
"In Spokane, you can walk down the street, see people and know their names," he said. "You're a fish in a pond, not a fish in the ocean."
Peterson left the paper field to work in pharmaceutical sales. He and Charmaine have three kids in their blended family. These days, the mayor runs his own property management company when not at City Hall.
Peterson has been active in the local chapters of Kiwanis and Lions and has the distinction of being the first guest speaker to address the Liberty Lake Kiwanians back in 2001. When the Liberty Lake Farmers Market is in season, you will often find the mayor under the shade of a booth, mingling with the crowd and collecting opinions on the latest municipal initiative.
"My focus is on giving back," he said. "The first thing you can give back is your time. The second thing is your money. These groups like Lions, Kiwanis, SCOPE - they are the fabric of our community. If you want a good community, you have to help knit the fabric."
The Splash caught up with Peterson recently to reflect on the challenges and rewards of running Spokane County's premier address.
Q: Growing up, did you have aspirations to pursue politics? Did you ever see yourself as a mayor?
A: I got involved in the political process early at age 10. With my parents, we door-belled for Nixon in 1960 and then every two years for one of our legislators in the 30th District. I never saw myself as a mayor but in hindsight, being in the administration of government has more rewards than being one of many in a legislative body.
Q: What were some of your first impressions when you and Charmaine moved to pre-incorporated Liberty Lake in 1998?
A: Locating between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Liberty Lake was in the center of my sales territory and close to Chamaine's work. It made our home extremely convenient for the job commute. We were delighted with the parks and trails while being fortunate enough to live on MeadowWood Golf Course. The homeowners' association welcomed us in when we purchased our lot and that made a huge impact on our move into the community.
Q: What was your level of participation in the campaign to incorporate Liberty Lake and what made sense to you about this area becoming a city?
A: My involvement in the incorporation campaign was putting a sign in the yard. My work in the actual incorporation process began with the community meeting Lud Kramer held late November following the election results. We volunteered to be on and lead one of the transition committees. Having grown up in Normandy Park, I realized the benefits of setting our own goals and priorities by capturing tax dollars that were going elsewhere. Government closer to the people is best.
Q: The task of pouring the foundation for a city was no small task for you and that first City Council. What do you remember about those early years when Liberty Lake was finding its footing?
A: The first challenge was learning to work together and base our work on a timeline to meet the incorporation objective of Aug. 31, 2001. We had a list of 285 items that needed to be accomplished during this time, so almost every day involved one-to three-hour meetings on top of our regular jobs. That annealing process between me, the council members and our initial employees contributed to the success we had in the future years as we took on community services, trails, roads and park projects.
Q: The Trailhead Golf Course is recognized as one of the city's gems as well as a consistent revenue generator. Yet when the city purchased the venue back in 2002, there was no shortage of cynics. Why did you believe in the idea of taking over the site?
A: Trailhead was an opportunity to maintain and protect green space at a time that we needed to expand our ability to care for the parks. While it was a fairly easy acquisition to accomplish with no "out of pocket cash," there was a good deal of concern that we would be successful just as the city was getting underway. I was confident that Trailhead could grow its revenue stream to support our operations and contribute somewhat to debt service. I also knew that the purchase of Trailhead would allow us to move the outlet channel trail off Liberty Road saving considerable expense and that the city would benefit from Trailhead's 1,200 acre feet of water rights. In the end, our council agreed with my analysis and the past 12 years have confirmed our success.
Q: What did you learn about yourself and about Liberty Lake in the four years you spent away from City Hall?
A: I grew to appreciate the larger sense of community and Liberty Lake's role in benefiting our region. I learned how it felt to be on the other side of the council table attending meetings and the importance to have our council and community working toward goals that bind us together. Personally, Charmaine and I were able to focus on our post-work years and prepare for a more retirement lifestyle. We are busier now doing what we love in retirement than what we were when we had real jobs.
Q: You've been a staple at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market over the years, whether it's selling crepes or representing the city. What have you enjoyed about this venue?
A: The people that are starting their business, the people who come to shop and the opportunity to make new friendships while cultivating the old brings me enjoyment. Knowing that the Farmers Market has become extremely successful gives us a sense of pride for their growth. While some people still don't know me as mayor, they remember Charmaine as the "Crepe Lady" and Pecos as the "Liberty Lake Dog."
Q: You've thrown your hat into the ring for other leadership positions like county commissioner and state representative. Are you still looking for another challenge beyond mayor?
A: I enjoy serving the community and trying to bring fresh new ideas on how we may solve some existing problems. Running for office is a way to champion and challenge those ideas in the public whether you win or lose. As to the future and as in the past, I really enjoy working for the community and serving as mayor.
Q: You are in the middle of another budget process right now. What are some of the challenges of putting together a preliminary budget for the City Council each year?
A: I've been involved in 10 budget cycles directly and commented on two when I was out of office. There is an adage - "plan your work and work your plan." That is what our budget means to me. It serves as a planning tool to achieve our priorities for the community. It is also the opportunity for the citizens to weigh in on the things they would like to see accomplished in the next year. Successful management of the budget process has helped increase our services and capital investment in infrastructure while we maintain a lower property tax rate comparable to other jurisdictions in the county.
Q: Finally, what do you like most about living and leading in Liberty Lake?
A: It's the people, pure and simple. We have a safe, clean, green community with wonderful parks and trails, but it's the friendly people and conversations which take place that makes this a great place to live, work, play and raise a family.
Advertisement
|
