March 19, 2024
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Liberty Lake, WA 99019
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March Marvel-Calvary a catalyst for historic Gonzaga run

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

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Pavillion Park upgrades moving forward
4/29/2015 10:25:20 AM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

It appears an array of upgrades at Pavillion Park will take a much shorter amount of time to construct than they did to discuss.

The conversation about a permanent concession stand at the greenspace began last fall when Mayor Steve Peterson introduced the idea in his preliminary budget for 2015 along with an $85,000 earmark. In February, City Council voted to endorse a budget amendment to cover the concession stand, expanded women's restroom, improved electrical connections and added storage space. 

The project was sidelined a month later after a rare 3-3 council tie. A week after the gridlock, the issue resurfaced at a special meeting and was approved with a pricetag of $252,000.

On Tuesday, council agreed to move forward with a final plan that will have low bidder Western States Construction as the general contractor. The governing board voted 6-1 (with Council Member Odin Langford in the minority) to move ahead with an alternate bid encompassing 1,356 square feet at a cost of $293,490. 

Work could begin as early as this week, according to City Administrator Katy Allen, with late June as the goal for completion. The deluxe version of the project will mean 300 extra square feet of storage space as compared to the base bid. The concession stand will require a sink, countertops and plumbing which Allen said the city could address at a lower cost than the contractor. 

"We thought we could install it less expensively ourselves," she said. 

Before the vote, Council Member Hugh Severs made the case to spend more for improvements that should last at least 20 years. The base bid came in at $259,793. 

"It sounds like a good project," he said. "By this being such a long-term project, let's not be cheap. Spend the money and do it right." 

Council Member Dan Dunne concurred.

"This is an opportunity to invest in our community and provide amenities to our people," Dunne said.

Although he voted with the majority, Council Member Keith Kopelson expressed concern with the city tacking on costs to this and other capital projects.

"Each time we talk about it, this becomes a bigger and bigger project instead of talking about what we need at the beginning," he said. 

Council will still need to vote on a special budget amendment for the balance of $41,490. Finance Director R.J. Stevenson said the revenue could come from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) fund, the same source as the previously approved $252,000. The fund includes $470,000 that has yet to be appropriated.

Council approves parks plan update
A public hearing on the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan Update was followed by a unanimous vote in support of the document on Tuesday. Every six years, city staff collects feedback from residents and compiles a vision for parks and recreation in anticipation of grant opportunities. 

Planning and Building Service Manager Amanda Tainio told council that around 1,000 citizens had contributed thoughts to the update, outlining priorities such as a community center, aquatic facility, multi-use facilities, trails, park programming and maintaining Liberty Lake's standing as a walkable community. Tainio said she is still receiving comments from residents on the plan. 

The update was introduced on Jan. 14 and approved by the planning commission on Jan. 29 with several modifications. Tainio pointed to a number of projects that had been completed since the last update, including Town Square Park, community gardens, Rocky Hill Park and expansion of the trails system. 

This time around, the city will be considering projects like a community park in the burgeoning River District as well as the pool and community center. Tainio expressed hope that a plan for the River District greenspace, known as Orchard Park, could materialize by the fall in preparation for the upcoming round of grant deadlines next May.  

"We need to identify projects, timelines and funding," she said. 

Resident John Olstad addressed council during the public hearing, saying he represented families that support an aquatic facility. He implored the city to set aside funds soon and establish a concrete plan for construction.  

"The pool was a significant priority on the survey," Olstad said.

Dunne applauded Tainio, Parks and Recreation Coordinator Michelle Griffin and others who had worked on the update.

"This is really an important case study for quality of life features in Liberty Lake," Dunne said. 

• • •

In the Books, On the Docket
A look back and ahead at news from City Hall

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

IN THE BOOKS (APRIL)
In other city news:

• Melanie Boerner of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library provided a first quarter overview of library happenings, including a fundraising effort in February by the Friends of Liberty Lake Library which generated $700. Movies at the library have been a success so far this year, Boerner said. She also encouraged residents to sign up for summer reading programs starting in June.

• In news from the legislative session in Olympia, improvements on Interstate 90, including a proposed interchange at Henry Road, were included in the latest Senate transportation budget but not the House budget. Mayor Steve Peterson has been in contact with legislators on both sides of the aisle as he campaigns for local funding.

• A number of improvements have been made recently at a pair of community parks, including a new gate and refurbished entrance sign at Pavillion Park. A new sign has also been installed at Rocky Hill Park, while interior upgrades in the park's red barn are now completed.

• The renovation of Appleway Avenue continues with a completion date of early June. Current work includes landscaping and trenchwork, while paving will begin in mid-May, with the work scheduled for evening hours.

• For the second year, city staff has earned the Well City Award for its emphasis on health and fitness. The honor translates into a 2 percent saving on the city's health insurance premiums. 

• Andrey Muzychenko of the Spokane CASH (Creating Savings, Assets and Hope) Coalition accepted a proclamation from the city at the April 21 council meeting recognizing April 20-24 as Money Smart Week. The effort emphasizes financial literacy and education for unbanked and underbanked residents of Spokane County.

ON THE DOCKET (MAY)
• Council will conduct a pair of workshops at its May 5 meeting, including discussions on the Transportation Improvement Program and Capital Facilities Plan Update. Both documents cover projects from 2016 to 2021. 

• The Liberty Lake Police Department will present its annual report at the May 5 meeting.

• A workshop on potential improvements to facilities at Trailhead Golf Course is scheduled for the May 19 council meeting.

• The Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board of Trustees will deliver its annual report at the May 19 meeting.

• Waste Management Inc. will host a bulky waste cleanup on May 9 at Town Square Park. Goodwill will also be on site, accepting electronic items. 

• The Liberty Lake Farmers Market will open its season May 16. The site will run through mid-October each Saturday on Meadowwood Lane from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• The picnic shelter at Town Square Park is expected to be installed by early July.

• City Administrator Katy Allen said an update on the city's comprehensive plan will likely include a better definition of the downtown corridor, according to advice from a consultant. Recommendations also include simplifying the plan and adding legal updates. The planning commission will consider revisions to the plan at its May 13 meeting.

• The opening ceremony at Liberty Lake Ballfields is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 2. Allen said that while standing water at the venue has been resolved, lack of parking has been problematic.

• A project to install a sensory garden near the arboretum adjacent to City Hall has been made possible by financial support from the Liberty Lake Lions Club. An open house for the site is scheduled for May 13 at noon.

• Work is under way on a pair of Fallen Heroes Circuit Course sites. The installment honoring Army Cpl. Kelly Grothe, a 2004 Central Valley High School graduate, will be located on a trail to the west of the Trailhead golf course. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the site will take place on Memorial Day, May 25, at 4 p.m. A Coast Guard installment is being constructed near the arboretum with a ceremony likely to occur in September. 

• An open house is scheduled at City Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 14.  

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