Small Town News

Record snowfall plagues Cheney, causes longterm headaches for city

---

January

Cheney entered 2009 in a state of emergency after a winter storm dumped record snow on the area in December. City Administrator Arlene Fisher asked residents to help city crews by moving cars off the streets so the streets could be plowed.

Cheney officials evacuated the Wren Pierson building after snow accumulation damaged the roof structure. The parks and recreation department moved to a temporary home in the city hall auditorium and the museum moved historical items to storage. Parks and recreation programs were expected to continue as planned.

The Cheney School District cancelled their first two days of classes following the winter break due to the poor condition of roads and facilities.

City Council voted to demolish at least part of the Wren Pierson building after severe roof damage occurred above the multi-purpose room. The city's insurance company recommended performing the demolition in phases and sealing of the rest of the building to determine whether it can be saved. Other problems with the 1947 building were discussed, including water drainage and asbestos. Meanwhile, the community rallied to accommodate the building's displaced tenants, including Cheney Outreach, food bank, clothing bank and museum.

Cheney applied to receive $988,000 in county emergency assistance, and may be eligible to receive money from FEMA.

Snow removal and damage costs for Cheney School District were estimated at $153,000, including the partial collapse of a storage building.

Thomas Myers filed another lawsuit against the city for a 1995 revocation of a site plan he said crippled his mobile home facility.

Cheney High School student Lorissa Green died after a Jan. 17 accident at the intersection of Cheney-Spokane Road and Highway 195.

City Council held a public hearing on installing cameras in Cheney's downtown core, in which opinions were mixed.

Cheney School District purchased the U.S. Air Force's communications station east of Four Lakes, paying $460,000 for the 60-acre plot. The district was considering moving several programs to the location.

February

Cheney's nuisance code was rewritten to include more specific, enforceable language. Deputy code enforcement officer Jeff Smick said the new language would modernize the punitive process, add civil penalties and provide a clear path for solving problems.

Secure It Self Storage at 100 East Betz Road continued to seek annexation into the city of Cheney.

Various government and civic agencies began work on a network meant to identify at-risk youths, aimed to prevent violence in schools.

Residential occupancy was a big issue in the rewrite process of Cheney's nuisance codes. Community members said several unrelated Eastern students were occupying homes zoned for single-family residency. City officials said they had difficulty finding out how many people lived in a home, and only investigated if they received a complaint.

City council discussed increasing park impact fees for the first time since 1997. Proposed increases came to $570 per one-bedroom apartment and $1,482 per single-family home. Developer Steve Emtman protested the increase at the council's Feb. 24 meeting, pointing out that he would be expected to pay $72,000 up front on his Terra Vista development. The first reading of the proposed ordinance was postponed pending clarified language.

The Cheney High School jazz band won the Outstanding Jazz Ensemble award at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Crime rates jumped in February over 2008, according to the police department's Monthly Accountability Report.

March

Cheney School District purchased a 20-acre plot of land on North Sixth Street that officials said would be used for athletic fields in future expansion plans. The land is located between the high school and the middle school and cost the district $710,000.

The chamber office in Cheney was vacated as the West Plains Chamber established a new location where Geiger Boulevard turns into a frontage road that parallels 1-90. Estimates to improve the Cheney office, with its leaky roof and energy inefficient windows, came in at $30-40,000. "A centralized location for the chamber is key because we need that visibility," executive director Matthew Pederson said. "We need to represent the entire West Plains."

Cheney compiled a $13.8 million "wish list" of projects the city wanted to start using federal stimulus funding for. The list included rehabilitating a city well and improving roads.

City Council continued to struggle with issues surrounding increased park impact fees.

Washington legislators worked to fund a turn lane at the intersection on Cheney-Spokane Road and Highway 195. Debi Ham-mel, mother of Lorissa Green, began the Lorissa Green Project to improve the road's safety after Green died from injuries suffered in a January accident at the intersection.

Voters within the Cheney School District passed a replacement maintenance and operations l£vy by at least 65 percent. The levy would supply the school district with $7.1 million in 2010, $7.4 million in 2011 and $7.7 million in 2012, taxing district property at around $2.87 per $1000 in assessed value.

Cheney will resume its SR-904 enhancement project after City Council amended design costs. The delay was caused by conflicts with WSDOT and other agencies, but the work was set to begin in late spring and would include tree replacement downtown.

Planning commissioners each took responsibility for a topic group that would provide input on the city's comprehensive plan rewrite process.

Discussions began on the possible closure of Reid Elementary School. An agreement between the Cheney School District and Eastern Washington University, which owns the school, was not reached due to a conflict over maintenance and operations responsibilities, as each party cited a lack of funds to continue operation Or pay for needed renovations at the 50-year-old laboratory school.

Council continued to debate a business license ordinance after confusion about rental properties came to light.

April

The school board held public hearings to give the public a voice in the decision over closing Reid Elementary School. Teachers, parents and students expressed sadness and anger. Some questioned the district's reasoning, and board members responded, saying EWU required $150,000 a year in payment from the district to use the school, which needed additional renovations EWU would not supply. The board voted to close Reid Elementary at the end of the school year.

Cheney Delights closed its doors due to the slow winter season and limited time with family, owners Fred and Gail Pollard said.

Cheney High School junior Marissa Young won ESD101's art contest with her welded sculpture "Blowing in the Wind."

City Council adopted an ordinance to establish a $30 business license fee, with exemptions for newspaper deliveries, farmers selling produce, babysitters, garage and bake sales, temporary craft booths, schools and churches.

Council voted to accept a $69,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to install a remotely monitored camera in the downtown corridor in efforts to reduce and investigate crime.

May

Public Works Department Director Todd Ableman reported that the city of Cheney has saved "millions of dollars" on its 2009 projects, due to the lower price of oil and a tough economy that produced fewer area-wide projects and more competition between contractors to win bids.

The school district reported that state budget cuts would likely result in larger class sizes, but administrators were determined not to cut programs or jobs.

City Council approved the first reading of a public hearing for an ordinance vacating an alleyway near the former Callaway's Addition, the current location of Jarms True Value Hardware and a spot that was overlooked by Cheney planners long ago.

Numerous obstacles have slowed the process of silencing train horns that can be heard throughout Cheney.

An early 2009 reorganization is paying off for the Cheney Police Department, where open cases have been reduced by 36 percent since January due to officers having more time to focus on investigations.

The Planning Commission discussed the future of the city's comprehensive plan. Commissioner Graeme Webster urged city staff to focus on balancing the number of apartments with the number of single-family homes. "We're building too many apartments," he said.

City Council approved a license and permit to developer Lanzce Douglass that would allow him to use public property for a water conveyance system that would transfer storm water from his Betz Road development north along Murphy Road and discharge it into a dry well.

Cheney Police Chief Jeff Sale presented research on the feasibility of establishing an animal control officer to serve the city at the May 26 council meeting. Council agreed it was easier to continue paying SCRAPS for animal control in the city.

Mayf est was a busy weekend in Cheney, with a parade, multicultural fair, live music, car show and bicycle events. The Friday Farmers Market also kicked off the season May 29.

Dr. Tony Oertling, chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Eastern Washington University, died in a kayaking accident in North Idaho-May 29. The cause in the experienced boater's death was unknown.

June

Reid Elementary closed its doors after fifty years as a lab school on EWU's campus. Current and former teachers and students gathered to say goodbye at a ceremony June 4.

The Cheney Historical Museum's board of directors worked with the Masons to secure a lease for their building at 421 First Street, an agreement that would provide the museum with a more visible location than their previous home in the basement of the Wren Pier-son building.

Former Reid Elemetary students planted a tree in Sutton Park as Cheney took its first steps toward becoming a Tree City U.S.A.

Cheney High School seniors celebrated graduation day June 12, where top graduates Desiree Winters, Missy Gill and Tyler Olson were honored for their academic accomplishments.

The city of Cheney and Thomas Myers entered into a settlement agreement over several lawsuits pertaining to Myers' Cheney trailer park. The settlement was pending an appeals court decision in July.

Loco Dogz restaurant opened at 313 First Street in Cheney, aimed at the college community.

Former Cheney Police Officer Mike Taylor sued the City of Cheney for $3.5 million in damages. Taylor was fired when city officials discovered his credentials were invalid. City staff claim they followed normal procedure, while Taylor said he was discriminated against and should have received his additional training as an employee of the city.

The City Council approved Parks and Recreation Director Paul Simmons to prepare language for a $6 million bond to be voted on in November that would pay for a new community center building during the first phase of construction on the proposed 50-acre park on Betz Road.

Candidates began preparing for the Aug. 18 primary elections. The mayor's office and two city council positions were being contested.

Becky Thomas can be reached at 2009: Cheney Year In Review Part 1



Copyright 2009 Cheney Free Press, Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cheney Free Press