Approves land swap, accepts donations

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council discussed vandalism concerns, trail expansion and approval of several donations Tuesday night.

More than $20,000 are expected to be spent cleaning up graffiti this year and providing extra patrols around the parks, Director of Parks and Recreation Spencer Grigg said.

Vandalism plagued the park system this year. Fire and graffiti are also a factor in damaging park restroom facilities, according to Grigg. Some facilities must be renovated before they can be re-opened to the public.

A special night patrol monitors activities in the parks. The service costs approximately $4,000. Four surveillance systems installed around the parks cost an additional $4,000 for operation and installation.

Mayor Ronald C. Covey asked Grigg to look into an additional security package. The goal is to find a system with a higher resolution and an ability to be viewed over the Internet by police. Grigg said he will research a minimal cost package and present his findings to the council.

With more updated technology, Grigg hopes to send the message to possible perpetrators that they will be caught on camera and much more easy to identify for arrests. The council hopes the added security will cost less than the clean-up procedures in the long run.

A trade between the city and developer Bill Storms was approved.

In exchange for the deed of a vacant lot along Driggs Drive, a concrete portion of the sidewalk will be extended 10 feet. Currently the sidewalk is 5 feet wide and is part of the Moses Lake Activity Trail. The value of the sidewalk addition is estimated to be $14,500 and the value of the property is estimated to be $1 per square foot with the lot approximately 14,000 square feet in size.

The sidewalk installation date was not determined.

The council accepted a $250 donation from the Alpha Omega Chapter of Epson Sigma Alpha for the local Special Olympics program. They also accepted a donation from Culligan Water for $55.50 for the fire department. The money is designated for the juvenile fire prevention program through the National Fire Safety Council.

A thermal imaging camera was granted to the fire department from the Department of Homeland Security. The camera will be used during fire suppression. It picks up heat ranging from body heat to detecting fire in a smoke filled room. So far the camera was used for rescuing a cat that was sheet-rocked into the walls of a newly built house, Deputy Chief Corbin Moberg said.

The police department received approval from the council to apply for a reimbursable grant to purchase new portable breath testing machines. The grant is for $1,815 from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. The department must pay for the machines from their current budget first and then they will be reimbursed by the state. It will be easier to establish probable cause for people driving under the influence of alcohol, Police Chief Dean Mitchell said.

The Moses Lake City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m.