At odds over growth management needs

MOSES LAKE - A citizen said she is concerned with the way Moses Lake city councilmembers and Grant County Commissioners interact because it is harmful to citizens and progress.

At a Tuesday night council meeting citizen Mary Thorn said she is fed up with the finger pointing and the blaming going on between each entity.

"Whether we like it or not, Moses Lake is in Grant County," she said.

Thorn said she does not understand why the county and the city can't get along for the benefit of the citizens.

"You go to the county meeting and it's the same," she said. "Why can't you work together for all the people?"

Some Moses Lake city councilmembers claim Grant County commissioners make it difficult for them to manage growth.

Council was discussing a new covenant to encourage developers to build to city standards in the Urban Growth Area with regard to road improvements, underground power and water

utilities.

The growth area is county property intended to be annexed to the city.

"We're having to invent things and recreate a wheel … to comply with the way Grant County has dealt with growth management," Mayor Ron Covey said.

He said the creation of the covenant would not be necessary if Grant County commissioners complied with the intent of the state Growth Management Act.

"Is this going to reign in the commissioners?" Councilmember Dick Deane asked.

"Mr. Deane the answer is no," Covey said.

The mayor said growth management guidelines are mandated by the state, not the city or the county.

He said the city is trying to comply with the guidelines but finds it difficult due to the county's decisions.

He claims the county took the position to opt out of growth management and pushed for legislation to allow them to do so.

"The county didn't do anything for the longest time," Covey said. "We finally started working with the county, got them on board. It's unreal we have not been successful."

He said he was aware of "hard feelings" between the two entities when he became mayor and his goal was to abolish the feelings and work together.

"We have not been able to accomplish that," Covey said. "I failed."

He said it bothers him he has not reached his goal to change the relationship.

"Its not that we haven't tried … so I'll keep working at it," Covey said.

"My only comment is you only fail if you quit trying," Thorn said. "I don't know if it's a pow-wow, smoking the peace pipe, I don't know … there has to be a way."

Councilmember Richard Pearce said previous councils have attempted to improve the relationship.

"Is there a consultant we could hire?" Thorn asked.

The audience applauded Thorn's comment.

The mayor said experts are working to resolve the issues.

Citizen Rich Walpole said he noticed improvements in the relationship between the two entities.

"Keep your head high, keep working at it," he said.

Pearce moved to table the covenant decision and Deane seconded.

The issue will remain tabled.