SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council met for its first meeting of the year Wednesday.  

The meeting began with an executive session in regard to the performance of a public employee with no action following. Lake water usage, officer recognition and other items were addressed afterward. 

WATER ISSUES 

Council Member Judith Gorman gave a report on the Lake Liaison Committee. The next meeting is on Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center.  

“We're in the process of thinking we're going to recommend to the city that the city permanently – this is going to shock some people – both the residential and the commercial water utilities from the mineral water system will all be terminated,” Gorman said.  

During the next meeting, Gorman said there will be continued discussion around the impacts seen in the lake and the decision to decommission water usage to both commercial and residential properties. The Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort uses the water from the lake for commercial purposes due to its reputation for having health benefits. Additionally, a few residences in town utilize the lake for water in the home. The restrictions on water usage would have serious impacts for the resort and those homes. 

Concerns leading to the thought to eliminate commercial and residential usage include water quality due to irrigation water infiltration into the lake and the decline of area water tables. 

“The aquifers in this area are falling drastically, hundreds of feet, and so this is probably likely, in addition to what's happening with the Bureau of Reclamation and irrigation district contributing to the lowering of the lake level,” Gorman said. “And our state agencies are discussing this, so we're waiting to hear from them before we make our formal recommendation. But we're heading in the direction of recommending terminating the commercial mineral water system, and that includes the contract that we have with the resort.” 

SLPD 

Soap Lake Police Department Acting Police Chief Robert Geates said New Years was full of calls. Geates is the acting chief while Chief Ryan Cox is on paid administrative leave. Cox has been on leave since Nov. 15, 2024. 

“New Year's Eve was busy with calls,” Geates said. “We had a motorcycle that decided to flee from us on New Year's Eve. He made about a block before he wrecked out. He was transported to the jail where he was booked on several felony warrants.” 

With the new year, also came a new reporting system for the department. Soap Lake, alongside the other agencies in Grant County, switched from Spillman to 365 Labs for enforcement software.  

“So, bear with us. It's not functioning as it should, and we're struggling through it,” Geates said. “So, bear with us when we come to calls for you guys, it's been challenging.” 

No official comment has been given by the city or police department in regard to Cox’s leave. City and county staff who are aware of the situation and spoke with the Columbia Basin Herald on condition of anonymity have said the issue stems from two incidents.  

The first issue is Cox’s misuse of a city vehicle to tow a car he’d purchased from the city of Brewster that had been deemed a total loss by Brewster’s insurance company. Cox purchased the vehicle for $1 and repaired it for sale to the city of Oroville, which then bought the car for $7,500.  

Both the Brewster and Oroville police chiefs told State Auditor’s Office investigators they were under the impression that Cox was acting on behalf of Soap Lake. Cox has previously told the Columbia Basin Herald that he had made it clear that it was a private transaction and that both chiefs knew he had a business repairing government vehicles for resale. He said he was unsure how they misunderstood the transactions. The car was also stored at the SLPD garage for a short time and Cox reportedly used city assets to discuss the vehicle with the other departments. The vehicle was purchased from Brewster in October 2020 and sold to Oroville the following month, according to the SAO findings report. 

The second stems from an area resident being pulled over and issued a warning by an officer. The resident then donated steaks to the department, and while staff tried to decline the donation, the resident left the meat behind anyway. No staff took advantage of the donation, and the meat was discarded, but city administration said they felt Cox should have handled it another way.  

Mayor Peter Sharp and other city officials have declined to comment on the record about the issue. 

Other items 

Soap Lake Mayor Peter Sharp issued awards to officers who participated in Soap Lake Shop with a Cop. He also noted that all traffic signs around the city are in the process of being replaced and updated per the city’s new insurance company's policies. He also said renovations to the library have begun and discussed potential City Hall renovations.