MOSES LAKE — Six Moses Lake City Council members publicly repudiated comments made by councilman Victor Lombardi, at the regular council meeting June 23.  

Mayor Dustin Swartz, Deputy Mayor Don Myers and council members Mark Fancher, David Skaug, Jeremy Davis and Joel Graves released individual statements Friday. 

“Mr. Lombardi made baseless and inflammatory accusations against two of our esteemed legislators, (Sen.) Judy Warnick and (Rep.) Tom Dent,” Swartz said in his copy. 

All letters were signed individually but had the same wording. Swartz said it was prepared by the city’s legal counsel but that each council member reviewed and signed it individually. 

“The city has worked hard to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with our legislators, and we hold both in high regard,” the letter said. “Judy and Tom have been exceptional partners in providing legislative support for the city and its citizens and have earned our respect and appreciation.” 

“I do not believe Mr. Lombardi’s surprising statements reflect the city council’s position, nor do I agree with his statement," the letter said. "I am disappointed that Mr. Lombardi used his time during council comment to engage in such a personal attack against our legislators and I denounce his statement." 

During the comment period for council members at the June 23 meeting, Lombardi read a prepared statement and singled out a potential project on Central Drive that’s being developed by HopeSource, which provides housing services in Grant, Kittitas and Chelan counties. 

Lombardi said Dent and Warnick were working on funding for the project. Lombardi accused the legislators of acting in their own self-interest. 

“It’s a bit disheartening and that this operation and this legislative group are using our seniors currently as a billboard to push this project,” Lombardi said in his prepared statement. “Instead of representing the largest city in (Legislative) District 13, they chose to represent one organization.” 

Lombardi was contacted by the Columbia Basin Herald for comment but did not respond by press time. 

Swartz was also contacted by the Columbia Basin Herald for a response. “I think the letter speaks for itself," he said and declined to comment further. 

Lombardi cited Warnick’s membership on the HopeSource board of directors. Warnick said that while she is on the HopeSource board, she has no personal stake in the group’s projects.  

“I am a volunteer on that board, and I get no compensation,” Warnick said, and added she would not benefit from the project, "financially or otherwise.” 

The project, said Nathan Pate, the city’s senior planner, has been the subject of a pre-application meeting. The project as proposed in the pre-application would be located on undeveloped property on Central Drive and would be about five acres in size. All apartments would be affordable housing for seniors.  

Two phases of development are proposed, with the first phase one four-story building with 44 apartments. The second phase would add another four-story building with 65 apartments. It would include off-street parking and resident amenities. That could include a walking trail around the property and a fenced dog park for residents, but the pre-application proposal said amenities could be subject to change. 

It's still in the very early stages, said Sam Puntenney, HopeSource communications manager. “(The project) is in early pre-development at this time. We should have more information in the next 6 to 12 months,” she said.  

Warnick said about $2.76 million has been allocated through the Legislative Capital Budget for the project. It also includes rehabilitation of an existing 20-unit apartment building at the intersection of East Hill Avenue and South Division Street. Those would be available for families who meet the income qualifications. People with incomes from 30 percent of the average median income to 60 percent AMI would be eligible, according to information from HopeSource.  

Warnick said she supported it because it would fill a need. 

“The government has made it more and more expensive to build homes, to put up homes, so there are people who need safe places to live,” she said. “It’s to provide housing for very low-income families and seniors.”  

Dent said housing stock is scarce and is more expensive regardless. 

“Once we’ve gone through COVID, we’ve seen inflation just take off. Runaway costs,” Dent said. “(There is) a lack of any kind of housing, affordable or otherwise. A lot of the work that’s going on – it's happened, and these people do need a place to live.”  

Dent said he appreciated the work done by HopeSource.  

“I think we’re lucky to have people like that doing this kind of work, because it’s hard work,” Dent said.