Airway Heights OKs water restrictions
Lisa Leinberger
Spokesman Review
September 18, 2008
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Watering lawns between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the hottest months of the year is a thing of the past in Airway Heights.
The City Council unanimously passed the watering restriction Monday.
“The intent is not to be the water police,” said Bryan St. Clair, public works director.
He said the restriction is aimed at avoiding the loss of water through evaporation while people are watering lawns. People watering brown spots for a few minutes or children running through sprinklers are not the problem, he said. The problem is with water customers who aren’t minding their sprinklers to the point where water is running down the street.
Airway Heights isn’t the first city in the West Plains to adopt watering restrictions. Medical Lake has had a similar ordinance in place for a couple of years.
Airway Heights water customers may no longer water their lawns between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in June, July, August and September. There are exceptions, however. Anyone with new plantings, new landscaping or new lawns can get an exemption through City Hall. There was discussion Monday about the wording in the ordinance, which read, “new plantings, landscaping and lawns.” Mayor Matthew Pederson was worried that some residents might misinterpret that.
“I don’t want a customer to be at our front counter because of their interpretation,” Pederson said.
Nathan Smith, city attorney, also recommended that the council draft a policy statement to determine how customers can show proof of new plantings, lawns and landscaping.
“This is a logical step and one that is hopefully well-received,” Pederson said.
In other news, council had a lengthy workshop discussing the six-year transportation improvement program for 2009 through 2014.
Councilmembers Larry Haskell and Patrick Rushing felt there should be more emphasis on crosswalks along U.S. Highway 2.
Councilmember Don Mitchell had concerns that there were some projects on the list that were aesthetic projects and felt that projects for safety and road improvements should be given a higher priority.
They ultimately decided to hold off of approving the plan until the meeting on Oct. 6, when representatives from the state Department of Transportation will be in attendance and the council will have a chance to ask them questions about projects the state is more likely to chip in funding.
It will also give St. Clair a chance to take a look at the six-year plan and make changes according to the feedback from the council.
“This is great for me to hear, to get a feel for where we are going,” St. Clair said.
The next regular City Council meeting in Airway Heights will be Oct. 6.