Bulletin Column Dec. 10

The Horn School Rest Stop south of Rosalia was closed Dec. 4 as sheriff’s deputies investigated the death of Curtis Lee Johnson. See story below.

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

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BUDGET INCLUDES RATE HIKE

A 4.5 percent increase in city utility bills was approved by the Colfax City Council Monday night as part of the city’s budget for the upcoming year. The rate increase was included in the budget to generate local matching funds and costs for major grant applications in the coming year, City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello told the city council.

At its previous session, the council received a report from Dennis Fuller of Century West Engineering on an estimated $5.64 million in future project costs listed in the city’s comprehensive water plan over the next five to six years. Top item on the improvement plan is replacing the water line which connects the Glenwood artesian wells to the city’s water storage system.

Estimated cost of replacing the line is in the range of $3.5 million.

Rizzitiello said grant applications have been submitted to the USDA and the State Department of Health, but those grant applications require preliminary engineering and matching funds.

Fuller, in his Nov. 16 report, said proceeds from the last rate hike for Colfax, which was done in 2010, are now being used for annual maintenance and operation cost increases.

He said maintenance and operation costs of the system are now projected to increase at a rate of 2.5 percent each year.

He included a graph in his report which charted how department reserve funds would be depleted by 2021 without additional income.

Fuller recommended the city increase water rates by six percent for 2016 and contract for a rate study for next year.

The approved 4.5 percent hike is projected to generate $52,650 additional revenue. City council members Monday night asked what the revenue would be if the increase was set at the six percent level suggested by Fuller. That would have generated an additional $17,565.

Councilman Al Vorderbrueggen questioned why the proposal for a utility bill hike was presented as part of the budget. He noted past moves by the city to increase rates were done independently of the budget.

The council approved the budget, including the rate hike, on a 6-0 vote.

Councilman Steve Holberg pointed out cost-of-living increases can take a toll on businesses which compete with neighboring towns.

Impact of the rate hike was projected to average $3 per month per household, but bills could show a wide variation because the 4.5 percent will be added to the base rate and the added consumption rate, which hikes bills for some residents during the lawn and garden sprinkling months.

Other big-ticket projects in Fuller’s water report include $265,000 to replace the Thorn Street booster bump, $423,000 to improve mains to Jennings Elementary, $631,000 in improved service to Southview and $225,000 to improve service to the St. Ignatius loop on the south hill where a housing project has been proposed. Fuller reported water supply lines to Jennings and Southview are not adequate now to sustain water flow during an extended fire response.

The budget also includes $11,000 to fund a rate study to be completed next year, and part of the rate hike revenue is expected to be used for that added expense.

AVISTA

OUTAGE ON WEST HILL

Avista Monday afternoon issued a notice of a power outage for the West Hill area of Colfax from 10 p.m. Monday night to 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. The planned outage was scheduled to allow a crew to replace a broken arm on an electric feeder pole on the west side of town. The shutdown also knocked out cable service for television in other parts of the town because the cable relay system was in the shutdown area for the power outage.

IDENTIFY

SUICIDE

VICTIM

Coroner Peter Martin Monday reported he has completed his investigation of the death of Curtis Lee Johnson, 29, Airway Heights, who took his own life at the Horn School Rest stop along Highway 195 south of Rosalia last Friday morning. Mr. Johnson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Deputies responded Friday morning to a report that a suicidal person could be located at the rest stop. They responded to the scene, cut off access to the rest stop and determined Johnson was deceased after he failed to respond.

Coroner Martin said Mr. Johnson had a history of post-traumatic stress disorder. The manner of death was later determined to be suicide.

OFFICER OLIN DEPARTS

Colfax Police Officer Chris Olin has resigned to join the Moscow Police Department. Olin had served with the department since August of 2011 and underwent police academy training after joining the department. The resignation again leaves the department short one officer. Two officers, Max Malakowsky and Jaelene Bryan, are booked to attend the next academy training session which begins in February.

HAXBY TRIAL DATE SET

A Feb. 16 trial has been set for Alexander Stuart Haxby, Bowen Island, B.C., after he entered pleas of not guilty to five charges of vehicular assault Friday in superior court. The charges against Haxby relate to an early morning UTV accident on Rogers Road west of St. John Aug. 30. Rogers Road is located southwest of Webb’s Slough, where the sprint boat races had been conducted the previous day.

The five charges list passengers who had been riding in the UTV. According to the investigation report, the UTV crashed after being driven off an embankment from the adjoining field. Haxby is being represented in the case by Spokane Attorney Richard Kayne.

The court Friday also issued a protective order regarding the medical and personal information of the alleged victims. The order provides for the prosecutor’s office to provide non-redacted copies of the medical and personal information to Kayne, but restricts the defense from disseminating the information in the reports without further authorization from the court.

ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAY 270

Two non-injury accidents on the Moscow-Pullman Highway were investigated by the Washington State Patrol Friday afternoon. At 4:20 p.m. a 1997 Subaru Legacy driven by Kimberly Farbo, Moscow, collided with the 2005 Dodge Caravan driven by Travis Fox, also of Moscow, at the Garrison Road intersection. According to the the WSP report, Farbo had slowed the westbound Legacy in an attempt to turn left onto Garrison Road. Fox was driving the Caravan eastbound on the highway and was unable to avoid the Legacy as it turned in front of him.

At 5:26 p.m., officers responded to a report of a collision on Highway 270 about 8.1 miles east of Pullman. Rachel L. Nigro, Clarkston, was driving a 2002 Toyota Highlander eastbound and slowed for traffic. The Highlander was struck in the rear by a 1983 Toyota Tercel which was being driven eastbound by Jonathon Kramer, Potlatch. The report said Kramer attempted to avoid the Highlander but collided with the left rear of the stopped vehicle.

FREE LIBRARY SOAKED

The Little Free Library located on Cedar Street across from Maggie Cain Park was damaged by winds and rain over the weekend. Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick said high winds blew the door of the small structure off its hinges and rain soaked the books inside. The mini library is now undergoing repairs.

DORM TV

EGG TOSS

Derek Swanson, 19, WSU student from Issaquah, was sentenced to serve three days in jail Friday after he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of malicious mischief in the third degree. Swanson was charged with throwing an egg at a wall mounted television in a common area of the Duncan Dunn Residence Hall last May 7.

Defense Attorney John Hart said Swanson was among several people who damaged common areas of the residence hall that night. He said university officials apprehended Swanson, who has subsequently paid for all the damage done to the residence hall. Hart said other participants in the spree left the defendant “holding the bag.” The investigation included viewing a “SnapChat” video recording of Swanson which was taken during the spree.

Swanson, who was formally sentenced to 364 days in jail with all but three days suspended, was also placed on unsupervised probation for a year. He was ordered to pay $700 in fines and fees. The restitution payments made for the damage included janitorial fees for the cleanup, according to Hart. Value of the television was placed at $1,207 by WSU facilities staff.

STRUGGLE

NETS

SENTENCE

Brandon Hernandez, 19, Walla Walla, was sentenced to three days with credit for the same length of time served after he pleaded guilty in superior court Friday to charges of fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest. The charges relate to a Sept. 18 encounter which started with a littering incident.

Hernandez was observed throwing a styrofoam cup at a vehicle in a parking lot by Pullman Officer Ryan McNannay who was on bicycle patrol on NE Ruby Street. The report said McNannay decided to arrest Hernandez when he allegedly attempted to give a false name after he was asked to identify himself. An extended struggle ensued between the suspect, McNannay and another officer who had arrived at the scene.

At one point in the struggle, McNannay reported, his glasses and bicycle helmet were knocked off.

Hernandez, a Walla Walla Community College student who was visiting Pullman that night, was ordered to do 10 hours of community service. He said he has been a volunteer assistant for the wrestling team at Walla Walla High School. He was also ordered to pay fines and fees totaling $700.

ROTARY BIDS GENERATE

$4,155

Members of the Colfax Rotary club Dec. 3 generated $4,155 with their annual Christmas gift auction. The club donated $2,770 of the proceeds to the Fireman’s Toybox fund and $1,385 to the Giving Tree. The club also donated $500 from their reserves to the Toybox fund.

The format of the auction allows club members, who could be dissatisfied with an exchange gift, to sell it off by bidding to buy out some other member’s gift.

ON THE WAY TO THE

CONCERT

A charge of drug possession was filed Dec. 2 against each of four people who were among six occupants of a car which was originally stopped for speeding on Highway 195 near mile marker 53 at Cashup Flat. The four suspects, all 18 years of age at the time of the traffic stop, were each charged with possession of a drug commonly known as Molly. All four of the suspects listed residence halls at Washington State University as their place of residence. Deputy Michael Jordan in his arrest report said he detected an odor of freshly cut marijuana coming from the northbound vehicle after he made the traffic stop. He said the driver of the car eventually admitted she had been smoking marijuana.

Subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of marijuana, pipes, a marijuana grinder, a bong and a case of 18 beers which was in the trunk, according to the investigation report.

The drug possession charge relates to Molly (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which was found in one of the packs. According to the arrest report, four of the occupants of the car admitted they had chipped in to buy the drug.

Charged with possession of the drug were Linsey Vest, 18, driver of the vehicle; Alexander Castillo, 18; Kenza Umar, 18, and Joseph Taylor, now 19.