Bulletin Column Feb. 25

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.

SESSION SET ON PASSING LANES

Plans for the proposed passing lane project on Highway 195 between Spangle and Colfax will be presented Wednesday, March 2, in a meeting at Colfax High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Members of the Department of Transportation staff will give a presentation on the project, possible locations and results of a corridor crash analysis. The public will be invited to comment on the plans for 195 and on Highway 26 between Hatton junction and Colfax.

Studies have shown installation of passing lanes on rural two-lane roadways can reduce collision rates by up to 42 percent, according to a report issued Monday to announce the public meeting. Up to six passing lanes have been planned for construction on Highway 195 between Spangle and Colfax.

FAIR EYES ‘OPEN’ ROYALTY ENTRY

A proposal to allow an open entry into the Palouse Empire Fair royalty contest received informal approval Monday night at the fair board meeting. Melissa Leinweber, fair secretary, said the open entry format would replace a long-standing policy in which royalty entrants for the fair contest came from winners of local Distinguished Young Woman competitions or other local royalty contests around the county.

Leinweber, who has headed the fair royalty program for six years, pointed out the fair has been facing a decline in the number of entrants because fewer towns around the county are conducting DYW or other types of royalty competitions. Last year the fair had six entrants in the royalty competition. They represented Colfax, Colton/Uniontown, Garfield/Palouse, Rosalia, Pullman and St. John.

They expect 18 to 20 candidates would be the maximum that could be in the competition. Leinweber said interviews, which could provide candidates with information on what is involved in the competition, will be part of the entry process.

She pointed out the competition includes scholarship awards, and the fair plans to work with school advisors who would be asked to advise students of the available scholarships. Scholarship prize funds derive from royalty fund raising events, work projects and donations.

Monday night’s fair board meeting lacked enough fair directors for a formal vote. Directors present indicated they were in favor and approved issuance of an email to other directors seeking their consent.

Toni Hennigar Jorgensen has been been named superintendent of the royalty competition.

WINDSOR FACES FORMAL CHARGES

Formal charges of delivery of a controlled substance were filed Feb. 18 against Sierra Windsor, the WSU student who was arrested Feb. 16 behind her sorority house by members of the Quad Cities Drug Task Force. Filed by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan LeBeau, the two formal charges reflect the probable cause affidavit which was filed in superior court after her arrest. The affidavit cited two alleged sales of cocaine to a confidential informant as part of an investigation which started after drug agents were tipped off by the informant that Windsor was selling drugs.

The formal charge alleges one sale was made between Jan. 1 and Jan. 18, and the second sale was made Jan. 29. The informant each time purchased a plastic baggie of cocaine with funds provided on the controlled purchase scenario, according to the affidavit.

It also stated the informant, who reported Windsor was believed to be selling cocaine and subsequently arranged with agents to make the controlled purchases, was under “judicial consideration.”

In a media report released after Windsor’s arrest, Sheriff Brett Myers stated Windsor’s Feb. 16 arrest interrupted what agents believe was another drug sale behind the Kappa Sigma sorority where Windsor resided.

Windsor, 21, was allowed release on her own recognizance in a first appearance in court the morning after her arrest. At that time she was ordered to appear at court Friday in the event formal charges were filed.

Pullman Attorney Michael Pettit Monday filed a court notice that he was representing Windsor. He also filed a demand for discovery listing 18 requests for items which could be included in the state’s case.

Friday, Kyle Geiger, president of WSU Associated Students, issued a press release that said the group is deeply concerned about any use of cocaine on the campus. He said they are concerned for the health, safety and welfare of fellow students and the entire Pullman community.

Geiger’s report said the ASWSU recognizes the problem is becoming more and more apparent on the campus and is in no way isolated to one group or type of student. The statement cited a recent WSU Health and Wellness survey in which 92 percent of students reported they have never used cocaine, but 66 percent of the respondents think the typical WSU student is using cocaine, if not regularly, at least occasionally.

Geiger proposed to form a coalition and work diligently to solve the issue and ensure the safety and welfare of students.

RULING ON DEATH AT

COLFAX

County coroner Pete Martin reported Friday the determination of the cause of death of Brian Thomas Decker, 53, Albion, was myocardial infarction due to coronary occlusion. Decker died Feb. 11 while he was at work at Harrison Electric in Colfax. The manner of death was determined to be natural causes.

Family and friends gathered Friday evening at the Albion Park for an informal memorial. Mr. Decker was cremated.

Endicott MAN HURT IN CRASH

Randy Rush, 39, Endicott, was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital Feb. 18 after sustaining possible neck injuries in a one-car accident on E Street in Endicott. Rush was driving a 2003 Saab which went off the street and into the ditch at about 10:04 p.m. Endicott EMTs responded to the scene.

Deputy Tim Cox in his accident report said Rush explained he lost control of the car after he “hit the dirt.” Rush was subsequently cited for driving while under the influence.

Rush is now recuperating at the home of his parents in Yakima.

RULING ON UNIONTOWN DEATHS

Cause of death for the two people who were found dead Jan. 17 at a residence on Warneke Road just south of Uniontown, was determined to be respiratory failure due to an overdose of methadone, County Coroner Pete Martin reported Friday. Aaron D. Marshall, 25, Uniontown, and Britnie Marie Schatz, 23, Clarkston were found dead Jan. 17. Martin determined that Marshall and Schatz died Jan. 16.

Methadone is a potent prescription medication commonly used for pain control. The manner of death was determined to be accidental, the coroner reported.

A determination of the cause of death had been delayed pending laboratory reports.

FINAL BALLOT COUNT

A total of 458 more ballots were added to the count on the Feb. 9 special election issues after the board of certification review Friday morning in the elections office. All results of the special levy and bond measures on the ballot remained unchanged after the final count.

The review board found 599 ballots were returned as undeliverable. The elections office held 99 ballots which were unsigned, and 59 of those were added to the respective counts after the would-be voters were notified and subsequently signed. Another 71 ballots were challenged because of questionable signatures, and the board allowed 43 of those to be tallied. Seven of 10 ballots put aside for miscellaneous reasons were allowed. A total of 52 ballots were returned too late to be tallied.

The elections office has slated the next special election for April 26, and to date four measures have been submitted for that ballot.

SEEK TO REVOKE SUA PRIOR RELEASE

A motion to revoke the early jail release allowed to Ualesi Chester Sua, 23, Pullman, was presented in superior court Friday morning by Deputy Prosecutor Wendy Lierman. The motion contends Sua violated a condition of the early release by failing to maintain lawful conduct. Lierman said three charges against Sua have been filed in district court and two in superior court.

Judge David Frazier scheduled an April 15 hearing for the motion. That date will follow the April 11 trial date set for one of the pending charges in superior court.

Sua was allowed the early release last Sept. 11 from a year-long sentence which was ordered last May 22 on a burglary conviction. When he was allowed the release, Sua was also given credit for extensive work time during the time he was in jail. He told the court at that time he intended to go to California to play out his last year of eligibility for college football.

In asking the court Friday to revoke the jail release, Lierman cited Sua’s last two arrests involving illegal possession of prescription drugs and unlawfully entering an apartment on Terre View in Pullman. She also cited Pullman arrests last September and November after Sua had been allowed early release from the year-long sentence. One cited case involves Sua taking a bottle of champagne from Dissmore’s Sept. 28 while another cites him taking an alcoholic beverage from Sunset Mart Nov. 20.

When Sua made his first appearance in court after his Jan. 29 arrest for illegal possession of prescription drugs, the judge asked him what happened to his plans to go elsewhere to finish out his college football eligibility. Sua told the court he had dropped plans for one more year of college ball but planned to try out for professional football.

Sua is now in jail awaiting trial on the two pending felony charges.

CITY CHANGES COLLECTION SERVICE

Colfax City Council Feb. 16 approved a change in debt collection agencies which was recommended by City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello. The county approved a three-year agreement with Armada Corp. which has area offices in Moses Lake and the Tri-Cities.

The city issued a call for proposals Jan. 6 and received four responses. The proposals were reviewed and scored by a committee. Among the applicants was Valley Empire located in Spokane Valley, which has been the collection agency for the city for several years.

The four members of the review panel scored Armada with 536 points compared to 474 from Valley Empire. Number-two applicant was Dynamic Collections, which was scored at 481.

Under terms of the Armada proposal, the agency returns all collections on debt assigned by the city, including costs, interest and any penalties. The collection agency’s earnings derive from a 40 percent fee charged to the debtor on the collection process.

Colfax uses the collection service to seek past due payments for water and sewer bills and for city court fines and fees. Many of the unpaid bills derive from water and sewer bills due from residents who have left town.

Among items in the Armada proposal were samples of thank you notes which had been sent to the agency by people who went through the debt collection process.

CITY BUYS NEW SOFTWARE

Colfax City Council members Feb. 16 approved purchase of a new $37,645 software system to keep track of the city’s financial records, court fees and personnel records. The council approved the purchase plan after getting a report that problems with the Vision software system had been consuming hours of staff time to straighten out the city’s books. Finance Director Chris Mathis said she also encountered ongoing problems with Vision representatives in removing ailments on the program.

City council members Feb. 16 approved a first-year payment of $7,529 to Bias, a Spokane firm which markets a software program for small cities. After the report of the software problems at the previous meeting, the council asked city staffers to check out other towns which have been using the Bias system. City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello reported the city checked out use of Bias at Rosalia and Liberty Lake.

The action by the city called for drawing the first payment sum out of the city’s reserves because the expenditure was not included in the 2016 budget.

Rizzitiello said under the purchase contract the city will have to make four more payments of the same amount. He said those payments will be included in the budgets for those respective years.

Councilman Jim Kackman pointed out the council next year will have to find the $7,529 sum in the budget to make the payment. Kackman also noted continued tapping of reserves will eventually leave the city with its reserve fund depleted.

In addition to the purchase contract, the city will pay an annual support contract for the Bias system. The Bias support contract is expected to cost about $2,000 less per year.

One snag in the software switch is the city’s present support payment with Vision. Rizzitiello plans to negotiate with Vision to get a partial return on the support sum because the city will no longer be using the Vision system.

The city began using Vision software in 2011 for part of its operation. Other Vision services were added in subsequent years. At the previous council session, council members, while noting problems encountered by software systems, pointed out the city can’t afford a $35,000 expense every five years to change its software.

RIVER ROAD WEIGHT CODE

An addition to the city’s code to add a weight limit for the North Palouse River Road was approved Feb. 16 by the Colfax City Council. Public Works Director Matt Hammer said the weight limit on the road will be the same as the limit enforced by the county, 19,560 total pounds.

The city lacked a clause in its written code to enforce the weight limit.

Hammer said the North Palouse Road takes a beating this time of year when the ground turns soft. The weight limit sign is posted at the Cedar Street entry off Highway 195. The sign can be folded down when the weight restriction is lifted when road conditions improve later in the spring.

Hammer noted truck access to Glenwood is available via the Palouse Highway and the paved Glenwood Road when the limit is imposed on the river road.

School busses, garbage trucks and emergency vehicles are among those exempt from weight restrictions.

Colfax acquired the N. Palouse Road from the county when it added the Redtail Ridge project and created a rural residential zone inside the city limits.