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Spokane County commissioners approve consent items, deny private easement at Fish Lake
Summary
At a Feb. 4 consent meeting the Spokane County Board of Commissioners approved consent agenda items 3–5 by voice vote and denied a requested private easement across county-owned shoreline near Fish Lake; the decision was based on the existing record from a continued public hearing.
The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Feb. 4 to approve items 3, 4 and 5 on the consent agenda and, in a separate decision, voted 4-0 to deny a requested private easement across county-owned shoreline near Fish Lake.
The consent agenda motion to approve items 3–5 and all subitems carried by voice vote. The board then took up item 6(a), a continued, decision-only matter concerning a proposed easement across a portion of Spokane County Assessor parcel number 23051.9021 for the benefit of parcel 23051.9005. The board had closed the public hearing and comment period on Jan. 28 and said it would issue its decision based on the existing record. The commissioners denied the easement 4-0.
Why it matters: the easement would have granted private access across county-managed shoreline adjacent to Fish Lake. Commissioners who supported denial said the easement would not serve a public use, could harm shoreline habitat, and that existing public boat-launch access is sufficient for the lot owner to use their property.
Details of the votes and motions: a commissioner moved to approve consent items 3–5, another commissioner seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote with four affirmative responses and no opposition recorded. On item 6(a), a commissioner moved to deny the requested easement; the motion was seconded and passed 4-0. The minutes list four commissioners present at the start of the meeting: Commissioner Waldorf, Commissioner Kearns, Commissioner CUNY and Commissioner French; a commissioner later identified themself as Commissioner Jordan during the meeting. The record indicates a unanimous vote in both instances but does not specify which commissioner made each motion in the searchable record.
Background and next steps: the board characterized the item concerning Fish Lake as decision-only because public testimony had closed at an earlier hearing on Jan. 28; the board said it relied on the existing written and oral record from that hearing. The motion to deny included concerns about conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources along the shoreline. The board did not indicate any immediate follow-up tasks or appeals in the decision record available during the meeting.
Ending: The meeting concluded after the votes; no additional items were added to the agenda and the board adjourned.
