Resident asks Spokane County to restore community corrections work crew funding before October cleanup

At the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 26, resident Becky Dickerhoof urged the board to investigate restoring funding for the community corrections work crew that has helped local neighborhood cleanups for the past two years.

Dickerhoof, speaking on behalf of Pat Nault, cleanup coordinator for the Lehta Hangman Neighborhood Council, said the group's annual event on Oct. 3 relies on a work crew that helped load heavy items into 30-yard dumpsters. "I'm asking that you investigate restoring the funding for this program ASAP," she said, adding that without the crew the event will be slower, pose a greater risk of injury for people moving bulky refuse, and could cause a queue of vehicles to back onto Inland Empire Way.

She described the event as a four-hour pop-up with roughly eight large dumpsters provided in a fixed location (in Vinegar Flats) where residents can drop off bulky items at no cost. Dickerhoof said volunteers—often teens and older adults—depend on the crew's muscle to move heavy items; she also said Officer Michael Gray supervises the crew and that neighborhood residents have complimented crew members' manners and helpfulness.

The comment was made during the open public forum; the transcript records no immediate county response or commitment to restore the funding during the meeting. The consent agenda vote that followed did not directly address the request. The board then moved into a closed session to discuss labor negotiations.