Moses Lake approves health funding

Council reluctant toward issue

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council approved funding for the Grant County Health District.

Council approved $1 per person in Moses Lake, the same amount approved in 2005. The district initially requested $2 per person in Moses Lake to supplement their funding.

The funding passed unanimously but there was previous hesitance and protest from the council.

Council agreed health is important for the community but the ultimate responsibility lies with Grant County to fund the health district.

"We really need to rattle the commissioners' cages, Councilmem-ber Brent Reese said. "We need to remind them of their duties. I'll go ahead and vote for this because health is so very important."

Councilmember Bill Ecret said he was reluctant to approve funding.

"I think we're kind of dragging our feet," he said.

Ecret suggested writing a letter to state legislation to further inform them of the issue being a county issue, not a city issue, he said. The council planned to do so last year but never did, Ecret added.

Councilmember James Liebrecht felt the issue made the city look bad.

"I hate to be put in that light," he said. "They want to make Moses Lake take the brunt of their responsibility."

If the city does not approve the money, it will look as though they do not care for the citizens, he said. Liebrecht is not against giving the money to the district but said they are doing it "under extreme protest" of the situation.