Moses Lake council discusses conflicts of interest

MOSES LAKE - While discussing a request made by the Moses Lake Clinic to vacate a portion of Juniper Drive, Moses Lake council discussed possible conflicts of interest.

The discussion was triggered by a letter submitted to the city by attorney Luke McKean.

McKean claimed Mayor Ron Covey is an advocate of the vacation and asked him to identify any communication with Wenatchee Valley Medical Center representatives, financial interests and family connections.

"I have no idea where you came up with that," Covey said.

He said he has had contact with Olson, mainly at council meetings. He said he is an advocate for a better Moses Lake and has not announced his decision on the vacation.

"I have had no other communications with any representative of the clinic. I have no financial interest nor do I have any family connection with anybody at the clinic," Covey said.

Councilmember Bill Ecret was addressed in McKean's letter.

According to McKean, Ecret has a conflict of interest with the vacation request and should not participate in a discussion or vote on the issue due to his wife being employed at the clinic. In the letter, McKean claimed Ecret has expressed support of the proposal.

"I will say that my wife does work for the Wenatchee Valley (Medical Center) although she is not involved in financial decisions concerning property acquisitions, land development or expansion of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center or projects and I have not came out for or against this project," Ecret said.

Ecret later voted with five council members to table the discussion on vacating Juniper Drive. Councilmember Jim Liebrecht opposed the motion to halt the discussion.