Soap Lake funding health district

Provides $2 per person request

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake City Council approved to fund the Grant County Health District for 2008 Wednesday.

Council unanimously approved to contract with the health district for services by paying approximately $2 per resident who lives within the city limits. The funds totaled $3,500.

The health district will request $2 per person in each Grant County city.

Councilmember Barney Berg said he could recall discussion of funding the health district for 2007 and thought council was not going to provide funds again.

City Attorney Jim Whitaker confirmed there was discussion to deny the health district funding for 2008.

He said there is a limited amount of state funding and a majority of the funding is only available for new programs.

Whitaker said he suspects several health programs to be renamed in the near future while offering similar services to appear as new programs to obtain state funding.

Mayor Wayne Hovde said the State of Washington should be paying to operate the health district.

"I'm really upset over this," Councilmember Maynard Hagen said.

He said he did not understand how the state was able to provide raises for state employees but is unable to give enough funding to health districts.

Councilmember Kandis Lair made the motion for approval of the funds. Councilmember JoAnn Rushton seconded the motion.

Councilmember Marina Romary was absent from the meeting.