Public comments sought on boundary review board

EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners are holding a public hearing about disbanding the boundary review board.

The hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the commissioner’s hearing room at the Grant County Courthouse, came out of a December meeting about planned growth policies. Eight of the cities represented by attorney Jim Whitaker and five other cities voted to eliminate the board.

The board reviews annexation requests and boundary lines. If someone has a complaint about an annexation, the board hears the complaint.

“Thirteen out of 14 towns voted in here to do away with part of the rule (establishing the board,)” Commissioner Richard Stevens said. “We’re going to get the people to voice their opinion. All we got that day was the group on the planned growth committee. Now we’ll open it up to public testimony.”

The commissioners abstained from the vote. Depending on the results of the hearing, the commissioners will either make a decision at the meeting or request more information, Stevens and Commissioner Cindy Carter said.

“To do away with the boundary review board from that committee, which includes the three commissioners, has to be unanimous,” she said. “So if Marlin shows up and says no I don’t want to do away with it. Then it would be a moot subject, and if one of the three commissioners voted against it, it becomes a moot subject also.”

No matter what decision the commissioners make, Stevens said it’s unlikely to affect a civil lawsuit brought by Moses Lake against the county. The city claims Grant County breached its contract by not initiating a process to eliminate the boundary review board, which reviews annexation requests. As a result it wants the $733,204 paid to the county in taxes returned, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

Stevens disputed the claim, saying the county initiated a process to disband the board. They held a public hearing on the request in September 2007, then decided against eliminating the board.