Soap Lake council receives community updates

SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake City Council met Thursday and got updates from Soap Lake Police Department, Grant County Fire District 7, Public Works, Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce, Soap Lake Creative District, Lake Liaison Committee and the Soap Lake Prevention Coalition.  

Soap Lake PD 

SLPD Chief Patrick Canady said the department had a busy month. In August, SLPD had 147 calls for service, 21 arrests, five accidents and 81 tickets issued citywide. 

Canady said he has had a focus on runaway parking and getting vehicles with expired tabs removed.  

“We marked 36 of those in the city and we didn’t have to tow any of those,” Canady said. “I just want to thank the people in the community for helping us out to get those vehicles off the street.”  

GCFD 7 

GCFD 7 Chief Erick Brittain said August was hectic. The department had 70 calls for service, 24 fire incidents and 43 medical incidents from traffic collisions.  

“That's been busy. So, it's a nice welcome for me, I guess,” said Brittain, who began his term as fire chief in August. 

Brittain said the department also had a successful training at Soap Lake School District on Aug. 29. 

“We did a roll up drill with our crews utilizing the support of the sprinkler systems there on site and had a great turnout from staff as well as the school being very compliant with all the fire folks,” Brittain said. “So, a job well done.” 

He said he is working with SLPD and the district to work toward active shooter drills in the future. 

He also wanted to remind residents that GCFD 7 will be at the Decades of Distinction car show Sept. 13.  

“There's going to be some excavation tools on display, and we're going to have some demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. We did get that donated by the community. We just kind of want to have the community out and do a little show and talk about what the tools can do.”  

Public Works  

Public Works Director Eli Olson discussed a situation that occurred Aug. 27 with a resident stealing a telehandler from the Soap Lake School District and breaking a power pole.  The situation was resolved, but took several manhours while he and staff member Bryan Adkins worked on the issue and brought in an electrician to repair the line.  

Olson also explained that Well One is closed for maintenance.  

“There is a possibility that the coliform hit might have come from that well, we don’t know,” Olson said. “We are going to do some exploratory surgery on it.” 

Olson said he and his team are working on Buttercup Street South and Third Street to address drainage issues. He said there are some intersections in the city that have storm drains that don’t go anywhere. He explained that one line was taking the brunt of the water which they had now cleaned out.  

He said the repair should prevent flooding during the next heavy rain. 

Chamber 

Chamber Vice President and Council Member Susan Carson said the chamber has started working on Trunk or Treat, which will be at Smokiam Park this year. The event will allow children to trick or treat without walking around Soap Lake on Oct. 31. 

“This is going to be a good time, and this way, also it keeps the kids safe, because they're going to be in one in the park and on a closed off road and not up the street this year,” Carson said. “We're going for bigger and better, and we're going to keep working on it.”  

Soap Lake PD and GCFD 7 will be there for pictures and questions. Residents are encouraged to bring cars, booths, tents and set those up on the grass. Children will then trick or treat the different stands. 

There will also be a costume contest.  

“We're working with some of our local businesses… We're trying to figure out if we can get some of our local businesses to bring food and provide dinner,” Carson said. “So, that way when the parents come home, they can just get their kids dressed and come down to our event and have dinner and hang out.” 

Creative District 

On Oct. 1, there will be a celebration of the establishment of the Soap Lake Creative District, Kayleen Bryson said. The director of Arts Washington will present on how the Creative District works.  

“Then following that, we're going to have a couple of days where we're encouraging the local businesses and locations in the Creative District to put up some art and have the public be able to see some of that progress,” Bryson said. 

Lake Liaison  

On Friday, the Lake Liaison Committee will be meeting at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center at 3 p.m. to discuss expanding the data the city receives annually from the Quincy-Columbia District Irrigation District.  

“Everybody in this room is invited personally by the chair, and we keep getting the same people and that's good that I really like to hear some from some of the new Voices or old voices that are willing to come and speak with the Lake Committee, which is the official recommendation source of the city,” Lake Liaison Chair Judith Gorman said.  

Prevention Coalition 

Soap Lake Prevention Coalition Coordinator Ryan Boldman shared that in 2024 Washington reported nearly 2,500 fatal opioid overdoses. In Grant County, there were 26 fatal overdoses and around 176 suspect overdoses. 

“These aren't just statistics. These are our neighbors. They are mothers, fathers, children, and that's why we are working in partnership with Washington State University, law enforcement service providers and those with lived experience to host a community conversation on opioids,” Boldman said.  

Boldman said WSU donated $5,000 to the community to have these events.