In brief: County library to raise fees, fines

Spokane County Library District users will face higher fines and fees on March 1.

Overdue fines will quadruple from five to 20 cents a day, but the maximum fine will rise only $2 – to $7 per item.

Fees for processing lost or damaged materials also will go from $5 to $7 except for magazines, which will stay at $5, and comics, which will decrease from $5 to $3.

Also, billing notices will be sent 15 days after a due date is missed instead of 22 days. Balances of $25 or more will be sent to a collection agency in 45 days instead of 60.

Director Mike Wirt said the changes, approved in November, won’t affect most users or significantly affect library revenue.

“We just want more of our items returned to us on time and in good condition so that more customers can use them,” Wirt said.

John Craig

Feds, developer settle discrimination case

BOISE – Federal attorneys said they have reached a settlement with the developer of a Post Falls condominium complex that was built in a way that made it inaccessible to people with disabilities.

Terms of the deal announced Thursday require that Riverwalk Condominiums LLC pay more than $18,000 and retrofit the building to make it more accessible to disabled residents and guests.

The settlement still needs a judge’s approval.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Perez said there is no excuse for builders who ignore or fail to comply with federal fair housing laws, especially on new construction projects.

The case was based on a complaint filed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by someone who sought housing at the complex.

Associated Press

Forum at SCC to focus on Social Security

The public is invited to attend a forum today on Social Security at Spokane Community College sponsored by the Washington Alliance for Retired Americans.

Experts will include Andy Landis, author of “Social Security: The Inside Story”; Danielle Pere, of the National Alliance for Retired Americans; Maria Peck, of the Eastern Washington University Center on Aging; and Laura Wintersteen Arleth, Washington State University College of Nursing.

The forum will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in The Lair, Building 6 at Greene Street and Mission Avenue.

Staff reports