Central Pre-Mix says mining ban harms business

Spokane Valley’s proposed moratorium on mining – which seeks to stop construction of new gravel pits within city limits – continues to draw protests not only from Spokane County but also from Central Pre-Mix, which has 300 employees and operates four mining sites in Spokane Valley.

“Central Pre-Mix was blindsided by the moratorium,” said Juna McDonald, Central Pre-Mix’s corporate environmental engineer, at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

She said there are only two large gravel pit operators in Spokane Valley: Central Pre-Mix and Spokane County.

“We were targeted; this is going to harm us,” McDonald said.

Deputy City Attorney Erik Lamb said the proposed moratorium will not have an impact on existing mining operations, but McDonald was not convinced.

One example McDonald gave was a pit Central Pre-Mix just purchased at Eighth Avenue and Havana Street. The moratorium may make it impossible to transfer mining permits from the previous owner’s name. 

Spokane County commissioners have already sent a letter to Spokane Valley opposing the moratorium, saying it will cause the county a loss of approximately $5 million – the value of the gravel the county planned to mine at a recently purchased 45-acre site near Tschirley Road. 

Critics of the moratorium point out that Spokane Valley doesn’t have designated mineral lands as is required by state law.

Lamb said those lands will be identified during the update of Spokane Valley’s comprehensive plan.

The council directed city staff to more clearly word the moratorium so it will not impede operating businesses.

“It was never our intention to say that Central Pre-Mix couldn’t do what they are doing,” Councilman Chuck Hafner said, before the council voted to move the moratorium on to a second reading. 

No one has yet to speak in favor of the moratorium at council meetings.

In other news

• A comprehensive plan change for the zoning of property on the corner of Flora Road and Mission Avenue first appeared to be passed by the City Council, but City Manager Mike Jackson later pointed out that the change is a city ordinance which requires the majority of the entire council to pass.

Because councilmen Ben Wick and Bill Bates were both excused absent, the three yes votes were not enough, and the ordinance will have to be reconsidered. The procedural mistake was discovered after the property owner’s representative had left.

The property is currently zoned low-density residential and owners Donald Fisher and Jayn Courchaine have applied to change the zoning to multi use center.

• The council also passed an ordinance levying an additional 1.3 percent excise tax on lodging. The extra revenue is designated to capital improvements – such as a sports facility – in Spokane Valley that promote tourism.