Millwood Town Hall will install security glass

Millwood is tightening security at its town hall.

The town of 1,649 has a reputation for being a quiet oasis of tree-lined streets that borders the Spokane River.

Soon, the public counter at the town hall will be fitted with security glass, said Millwood Mayor Jeanne Batson. The town has already put in a bell that alerts staff when someone comes inside, and other security measures could be added. The issue will be further discussed at the council meeting in December, Batson said.

At first, Batson insisted the recent concerns about staff safety were general and didn’t come from any specific incidents. She pointed out that the Spokane County Courthouse and other government buildings have security and that crooks live in Millwood. Batson also initially denied that the town hall went into lockdown mode for a while Monday afternoon.

“It wasn’t locked up at 3 o’clock. You can try to get in any time,” Batson said.

Yet Millwood resident Richard Gardner tried to get into the town hall Monday afternoon. The doors were locked. Gardner had stopped by to talk with staff about a pole barn he wants to build. Gardner said he eventually went around the building to the community policing office in the basement, which was locked as well. Gardner knocked on the door. The woman who answered said the town hall was closed but that she didn’t know why.

When told about Gardner’s experience, Batson checked with employees and confirmed the town hall did close, but only for a short time because a Millwood resident had been harassing town employees.

Robert Mankin, a retired boilermaker, stopped in to the town hall several times on Monday. He admits to being the cause of the recent discussion about security.

“It’s me,” he said when a reporter asked him Wednesday if he knew who had caused the security concerns in Millwood.

Mankin, 64, is a large man who has a confrontational style. One of his favorite lines is: “You’re a liar.” He frequently used insulting terms (feminazi, queer, sow, labor goon, crummy parasite attorney, red doper diaper baby and communist, among others) to describe people to a reporter.

Lately, Mankin has been riled up about numerous issues in Millwood. He was raging mad when the mayor and Town Council decided this summer to disband the town fire department and sell its newly built station to the Spokane Valley Fire Department. He is also upset about what he sees as illegal building happening next door to his house on East Empire Way. He also alleges that the town is ignoring sewer regulations and believes the Town Council has been holding illegal executive sessions. He’s furious that a recent effort to recall Batson was denied by a judge.

“All we know is that Mankin comes in here and rants and raves and we’re tired of listening to him,” Batson said.

Since it’s a public building, they can’t keep Mankin out, Batson said. But they can put a barrier between him and female employees, Batson said. Mankin has never physically assaulted against any town employees, but Batson feels he’s capable of violence.

“He comes in and calls everybody dirty names and threatens them and accuses them,” Batson said. “You can’t believe anything he says.”

Mankin is affronted that anyone would say he has the potential to act violently.

“They’re trying to make it out like I’m some kind of maniac,” Mankin said. “I have never hurt even a bird in my life. I couldn’t. Life is precious even if it’s in a demon.”

Gardner, who found the town hall locked this week, recently moved to Millwood and doesn’t know Mankin. Yet he’s concerned about the cost of the security measures. Millwood officials have said the town is strapped for cash.

“I can’t see us spending money for things we don’t need,” Gardner said. “What is their big deal?”

Batson said she didn’t know how much the security glass would cost but said it won’t be expensive. It’s necessary to protect town employees, most of whom are female.

“You can’t have these girls in jeopardy,” Batson said of the employees.