SPOKANE, Wash. — "It seems like we're going out of the way to put more people at risk rather than a more direct way to have fewer people at risk."
That's from Spokane City Councilmember Zack Zappone, who spoke with KREM 2 News on Sunday about the council's concerns about moving toxic waste through Spokane from the Hanford Nuclear Site.
On Monday, City Council voted on whether they'll send a letter to state and federal leaders about those concerns and alternative solutions.
The letter (pages 646-648 on the current Spokane City Council meeting agenda) will be sent to Governor Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), the deputy secretary of the Department of Energy, an EPA administrator and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).
But a new line in the amended version did spark some unhappiness from a council member.
"One spill would cause serious problems for generations," Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle said.
This comes after plans came to light about moving nuclear waste from the Hanford Site by the Tri-Cities through Spokane on their way to disposal sites in Utah and Texas.
Zappone sponsored the letter.
"We should be exploring all possible options to make sure we mitigate all risk to our community," Zappone said during Monday night's meeting.
One suggested option would be to turn the chemicals into a solid form before it goes through Spokane, which Zappone believes would be safe.
Bingle agreed with that request.
"I think that makes a ton of sense protecting our people from all that," Bingle said.
But a new line in the amended version of the letter did spark some unhappiness from him.
The line to note in City Council's letter is the following: "One final note about this endeavor: City Council understands that there is a reasonably cost-effective opportunity to use unionized labor within Washington State in pursuing a solidification plan, which we would also support."
"I don't think we need to be necessarily endorsing unionized labor on this," Bingle said. "I think whoever can do the job and get it done before it goes through the City of Spokane, contract with them. I couldn't care less if they're unionized or not."
The letter passed 6-1.
At Monday night's meeting, City Council also voted to add another City prosecutor to focus on serious narcotics prosecutions as well as approving American Rescue Plan Act funds for nine multicultural centers, including organizations like Latinos En Spokane and the Salish School of Spokane.
Two items that were supposed to be on Monday night's agenda were first readings for an expanded sit-and-lie ordinance and for a rental registry ordinance. The rental registry ordinance was deferred to the October 7 agenda, while the sit-and-lie ordinance was deferred to the Public Safety and Community Health Committee meeting on October 7.