Friday was the annual get-together of mayors, city council members, and other key players in Spokane County. The Council of Governments meeting at the fair grounds focused on economy, military, and local transportation. In summary, officials made optimistic predictions for the year to come.
The commander of Fairchild’s refueling wing, Colonel Charles McDaniel, says he is still set on bringing the Air Force’s new KC-46 tanker to Fairchild. He says there’s also discussion about bringing the water survival course to Fairchild.
On economy, Avista Economist Grant Forsyth said GDP, gross domestic product, is expected to hit a peak in 2015. He also reported that Spokane’s job growth is a bit below the national average, while Kootenai County is just about in line.
Another round of speakers outlined transportation goals, like the Spokane Transit Authority “Moving Forward Project”. STA predicts to see record ridership on busses this year, and a growth in ridership by 30-percent with the project.