By Dee Camp
The Chronicle

     OKANOGAN - Developers will have additional time to build under a revised plat ordinance.
     The city council approved the revision Feb. 16.
     Okanogan Planning Commission recommended the council approve the changes, which make city code consistent with state law.
     Under the changes, the time period between preliminary plat approval and final plat approval was increased from two years to five, and longer time extensions could be granted. The longest period allowable for completion of a phased subdivision would be 15 years from date of initial preliminary plat approval to final plat approval of the last phase.
      "They wanted to keep action going, rather than have people see a stagnant development" for years and years, Permit Administrator Christian Johnson said.
     Developers of all subdivisions approved in the past five years that have not received final plat approval can ask for the time line to be reset under the new rules.
     In other business, the council:
     -Heard a complaint from Lonnie Good about fees associated with an overdue water bill and the disconnection of water to his business, LJ Good Real Estate, 308 N. Second Ave. He has since moved the business to his home, 33 Appleway.
     Mayor Michael Blake asked the council Water Committee to look at the situation.
     -Learned 263 utility customers responded to a survey sent out with bills concerning cross-connection of water services. Information on backflow prevention is available from Okanogan City Hall, Public Works Director Ray Clements said.
     -Agreed to an interlocal agreement with other cities for negotiation of District Court-related criminal justice fees. Cities would pay actual costs rather than a percentage of the cost based on filings.
     -Learned that with the recent appointment of Shawn Messinger to the council, Blake reassigned committee members. They include Streets, Storm Drains and Rights of Way, Craig Nelson, Ken Thompson and Claudia Smith; Budget and Finance, David Linn, Messinger and Steven Gadd; Personnel, Public Safety and Contracting, Wayne Turner, Nelson and Messinger; Water, Sewer and Solid Waste, Gadd, Turner and Linn; Parks, Trails and Cemetery, Smith, Gadd and Turner; Planning, Zoning and Physical Facilities, Thompson, Smith and Nelson; and Business and Tourism, Messinger, Linn and Thompson.
     -Decided to have Hammond Collier Wade Livingstone provide construction engineering services for the Sixth Avenue-Orchard Grade improvement project, scheduled to begin in April. The firm designed the state-financed project and will oversee construction.
     -Heard Blake proclaim Feb. 16 as Okanogan Fire Department Day in recognition of the department's 100th year.