Spokane developer Jim Frank says that he and about nine other people recently have begun meeting to study the viability and economic feasibility of incorporating Liberty Lake.


Frank, president of Greenstone Corp. and a developer in the MeadowWood area at Liberty Lake, declines to name the other participants in the informal study group, which formed about a month ago, but says some members are very much skeptics on whether Liberty Lake should be incorporated. He says others, such as himself, arent sure in which direction the community should head.


Were interested in looking at what would be the best way to govern ourselves. We want to maintain our quality of life and our strong sense of community, Frank says. That doesnt mean that incorporation is the answer, but were looking into it as an alternative.


Some of the other alternatives that the group is considering include keeping Liberty Lake as an unincorporated part of Spokane County or trying to reinvigorate efforts to form a larger city in the Spokane Valley that would encompass Liberty Lake, Frank says. He says that such ideas are expected to be discussed with residents and businesses of the Liberty Lake community next spring.


The group currently is evaluating whether to hire a consultant to conduct an analysis of the area, Frank says. Such an analysis would evaluate the economic feasibility of incorporation, as well as other issues. He says that the group likely will decide within the next two months whether to go ahead with a study.


If a study is conducted, Frank says the groups next step would be to outline its objectives, take those objectives to the Liberty Lake community, and seek public comment.


We are trying to figure out what our values and goals are, what we like about our community, and how we can maintain that, Frank says. Unlike other communities, ours doesnt have a lot of problems right now. But, we want to look at the issues that could arise over the next 10 years and find out what would be the best way to deal with those. We believe its best for us to be proactive.


Frank says some of the topics that are being evaluated include transportation, fire and police protection, whether the area has enough parks, and whether it has adequate library service.