STARBUCK – The Jan. 26 special meeting of the Starbuck City Council revolved around a subject that has consumed the city’s focus since last June: a public records request and subsequent lawsuit that has already cost the city thousands of dollars.

In early June, Spokane attorney Stephen Kirby, through his business, Tikor Consulting, brought suit against the Town of Starbuck for failure to make public records available for inspection in a timely manner, pursuant to RCW 42.56.520.

The Complaint, filed in Columbia County Superior Court on June 1 last year, includes copies of a letter dat...