Wednesday
Division up for grabs
Rainfall in the forecast for Peninsula B10
Peninsula College soccer enters deciding game B1
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS October 21, 2015 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
Council OKs eminent domain Process available but not expected to be used BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — The City Council has unanimously approved a process to forcibly acquire property needed for a $5.5 million Howard Street extension project, but neither the mayor nor the city attorney feels it will be necessary.
“We need to have this process available, although I don’t think we will use it,” said Mayor David King during Monday night’s council meeting. City Attorney Steve Gross told the council he did not expect that eminent domain would be invoked, although he now has the approval to do so without council approval.
The project will connect West Sims Way and Discovery Road by extending Howard Street and is expected to turn 82 acres of vacant and under-utilized land into shovel-ready industrial property. The city needs to acquire portions or rights of way of nine parcels to finish the connection. City Engineer David Peterson said seven of the properties are in escrow and the purchase agreement of one property is signed, leaving only one property in doubt. Peterson said the specified portions of all nine properties are necessary for the completion of
the project. “It all fits together like the pieces of a puzzle,” Peterson said. Gross said the city has budgeted a maximum of $305,000 from the city’s general fund for right-of-way acquisition. The amount is split about evenly between consultant fees and purchase costs, he said. Construction of the extension and a traffic circle where Howard Street intersects with Discovery Road is expected to begin in February and be completed by the end of the year, according to project manager Samantha Trone. However, the city will lose grants and loans for the project if
ownership of property isn’t secured by the end of 2015. “If we don’t have a commitment [from property owners] by the end of the year, we will lose the funding for the project,” King said. The project will be funded by a $300,000 grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board; a $2.1 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board; $1.05 million from the state Department of Transportation; and $1.7 million of water and sewer utility funds from the city. TURN
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EMINENT/A5
PT native returns to roots Passion for farms, food BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Newly named Port Townsend Farmers Market Director Amanda Milholland prepares her garden for the winter with help from her three-month-old daughter, Inez.
PORT TOWNSEND — The Halloween edition of the Port Townsend Farmers Market will introduce its new director, a Port Townsend native who has returned to the area to become involved in the local food movement and raise her family. “Food and farming are the two things that I’m really passionate about,” said Amanda Milholland, 33, who was named this week as a replacement for Will O’Donnell. O’Donnell, 39, is leaving his position at the end of the month after serving in it for seven years. Milholland will take over from O’Donnell at the Oct. 31 market. “Buying local food helps support the economy,” she said, “and at the farmers market, you are buying food from the people who are growing the food.” Milholland, 33, graduated from Port Townsend High School in 2000. She attended Evergreen College and spent two years in the Peace Corps before settling in Portland, Ore., where she met Gabe Van Lelyveld, also a Port Townsend native whom she had known peripherally in high school. TURN
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FOOD/A5
SeaPort Air to launch Sea-Tac flights Service begins March 1 at Fairchild BY JAMES CASEY PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — Scheduled air passenger service will resume March 1 between William R. Fairchild International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. SeaPort Airlines of Portland, Ore., announced Tuesday it will begin service with five 40-minute flights most days on single-engine, nine-passenger Cessna Caravan turboprop aircraft similar to those flown by Kenmore Air. Kenmore abandoned service to Port Angeles last November. Port of Port Angeles officials have
sought another carrier since then. “This is great news,” said Ken O’Hollaren, Port of Port Angeles executive director. “Kudos to all involved for writing letters to SeaPort supporting the service. SeaPort said that was a big factor in its decision.”
No security checks Initially, the Transportation Security Administration will provide no inspections at Fairchild. Passengers flying beyond SeaTac must undergo security checks when they reach Seattle, O’Hollaren said. The port will try to establish
TSA security at Fairchild, he said. “First we get the service,” he said. “Then we worry about the amenities.” SeaPort, however, will offer single-ticket itineraries and baggage transfer to flights from SeaTac on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, said SeaPort CEO Rob McKinney. He said SeaPort was discussing similar agreements with other airlines. SeaPort also will provide three daily flights between Moses Lake and Sea-Tac plus one daily flight between Moses Lake and PortSEAPORT AIRLINES land, its headquarters. SeaPort will take advantage of SeaPort Airlines SeaPort Airlines is set to offer air fee waivers at Fairchild and Sea-Tac. passenger service between Port Angeles and SeattleTURN
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AIR/A5 Tacoma International Airport starting March 1.
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99th year, 241st issue — 2 sections, 22 pages
BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY DEATHS HOROSCOPE LETTERS NATION/WORLD
B10 B6 B5 A11 B5 A10 B5 A11 A4
*PENINSULA SPOTLIGHT
PENINSULA POLL PUZZLES/GAMES SPORTS WEATHER
A2 B7 B1 B10