Kent Reporter, September 30, 2011

Page 1

KENT .com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE 253-872-6600

EAST HILL TODAY| Harpreet Gill brings food, culture and love of community together [8]

TOP BIRDS | Kentlake Falcons remain undefeated with win over Jefferson. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 [11]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

OKTOBERFEST| Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise Saturday event at Town Square Plaza with half the proceeds going to help veterans.

Sandbags along Green River to remain until spring BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

It’s going to cost the city of Kent an estimated $3 million to remove the giant sandbags from levees along the Green River. City officials have decided to keep the sandbags along the river until spring even though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Sept. 16 that it once again can operate the Howard Hanson Dam at full capacity. Crews have completed most of the repairs at the flood-control dam after a 2009 storm damaged an abutment next to the dam. “We plan to leave them through winter because by the time we had a contract in place to remove them they would be working through the rainy season,” said Mike Mactutis, city environmental engineering manager, in a phone interview. Kent officials met with representatives from King County, Auburn and Tukwila before making the call to leave the sandbags alone until spring. “It was a joint decision by all the agencies,” Mactutis

said. “We agreed to leave them for one more winter rather than remove them in the middle of flood season.” It’s going to cost the city an estimated $3 million to remove the sandbags and the project could take up to two months, said John Hodgson, city chief administrative officer, in a phone interview. The city still must figure out how to pay for a contractor to remove the sandbags. “We plan to work with the other cities and the county to find funds so it will not be such a burden for each city,” Hodgson said. King County paid for the installation of the sandbags in the fall of 2009 through its King County Flood Control District. Kent received $2.59 million from the county to place nearly 17,000 sandbags along 12 miles of levees. The sandbags increased the height of the levees to provide more flood protection while the dam was under repair in case a major rainstorm struck the river. [ more SANDBAGS page 7 ]

Darby Cole of Kent rides up the Green River trail Sept. 22. Removal of the sandbags could cost the city $3 million. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter

Langone croons for the T-Birds opener

Developer signs on to demolish parking garage, build apartments

BY DENNIS BOX

The proposal to the city is for a mixed-use five-story building along with retail space

dbox@kentreporter.com

The Seattle Thunderbirds kicked off the season at home Saturday featuring Kent’s “American Idol” star Stefano Langone singing the national anthem followed by a high scoring battle with the Portland WinStefano Langone terhawks. Dropping the ceremonial first puck was Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry He was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 12 by President Obama for May 2008

BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com

A Seattle developer plans to demolish the unfinished parking garage in downtown Kent and build a five-story, mixed-use development to include approximately 164 apartments and 3,700 square feet of retail space. The Kent City Council Sept. 20 approved a lease/option agreement for the city-owned property with Goodman Real Estate Inc., of Seattle, according to a city of Kent media release. The half-built garage sits at the corner of West Smith Street and Fourth Avenue, also known as the City Center property.

Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard makes a save on Portland Winterhawks Brad Ross during the

[ more T-BIRDS page 4 ] home opener Saturday night at the ShoWare Center. Portland won 6-3. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter.

NEW LOCATION

15423 SE 272nd St., Ste. 110; Kent, WA 98042

SAME NUMBER 253-631-1222

[ more BUILD page 2 ]

Ask about our FREE real estate classes!

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