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REDUCED SENTENCE | Convicted Kirkland kidnapper and child molester closer to being released [7]
Graduation | Congratulations to International ‘Eyesore’ | Annexation pushes controversial condos into city [2] FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2011 Community School, Juanita High seniors [16]
City fires company working on Juanita Beach Park DMSL Construction, Inc. failed to finish park by deadline BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
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riday was slated to be a day of annexation celebration at Juanita Beach Park. Kirkland City officials hoped to show new residents what the city is all about. Instead, residents were asking why the southern DMSL Construction, Inc. was fired from the Juanita Beach Park portion of the park - which renovation project on Friday, leaving the popular park’s future during was set to be completed by Wednesday - is still fenced off the summer uncertain. CARRIE WOOD, Kirkland Reporter and torn up. tract in March, 2010 for $1.18 The issue came to a head million for the contractor to on Friday morning as the complete improvements to city terminated Arlington, the southern portion of JuanWash.-based contractor ita Beach Park. Construction DMSL Construction, Inc. for began in May 2010. not completing the project “The city is as disappointed on time. as the community about the “We terminated the lack of performance that has contract effective today,” Reporter at the beginning of resulted in a family-favorite said Kirkland Parks Interim April. “The workers just get park not being opened yet,” Deputy Director Micheal said Jenny Schroder, Kirkland lost in the size sometimes and Cogle. “They have performed Parks and Community Serthey are hard to see. But they in an insufficient manner.” are there.” vices Department director, A DMSL Construction Inc. in a release. “We were given He added that the city representative declined to anticipated the beach would plans and repeated assurcomment on the issue other reopen “before summer and ances that the work would than to say, “I am meeting right now we are projectbe completed on time and with my attorney ing that construction will unfortunately the “We were given on Monday.” continue through May ... contractor did plans and repeated not deliver on its DMSL has expect to see the pace pick up had financial assurances that shortly.” promises.” issues during the But the pace never picked the work would be The issue startconstruction, completed on time ed to come to light up. Other than blacktop which has slowed for the parking lot, very and unfortunately during March the project, along little visible progress has the contractor did when residents with inclement been made. When asked not deliver on its began asking why weather. if there is anything the promises.” the pace of work “We’re sad this city should have done Kirkland Parks director was so slow and had to happen,” differently or approached very little visible Jenny Schroder said Kirkland progress had been the subject of switching Mayor Joan contractors earlier, Cogle made during the McBride. “(The said “no.” winter. decision) was done very “We monitored their “It is such a big park that quickly.” work on an ongoing people wonder if anything The city entered into a con- is going on,” Cogle told the [ more PARK page 8 ]
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Celebrating annexation Mayor Joan McBride, above, and other council members dish up strawberry shortcake during an annexation celebration at Juanita Beach Park Friday. Left, 2-year-old Clara Bannon of Finn Hill enjoys dessert. CARRIE WOOD, Kirkland Reporter
Five file for city council races, deadline is today Sternoff, Greenway and Asher seek re-election, both challengers are from newest Kirkland neighborhood Kingsgate for the 2011 primary and Kingsgate, will challenge general elections. Greenway for the seat. The first to announce Councilman Bob SterThree Kirkland City her bid for re-election, noff announced through Council incumbents and Kirkland City Councilother media outlets last two hopefuls are woman month that he in the race so far Jessica will run again for to grab the three Greenway Position 2. Stercouncil seats up is runnoff will face off for election this ning for against challenger fall. a third Jason Gardiner, a All five canterm for Naval veteran and didates filed Position architect who also Toby Nixon Jason Gardiner papers with King 4. Former lives in Kingsgate. County Elections state Gardiner said office Monday, Rep. Toby Nixon, who he wants to bring a which marked the begin- lives in the newly anfresh perspective to the ning of candidate filing [ more COUNCIL page 8 ] nexed neighborhood of BY CARRIE WOOD
cwood@kirklandreporter.com
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