Covington/Maple Valley Reporter, July 05, 2013

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REPORTER

COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND

NEWSLINE 425-432-1209

LOCAL | Tahoma School Board closer to putting construction bond to voters [page 3]

COURT SYNERGY | Youth volleyball club WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking based in Maple Valley searches for space as news, sports and weather stories. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013 its success leads to growth [10] maplevalleyreporter.com or covingtonreporter.com

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Final state budget provides money for Tahoma, Covington BY KRIS HILL khill@maplevalleyreporter.com

Families in Covington and Maple Valley can celebrate this week as the ink dries on the state budget thanks to several million dollars set aside for the Tahoma School District and parks projects.

As part of the state budget, Tahoma will get $4 million to go toward the purchase of 35 acres inside a King County-owned property in Maple Valley nicknamed the Donut Hole, which could be the future home of a brand new Tahoma High School. Tahoma Superintendent Mike Maryanski thanked a number of people for help per-

suading legislators to approve adding the $4 million to the state’s capital budget in a post on his blog, “Seeking Shared Learning,” Monday morning. Maryanski thanked the Tahoma School Board, Maple Valley Mayor Bill Allison and City Manager David Johnston, as well as county staff members. “Not knowing how exactly our request

made it through the difficult interactions we have witnessed with two special sessions, I know that without the leadership and support of Senators (Mark) Mullet and (Joe) Fain and Representatives (Pat) Sullivan and Dunshee success would not have been possible. Also in the House, Represen[ more STATE page 7 ]

Partnership extended for building services

City steps up notice of sign code violations

BY KRIS HILL

BY KATHERINE SMITH

khill@covingtonreporter.com

ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com

Partnerships work well for Covington and it recently formally extended its agreement with Black Diamond to continue one such relationship. Covington, thanks to an interlocal agreement approved by the council members of both cities, provides building official services to Black Diamond. This partnership began in 2011 as part of a larger conCOVINGTON versation at the 2010 tri-council meeting between Covington, Black Diamond and Maple Valley which laid the groundwork for such partnerships. Covington’s Community Development Director Richard Hart explained in 2011 that Black Diamond hired Robert Meyers to do consulting work. Meyers, who worked for the city once before, is now Covington’s building official. The ILA worked so well, Black Diamond asked Covington earlier this year to extend the agreement for a variety of building safety services, according to documents

The city of Maple Valley recently stepped up enforcement of its sign code much to the frustration of business owners. “The last two weeks I’ve had my signs down I’ve gone from $300 to $400 days to $40 days,” said Norm Holcomb, who owns and operates Bees in the ‘Burbs. “It’s to the point where it’s very concerning. I’m going to do everything I can to try to survive, MAPLE but it’s not good. VALLEY They’re not helping small business.” Holcomb said he first saw a city truck out by his sign and then received a letter stating that he was in violation of the sign code and that he had to remove his sign. “People are trying to get creative but it’s going to be very tough,” Holcomb said. The city’s attention was drawn to the issue of out of compliance A-boards and other non-compliant signage throughout the city’s commercial areas after several complaints were received, City

[ more SERVICES page 6 ]

Serious Conversation

3 Day

SALE

818156

July 15th - 17th

Niko, 5, discusses the finer points of vehicles with King County Councilman Reagan Dunn June 26 at Camp Berachah after Dunn turned over the keys for a donated surplus county van for the camp’s daycare program. KRIS HILL, The Reporter To view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com

[ more CODE page 6 ]

Maple Valley

Don’t just live...

Thrive!

(425) 432-1199 27411 Maple Valley Highway, Suite B-106 thrivecf.com/maple-valley-home.asp


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