Patriot Bremerton
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 27 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
ANYBODY HOME? Realtors see a rise in break-ins to vacant homes on the market Page 7
Harrison affiliation to move forward By Leslie Kelly
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
Kevan Moore /staff photo
The Bremerton City Auditor says that the city’s parks department has been overbilled to the tune of $20,000 a year to operate fountains in the Kitsap Conference Center plaza.
Bremerton City Auditor claims conference center losing money By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
The City of Bremerton’s auditor and finance director don’t see eye to eye when it comes to the costs of operating the Kitsap Conference Center. Bremerton City Auditor Gary W. Nystul says that the Kitsap Conference
Center is losing money and the Bremerton Parks Department has been overcharged by $20,000 for several years to operate the popular fountains in the nearby plaza and stairway to the waterfront. According to Nystul’s report, the conference center lost $65,175 in 2011, $118,590 in 2012 and is budgeted to
lose $13,879 in 2013. In addition, Nystul’s report states that even though the center’s fountains are shut off for four months in the wintertime, the city’s parks department is still billed $5,000 per month. Nystul says that most of the cost for the fountains, plaza lights and boardwalk during the months that the fountains are
turned off belong to the conference center, not the parks department. When the conference center was built, there was only one electric meter installed for the city account. A second, sub meter was eventually installed to better measure conference center use. See AUDITOR, A5
Brockus and McDonald likely to advance By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Preliminary results from Tuesday’s primary election made it to the Side Bar at the Manette Saloon just after 8 p.m. Incumbent Adam Brockus, first elected in 2005, slipped out of a room of supporters with a whiteboard in hand to call the county for results and emerged a couple of minutes later with a big smile and breakdowns from local races showing him in the lead to represent his expanded district. He also had Mayor Patty Lent in tow.
Brockus earned 39.3 percent of the vote in the District 3 Bremerton City Council primary. Finishing in second, with 34.3 percent of the vote was Jerry McDonald, who was also at the Side Bar and learned of the results from Brockus and the mayor. On the other side of the Manette Bridge, at the Torro Lounge on Pacific Avenue, Michael Strube and a large group of supporters had a disappointing night. Strube, who serves as the executive director of the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce, earned just 25.6 percent of the vote Tuesday, but is hoping that
additional ballots that are yet to be counted could shift the count in his favor. “I’m optimistic,” Strube said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people in the last few days that hadn’t voted yet and were gong to be voting either today, mailing it in or dropping it off at the drop boxes, so we’ll see what happens. But, you know, my attitude through this whole thing is I’m meeting my neighbors, this isn’t my last time and I’m going to be here volunteering for the community because this See PRIMARY, A5
The proposed affiliation between Harrison Medical Center in Kitsap County and the Franciscan Health Care System of Tacoma will go forward without further study by the state or additional comments from the public. The Washington State Department of Health issued a decision on Tuesday that the affiliation will not require a certificate of need process. A certificate of need is a lengthy process that potentially would have cost millions of dollars and would have required more public comment. “We’re pleased and excited,” said Harrison CEO Scott Bosch. “This is the
culmination of nearly 10 months of discussion and hard work and will improve the quality of health care in Kitsap County, and will reduce the cost and give more access to care for residents in the county.” Officials with Franciscan echoed Bosch’s comments. “We are extremely pleased,” said Joe Wilczek, Franciscan Health System CEO. “It’s a real opportunity to expand health care for those who live in the area. They’ll be able to get their health care needs met close to home and won’t have to travel anywhere for services.” The hospitals had requested a “determination of non-reviewability” from the Department of See AFFILIATION, A5
Voting begins for new Best of Bremerton readers’ choice awards Staff report
Who has the best hamburger in Bremerton? Where is the best nail salon or fitness club? Who is the best real estate agent, massage therapist and so on? You decide by voting in the first-ever Best of Bremerton readers’ choice awards. Voting for the new Best of Bremerton awards begins today. The contest provides residents and businesses an opportunity to celebrate a variety of Bremerton’s best services, food, entertainment and people by voting in the first annual readers’ choice awards focused on all things Bremerton. Best of Bremerton is sponsored by the Bremerton Patriot in partnership with the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce. In the inaugural contest, there are 53 different categories in which
readers can cast votes. Fill out the ballot that appears in today’s Bremerton Patriot (see page 17), or go online by to vote at www.bremertonpatriot. com and click on the Best of Bremerton link. Ballots must be 50 percent complete to be counted. Voting will continue through Sept. 4. Voters will automatically be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a $250 gift card to Fred Meyer of Bremerton. Results of this year’s readers’ choice awards will be announced at the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Gala on Oct. 24 and also in a special section that will appear in the Oct. 25 edition of the Bremerton Patriot. Join the fun and tell us who your favorites are by voting in the 2013 Best of Bremerton readers’ choice awards.