Covington/Maple Valley Reporter, March 14, 2014

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REPORTER

COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND

NEWSLINE 425-432-1209

LOCAL | New concept design for Tahoma High shown to school board [page 3]

Kentwood falls | Girls basketball team drops its first two games in the state FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014 tournament [9]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Chess Wizards bring magic to classic game Dissention

over city’s garbage hauler pick

BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@covingtonreporter.com

O

n Wednesday afternoons at Covington Elementary most students board the buses and head for home. But for 12 students who are signed up for Chess Wizards, magic awaits them in the school library. The program, which is new to Covington Elementary this winter, features a wizard for a teacher who guides the students, who range from beginning chess players to more experienced and from kindergarten to sixth grade, through strategic moves, as well as how to play different variations of the game. The Chess Wizards take teaching students chess seriously. And the wizard thing, too — the teacher dons a cape and a hat for class. Teaching the group at Covington Elementary is Alec McQuinn, a wizard whose grandfather taught him to play. “I was so young I don’t remember being taught,” McQuinn said. “I’ve always known chess.” As the young protégés trickle in they immediately pair up and scramble into their seats, beginning the first round of games for the day. McQuinn circulates around the tables; guiding and reminding, yet being careful not to give too much direction. “I like teaching, I like chess, I like kids,” McQuinn said. “It all fits together perfectly. On top of it all I just enjoy watching kids have [ more WIZARDS page 7 ]

BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com

Maple Valley’s next trash hauler will be Recology Cleanscapes. The City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to approve execution of the contract with Cleanscapes after almost an hour of testimony from community members and employees of Waste Management, Republic Services and Cleanscapes. The dissenting votes were cast by Mayor Bill Allison and Deputy Mayor Sean Kelly. “While there is a saving in Cleanscapes MAPLE of $300,000, VALLEY none of that is benefitting the city,” Allison said at the meeting Monday. The contract was supported by Council members Layne Barnes, Erin Weaver, Victoria Jonas, Noel Gerken and Linda Johnson. “This is one of the few times where we actually have the ability to lower a tax rate for citizens and I think that’s an important thing to do,” Weaver said at the meeting. In a phone interview on Tuesday, Allison said that the

Luke Smith, left, leans in to help Ryan Tandy during Chess Wizards after school at Covington Elementary on March 5. This winter marks the first time that the school has hosted a Chess Wizards class. KATHERINE SMITH, The Reporter

[ more HAULER page 7 ]

Black Diamond hires city attorney with land use expertise BY ERIC MANDEL emandel@covingtonreporter.com

The Black Diamond City Council moved forward with multiple issues at its March 6 meeting, including officially hiring a new city attorney. The council selected Morris Law, from Gig Harbor, out of three firms that bid their services. Morris Law’s areas of expertise include land-use litigation and mitigation, municipal

law and zoning and cannabis law. Carol Morris, who is also city attorney for the city of Ruston, will be the primary attorney, with Jennifer Robertson providing backup services. Morris has more than 20 years of experience as a city attorney or special legal counsel in over 35 Washington cities. Morris works with the Association of Washington Cities in land use litigation

matters. Councilwoman Carol Benson said Morris came highly recommended by former city administrator Mark Hoppen, who worked with her while Gig Harbor went through its period of growth. “She’s not pro-development,” Benson said. “She will help make sure this development is done correctly.” Morris takes over for Stephen Dijulio who accepted

the roll on an interim basis after the law firm Kenyon Disend abruptly quit in January when Christy Todd was hired as city administrator. Mike Kenyon, founding partner of the firm, told The Reporter that he resigned because of a pending legal claim against the city of Maple Valley that involves Todd, who was city attorney of Maple Valley at the time of the claim. Todd said she was excited about Morris’ hiring.

“She’s been doing this a really long time,” Todd said. “She really knows land use and municipal law in general. I think we’ll be in good hands.” Dijulio said a number of issues, including the administration transition and cannabis issues, caused more work than anticipated, but he believes Black Diamond addresses the same issues as many other cities with similar service levels.

Morris will receive $220 per hour for her services. In other council news, the city unanimously approved a resolution opposing King County’s Transportation Benefit District ballot measure. A letter will be sent to the King County Council. The council also delayed its interviews for two the mayor’s two planning commission appointees until a special meeting that was scheduled for March 13.


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