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FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014
Council committee OKs neighborhood traffic calming funds BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
A Kent City Council committee unanimously approved funding on Monday for three neighbor-
hood traffic calming programs. The action comes just a month after the council had cut the projects from receiving business and occupation (B&O) tax revenue. But city staff discovered that
the street operating fund had more money in it than expected, enough to cover the $250,000 needed to install traffic circles to slow traffic in one neighborhood and speed bumps in the other
two. Work is expected to begin this summer and be finished by the start of school in the fall. Council President Dana Ralph asked staff at the Public Works Committee meeting where the
$250,000 came from. “I checked with our finance department on that question,” Public Works Director Tim LaPorte said. [ more FUNDS page 4 ]
City to install new turf in summer at Wilson Playfields BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
The city of Kent this summer will install $1.7 million worth of new synthetic turf on the popular Wilson Playfields baseball, softball and soccer complex. The City Council voted 5-2 on April 1 to approve the contract to replace the turf at the complex along 132nd Avenue Southeast. City officials will close the park May 12 to install FieldTurf and reopen it in August. Council members Bill Boyce and Les Thomas voted against the motion after longtime Kent resident Brad Martin, a representative of Sprinturf, testified during public comment at the
SONG, DANCE FOR HOPE With its genuine appeal, accompanied by music and dance – an energetic fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm – the globally acclaimed Watoto Children’s Choirs performed at Kent’s First Christian Church last Saturday. The Ugandan-based choir is completing a six-month U.S tour,
council meeting that the city will pay as much as $200,000 more by going with FieldTurf. “I would simply like to contend that the Parks Committee decision to procure FieldTurf through a buying co-op without soliciting other prices from competing manufacturers, including Sprinturf, is a colossal mistake and will potentially result in spending as much as $200,000 more in taxpayer money than is necessary for this turf replacement,” Martin said. The council’s Parks Committee approved the FieldTurf agreement 3-0 prior to the full council vote. [ more PLAYFIELDS page 4 ]
School board seeks public input on program restoration spreading the message of hope and understanding. The choir acts as Watoto ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com
If you want to have input into how the Kent School District will spend your tax dollars, now is the time. The school board has created open forums for public input into what programs to restore over the next several
more photos online… kentreporter.com
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months. The recently passed four-year levy has allowed the board opportunities to restore programs lost during past budget reductions. Community and staff can provide input at two hearings: [ more HEARINGS page 3 ]
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