Everett Daily Herald, May 21, 2014

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Stew, fry or braise: Rabbit is back on the table

From unknown to star Sophomore has huge first year on Cascade soccer team, C1

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EVERETT, WASHINGTON

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Clinic reveals test prices Nearly 308,000 patients of the Everett facility will know ahead of time what certain medical procedures will cost. By Sharon Salyer Herald Writer

It’s a peek behind a curtain of secrecy that obscures what patients end up paying for medical care. The Everett Clinic,

with nearly 308,000 patients, is thought to be one of the first major health care organizations in Western Washington to begin revealing some prices. The clinic has posted on its website the charges for six

medical imaging tests, such as MRI scans and X-rays. It’s part of a growing movement in Washington and nationally to address the mysteries of medical billing. The goal is to let consumers know what their out-of-of-pockets costs will be before having what can be expensive tests, procedures and surgeries. “Health care is so darned

expensive,” said Rick Cooper, chief executive of The Everett Clinic. “Patients deserve transparency on what the prices will be.” The Immediate Clinic, a walkin medical care provider with offices in Everett, Lynnwood and six other Puget Sound locations, See PRICES, Page A8

City might take a swing Everett is considering selling parts of golf course to pay off debt

DAN BATES / THE HERALD

Grace Choo, of Edmonds, makes a shot on the 17th green at Walter E. Hall Golf Course while putting with her husband, Gary, earlier this week, but it didn’t quite drop. Everett is exploring the idea of selling portions of the golf course to help pay a debt for expenditures made on another course.

By Rich Myhre Herald Writer

EVERETT — As the city explores ways to address some significant budget concerns, one option involves a dramatic revision of Walter E. Hall Golf Course. Under one scenario, portions of the 18-hole, approximately 130-acre golf course would be sold to help pay off debt of $7.3 million dating to the 1998 reconstruction of Legion Memorial Golf Course, Everett’s other

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public course. The remaining Walter E. Hall property, about 100 acres, would be reconfigured into a shorter course. The deliberation and decision process still has a long way to go and is only one aspect of a major assessment of the city’s revenues and expenses, Everett parks director Paul Kafstanski said. If the plan goes forward, it likely would allow the city “to substantially pay off the debt, if not all of it, and have money left to reconfigure Walter (Hall),”

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Kafstanski said. The issue of the debt, he added, “is important and a significant driving factor.” The city is discussing the golf course as part of an effort to bring revenue and expenses back in sync. Without action, the city’s operating budget could exceed revenue by $13 million next year. Other potential solutions include raising utility taxes and bus fares, or forming a new taxing district to pay for parks. Cuts

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See COURSE, Page A8

There’s going to come a time when something will need to give. — Paul Kafstanski, Everett parks director

THE BUZZ: Microsoft upgrades its tablet. It will replace the laptop you already replaced with an iPad. Page A2

Bridge work will be delayed Due to funding issues, closure of the Broadway bridge isn’t expected until at least early 2015, almost a year later than expected. By Noah Haglund Herald Writer

EVERETT — A hobbled downtown bridge may survive a bit longer into decrepit old age, but its days are still numbered. Everett city engineers had hoped to begin tearing down the 102-year-old Broadway bridge early this year. Funding issues knocked that schedule out of whack. The city now hopes to put the project out to bid by the end of June — about eight months later than anticipated. “We don’t expect the full closure of the bridge to happen until early 2015, but that will be up to the contractor,” city spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said. “The closure would have started this spring, so it’s close to a year delay.” The Broadway bridge span crosses the railroad tracks between Hewitt Avenue and California Street. Initial preparation could be under way by fall. A Burlington Northern Santa Fe policy, however, prevents construction work from taking place above the tracks from October through December. The railroad imposes the restriction to keep rail traffic moving during the busy holiday season, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. The Broadway bridge carries an average of 30,000 cars daily. The 1912 bridge was last renovated in 1931. At least a halfdozen sister bridges built over the railroad tracks around the same time already have been replaced, Pembroke said. City inspectors for years have warned that the Broadway span was in need of replacement. In 2008, engineers placed load restrictions on the bridge. They also placed the shoulders off limits to parking and asked truck drivers to stay in the middle lanes, where the structure is stronger. Inspectors returned within the past month and declared the structure safe to use for the near future, Pembroke said. See BRIDGE, Page A8

Pleasant 68/49, C6

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