REPORTER
COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND
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LOCAL | Political primary season underway [page 3]
Kentwood STATEment | The Conks soccer team finished atop the regular FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014 season standings and rolled to state [6]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Todd resigns as Black Diamond city administrator BY ERIC MANDEL emandel@covingtonreporter.com
The tumultuous relationship between the city of Black Diamond and City Administrator Christy Todd has ended, as Todd resigned after a little more than four months on the job. Todd and the city agreed on a severance package May 15th that keeps Todd under contract, with full benefits, until July 31 and pays $30,000 for her attor-
ney’s fees. She will receive ries relating to ongoing all accumulated vacation matters.” sick leave and other pay The city also agreed according to city policy. not to oppose any claim The total package of unemployment will cost the city benefits, “so long as approximately the factual grounds $60,125, according stated are accuto Finance Director rate and include a May Miller. statement that the The deal stipuemployee voluntarily lated that Todd resigned from her Christy Todd perform no seremployment.” vices from the time In return, Todd of the contract through July agreed to immediately 31, other than telephone or terminate the ongoing email responses to “inquiinvestigation into her sex-
ual harassment complaint against Black Diamond Mayor Dave Gordon. The severance agreement includes a gag order, where elected officials and authorized speaking agents agreed not to disparage each other. Todd’s attorney, Lee Smart, will be paid “normal and reasonable costs and legal fees” associated with advice and representation during the sexual harassment claim, filed Feb. 23, and subsequent retaliation
claims against the city, filed March 24, April 23 and May 1. Though the original asking was for $32,500, the parties agreed to compromise at $30,000, according to the severance document. The agreement was signed by the mayor and all five council members. The Black Diamond City Council added a resolution on the matter to the May 15 agenda. The members approved the severance agreement and they also terminated the City Coun-
Running for Blake Motivated by love and a desire to help, Maple Valley man is running 250 miles for his grandson BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
Long-time Maple Valley resident Bob Satko has 12 grandchildren and will run 250 miles this weekend to help one very special grandson. Completing the race isn’t about a specific time for Satko, or even about finishing. It is about doing whatever he can to help. Last year Satko’s grandson, Blake Robison, was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, a rare blood disease. According to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, the disease is inherited and can result in bone marrow failure and many different cancers. The fund also estimates that 31 babies are born with the disease each year in the USA. Blake was diagnosed at 2 years old, and he and his parents relocated from Alaska to Western Washington to be close to Children’s Hospital in Seattle. “Blake is the happiest little boy I know,” Satko wrote in an email interview. “No matter what happens to him, he always has a smile on his face.” Satko has lived in Maple Valley for 21 years and started running in junior high. He had never ventured into marathons and beyond until he met fellow Maple Valley residents BJ Farish and Cody Hill. They started running together,
Maple Valley resident Bob Satko will run 250 miles this weekend in honor of his grandson, Blake Robison, pictured with [ more BLAKE page 3 ] Satko (top) and his parents (bottom right), to raise awareness of Fanconi Anemia. Courtesy photos
cil’s investigation. Councilwoman Carol Benson, the mayor pro tem, told The Reporter Monday that it is “very, very difficult” for city’s of Black Diamond’s size to keep city administrators for an extended period of time. “I don’t know if its normal for our city, but we didn’t have any city administrator for two and a half years,” Benson said. “… I just don’t think it’s that [ more TODD page 2 ]
City’s foodie future a buffet of possibilities BY ERIC MANDEL emandel@covingtonreporter.com
The city of Covington has changed dramatically over the last decade. Once a business bare area, it is now a main attraction for neighboring communities, thanks in part to a plethora of fast food choices and shopping spots, such as Costco and Walmart. But over the next five to 10 years, the city is expected to see even more COVINGTON commercial change, as the Hawk Property, 212 acres of land located southeast of state Route 18 on the northern border of the city, and Town Center projects are now starting to take shape. With those ventures will come opportunities for dozens of businesses, including everyone’s favorite topic of discussion: restaurants. “Not many people miss a meal,” said Josh Parnell, Vice President of First Western Properties who serves on the Covington Economic Development Council. “There’s [ more FOODIE page 2 ]