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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
Green River cuts two programs, still faces budget woes BY HEIDI SANDERS hsanders@kentreporter.com
Two Green River College programs will be shut down in a cost-saving effort, and more cuts could follow as the college faces a $2.5 million to $3.5 million
budget deficit. College officials announced on July 15 the elimination of auto body technology and geographic information systems, while carpentry, which had also been on the chopping block, will continue to operate.
As a result of the program cuts, two full-time instructors – one from auto body and one from geographic information systems – will lose their jobs. The program closures, along with other savings proposed by
faculty – including not filling vacant or temporary positions and increasing math and English class sizes – will save about $300,000. “In order to zero the budget balance, further programs and services on campus will be
reduced,” said Allison Friedly, Green River’s executive director of college relations. Decreased enrollment and changes in state allocations of higher education funding [ more COLLEGE page 4 ]
City eyes switch to automated metering system BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
PIT STOP
more photos online… auburn-reporter.com
Steve Hamilton takes a break from the sun in the shade of his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air hard top. Hamilton’s car was one of the classics on display at this past weekend’s Auburn Valley Y Car Show and Touch a Truck event. SHAWN SKAGER, Auburn Reporter
Work on new center to begin in August BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
Auburn’s Teen and Community Center is about to move from design to construction. On Monday the Auburn City Council awarded to Pease Construction, Inc., of Lakewood the $5 million contract to
Auburn Int’l Farmers Market 1348518
build the multi-generational center. The total contract is $4 million under the $9 million for which the City had budgeted. Pease’s low bid before sales tax was $4.6 million. Construction should start in August and wrap up by June of 2016. [ more CENTER page 4 ]
Sunday
Celebrating Kids this ! Sunday market through Sept. 27 | 10 am-3pm Sound Transit Plaza, 23 A Street SW www.auburnfarmersmarket.org | 253-266-2726
By year’s end the City of Auburn expects to launch a two-year process of switching its 14,000 water utility customers to an automated metering system. But on Monday, citing the need for additional information about the changeover, the Auburn City Council delayed for at least two weeks entering into a $5.4 million contract with the vendor, Ferguson Water Works. On Monday of last week, City of Auburn Utility Manager Lisa Tobin described the system to council members at a study session: “It’s a much more efficient way of collecting real-time, water-usage data. This will help us better manage all of our water resources, and it will help our customers better manage their own water use, so they can conserve, save money, identify new problems that they have, and just be better stewards of the environment.” Kevin Snyder, Auburn’s director of planning and public works, noted that as of now, the City and its [ more SYSTEM page 3 ]
Pacific settles suit over public records request BY SHAWN SKAGER sskager@auburn-reporter.com
The City of Pacific will pay $10,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against the City by the notorious open government activist Arthur West.
The Pacific City Council discussed then decided to head off potential litigation by settling with West for $10,000, Mayor Leanne Guier said. The decision came in a special meeting executive session following Monday’s workshop. West was suing the City for not responding promptly to his public records request regarding medical and recreational [ more PACIFIC page 13 ]
kids day at the market Sunday, July 26