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INSIDE | Chamber has new director [2]
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015
Sports | Ravens turn away Hornets in SPSL 3A basketball play [11]
City wish list? New post office, funding for public health BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
Wagner
Councilwoman Largo Wales wanted the City to sound its municipal yawp for a sustainable funding source for public health over the dome of the state Legislature. Councilman Bill Peloza suggested that Auburn push the federal gov-
ernment to do something about the danger posed by the daily passage of oil trains through the city. And Councilman Rich Wagner renewed his request for a new post office. “We’re at 75,000 and the post office was built for a town of 20,000. … We need to figure out a way to partner with the post office, not just go in there
and beg and say, ‘Build us a new one.’ Let’s figure out a way to give them some land downtown, to do something to move forward on a post office that fits the size of our city,” Wagner said. Prompting the comments at Monday night’s study session was City leaders’ initial look at the first draft of Auburn’s legislative priorities at the state and
federal levels. Director of Administration Dana Hinman put the list together after talking with the City’s legislative consultants, with Mayor Nancy Backus, the Association of Washington Cities and with Auburn Police Chief Bob Lee. [ more PRIORITIES page 3 ]
City effort vows to tidy up properties BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
DAZZLING
The Auburn High School Jazz and Show Choirs perform on stage during their Christmas concert at the Performing Arts Center on Monday. Auburn’s high schools got into the spirit of the season with special concerts of their own in December before the holiday break. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter
[ more ENFORCEMENT page 3 ]
‘Proud of the strides we’ve made’ Seng steps away, leaves her legacy on school board
When Auburn’s code enforcement officers direct people who fall afoul of the aesthetic and public health rules to “get rid of the rusted cars,” “cut the grass,” or “trash the trash,” a few fadge up ugly things to say. Like the woman asked to clean her carport who concluded: “I already know Auburn is the most corrupt city in Washington. … All Auburn does is corrupt, everything is corrupt.” Or the fellow who larded Code Enforcement Officer Chris Barak’s voice mail with so many curses and naked threats that whatever the man was screaming melted into gibberish.
BY CHRIS CHANCELLOR cchancellor@auburn-reporter.com
She took a different path toward education than the rest of her family. But Carol Seng, who retired Monday after 13 years on the Auburn School Board, figured she could contribute in a different way.
“I never had the teaching passion, but I was able to get involved at this level,” she said. “It kind of fit my family background.” After all, Seng’s late father, Ken, was a former Auburn School District administrator. When there was a vacancy on [ more SENG page 7 ]
Carol Seng, retiring Auburn School Board member, far right, shares a laugh with her mother, JoAnne Seng, son Blake Helgerson and friend Mallory Wall during her farewell party. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter
Tap Root Christmas Tales | Dec. 18, 7:30 pm | $17/15 | Auburn Ave. Theater Tickets: www.auburnwa.gov/arts | 253-931-3043 Ted Vigil’s John Denver Christmas Show | Dec. 19, 7:30 pm | $20/18 | Auburn Ave. Theater AveKids: Doktor Kaboom-The Science of Santa | Dec. 20, 2 pm | $10 | Auburn Ave. Theater 1439443