City Council appoints firefighters, approves diversity resolution and refunds bond
Published 10:30 am Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Snoqualmie City Council honored firefighters and discussed bond refinancing, a resolution to welcome diversity, and issues with a preliminary license application for a proposed hydropower project on the North Fork at their Feb. 22 public council meeting.
The meeting began with the recognition and badge pinning of firefighter Matt Murray and Fire Lieutenant Matt West as well as the appointment of Joey MacArthur and Bobbi Harrison to the city’s economic development commission. Pamela Wickard was also appointed to the city’s arts commission.
The council approved the consent agenda unanimously which included the approval of the final form of plat 27 parcel S13 which neighbors Jeanne Hansen Park, stopping sewer and utility services to a house on Falls Avenue S.E. that has been demolished, and the approval of a Conservation Services Agreement with the King Conservation District to start an open-space management program.
The council also approved the refinancing of $1,590,000 from the voter-approved general obligation bond used for the 2005 construction of the city’s fire station. The original bond, which will be paid off by 2022, was for $3,628,000, yet $1,590,000 remains outstanding. Through this refund, taxpayers will see lower interest rates. Over the next seven years the savings will be close to $137,000.
Nicholas Lee, Chief Financial Officer for the city, said this is one of the methods Snoqualmie will use to reduce costs and save money.
Another unanimous decision was made to approve the agreement between the city and RH2 Engineering to provide consultant services for the water reclamation and water treatment facility final design. The services negotiated will cost $2,791,778.
Lee Pasquarella, a resident of Snoqualmie, submitted a resolution that stated support for and appreciation of people of diverse backgrounds in Snoqualmie for consideration by the council at the Feb. 8 meeting.
The council approved the resolution last week after revisions and rewording to avoid seeming like a direct response to the controversy surrounding State Representative Jay Rodne’s Facebook posts after the terrorist attacks in Paris last November.
The council also approved Mayor Matt Larson’s response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Larson’s letter, in response to a draft license application from Black Canyon Hydro, stated the application is incomplete and lacks important information on its impact to the water quality of Canyon Springs, which provides Snoqualmie with more than half of its water supply.
