It took the Bonney Lake City Council just 32 minutes to conduct its Aug. 11 meeting.
With more than a dozen people in attendance, the council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing implementation of language for the utility latecomers’ agreement.
A state law took effect July 26 that cleared the way for cities to adopt ordinances that allow them to participate – partially or fully – in financing water, stormwater or sewer projects. It states cities can seek reimbursement from property owners as their land is developed.
During citizens’ comments, Dean Ogle, a East Town property owner, asked the council to seek elevations for the sewer casing to be placed under state Route 410 at 225th Avenue.
He also requested the city’s Sewer Infrastructure Fund be used for the casing and reimbursed to the city under the latecomers’ agreement.
The council also unanimously approved the city’s six-year transportation improvement plan and voted to submit a Safety and Health Investment Project grant to the state Department of Labor and Industries.
The SHIP program calls for all public works service vehicles to be equipped with four traffic cones stored on a mounted bracket. When a vehicle is used at a work site, cones can be positioned at the front and rear of the vehicle.
The estimated cost of the project is $7,500 and the grant application requests funds to cover all supply costs.
In other action, the council:
• watched as Municipal Court Judge Douglas Haake administered the oath of office to two new officers – Tobie Johnson and Brian Kelly – of the Bonney Lake Police Department.
Johnson came to his department after working in the Pierce County Jail, Police Chief Mike Mitchell said. She served one year as a community service officer and decided to pursue a career as a police officer. Johnson attended the police academy for her officer training.
“She is in the final weeks of her training and will be on the road soon,” Mitchell said.
Kelly, a former Alaska Airline pilot, also attended the police academy and was president of his class.
“Both had done an outstanding job training,” Mitchell said. “We hope they’ll continue to protect the streets of Bonney Lake.”
Mitchell said the two officers bring the total to 28 on patrol in the city.
• heard from Mayor Neil Johnson that Chief Financial Officer Al Juarez won the state’s Professional Finance Officers Award for the 18th time, Accounting Manager Kassandra Raymond received the award for the seventh time and Accountant Terrina Marchant for the ffith time. Johnson also noted that Human Resource Officer Jenna Young recently completed her master’s degree in human resource administration.
