By JAMES EIK
Staff Reporter
The Medical Lake City Council listened to some suggestions from high school students regarding opening a recreation center for the city's youth.
Brandon and Tyler, two Medical Lake High School sophomores, said in the time they've lived in the city, there hasn't been much to do. Brandon has lived in the city since first grade, while Tyler moved there two years ago.
“The way things are here, I never really hear anybody saying that they want to come back to Medical Lake,” Brandon said. “They don't have major memories about being here, or good memories.”
He said the lake and parks are only open during certain periods of the year. A recreation center for the city's youth, or just a place to go, could help bring people together, he argued.
“The main thing is to have counsel and guidance and have a fun place to go,” Brandon said.
Tyler said he used the skate park when it was open, riding his BMX bike.
“Being outside and riding at the skate park helps me in being physical,” he said.
Brandon suggested a way to help pay for the facility would be through a usage fee, paid by the students who go to the center.
Councilman Howard Jorgenson said there may be some room opening up at the Dora Burt Center, after the food bank transitions into its new building near the Post Office.
During the discussion, Councilwoman Brenda Redell said community service hours could be awarded to some students if they helped to keep the skate park clean. The city, she said, previously asked kids to police each other in order to keep behaviors in line. Other methods hadn't worked, she said, but she was willing to give the students a chance.
The City Council decided to take up the skate park issue, and make a decision regarding its future, at the March 20 meeting. Jorgenson asked information to be passed along to the school district, to allow more students a chance to comment in public.
“You're going to get both sides of the argument,” City Administrator Doug Ross said.
The City Council approved a five-year contract to use a digital mailing system from Pitney Bowes. Ross said the equipment used with the mailer is more compact and will save the city some money through the year. The equipment's quoted price is $891 per quarter, and will save the city $910.12 each year.
During her report for the parks and recreation department, Redell said the city was able to add three new classes. The City Council also approved the hiring of Bonnie Carver as an additional instructor. According to her contract, Carver receives 80 percent of fees collected by the city for the classes she instructs, with the remaining 20 percent going toward the city.
Nearing the end of the winter season, Ross said the city had only used its snowplows three or four times.
In his report for the public works committee, Jorgenson said the streets in the city were in pretty good shape. The committee, however, was looking into potential methods and streets for chip seals. Ross said San Salvador Street was done around eight months ago and was still in good shape.
The committee will consider potential streets for the chip sealing in the coming weeks.
James Eik can be reached at [email protected].
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