I learned to type on an electric typewriter. Embarrassing, but true. Of course, we had computers 22 years ago when I was in high school, but their integration into the day-to-day school curriculum was minimal. We used them to type up term papers and special reports. Research was done using books, encyclopedias and periodicals at the school and public libraries.
The first signs foreshadowing the future construction of a new recreation facility in Camas were visible Friday. That day, crews from the City of Camas and Ballard Diving and Salvage worked to remove the rickety, decades-old wooden dock that sat on Lacamas Lake in front of the city owned building formerly occupied by the Camas Moose. It was a step forward in a project that will ultimately result in construction of Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center at 227 N.E. Lake Road. "It makes you realize something is happening when you see logs being dragged through the parking lot," commented Camas Mayor Scott Higgins during last night's City Council workshop. "It's going to be a fun project." Included in the $1.9 million price tag is an $842,000, 5,000 square foot building that will consist of a large event space, two smaller meeting rooms, office space, kitchen, restrooms, storage, large covered patio and a 60-foot long dock. The facility, which will be located adjacent to Heritage Park, will also feature a fireplace and vaulted ceilings, with large windows to take advantage of the lake views.
Camas and Washougal should pursue expanding their current fire department consolidation efforts, instead of the formation of a regional fire authority, a committee made up of elected city leaders recently recommended. During the Tuesday, Feb. 26 Regional Fire Authority Committee meeting, members voted to support a recommendation to cease pursuit of forming a regional fire authority, and proceed with the current interlocal agreement and explore further integration of the two departments. The current Camas-Washougal trial merger agreement expires at the end of this year. During a joint meeting in April, the Camas and Washougal city councils are expected to discuss the particulars, including looking at policy and governance issues, and how a full integration could be structured. Tackling all of those issues, said Camas City Administrator Nina Regor, is likely to take some time. The joint meeting between the Camas and Washougal city councils is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m., at Washougal City Hall, 1701 "C" St. In addition to issues surrounding the fire department consolidation, other topics will include an update on the C-W Municipal Court and an animal control inter-local agreement.
The Washougal School District is considering accepting a contract to provide business services to the Mount Pleasant School District. "I was approached by the superintendent of the Mount Pleasant School District to consider a request for a partnership," said Dawn Tarzian, Washougal superintendent. This statement resulted in a few smiles among audience members, as Peter Tarzian, the Mount Pleasant superintendent, is also her husband. The superintendents met with Rosann Lassman, Washougal business services manager, to discuss the proposal.
The City of Camas has engaged the legal firm of Foster Pepper PLLC to represent its interests regarding the proposed Bonneville Power Administration I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project. The city announced the move this morning in a media release. City leaders have publicly voiced strong opposition to the project, and hinted in the past that legal action could be a possibility.
A project that could replace the I-5 bridge will be the featured topic of a Washougal town hall. The meeting with City Council members is scheduled for Saturday, at 9 a.m., in the council chambers at City Hall, 1701 "C" St. Comments about the proposed Columbia River Crossing project and other issues will be accepted from residents and property tax payers within Washougal or Washougal's urban growth area.
A Camas townhouse fire is under investigation, after a local firefighter escaped injury.
A local dance instructor is following in her mother's footsteps. Candace Miller, program director for Virtuosity Performing Arts Studio, in Camas, teaches preschool ballet, tap and creative movement, as well as elementary classical ballet, tap and jazz and adult tap. Her mother, Carol Opyt, owned Miss Carol's Studio of Dance, in Dyer, Ind. Miller, 46, has been dancing since she was 2. She grew up dancing in her mother's studio. For more information, call 834-7424, email [email protected] or visit www.vegagym.com.
The City of Washougal is expected to face economic challenges, based on recent projections. During the City Council's annual planning conference Jan. 25 and 26, Finance Director Jennifer Forsberg and City Administrator David Scott talked about the long term financial status of the city's general fund. With the city's requirement that the annual budget include a minimum reserve equal to 16 percent of one year's operating expenses, options to make sure the general fund is balanced include slowing the rate of the growth of expenditures and/or increasing the rate of growth of revenues.
As early as this summer, the city of Camas could be embarking on its first of many forest harvesting efforts. It is one element of a management plan that has been developed for the city's expansive watershed. Located 10 miles northeast of Camas, near the southwest corner of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the Jones Creek and Boulder Creek watershed consists of nearly 1,700 acres of mature forest land, of which approximately 1,300 acres has been identified as suitable for harvesting, The property, originally purchased by the city between 1923 and 1950, is currently used to collect water for municipal purposes via intake facilities on Boulder Creek and Jones Creek.
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