Re*Imagine votes to possibly place exhibit on different property
The planned visit of the Moving Wall Vietnam War tribute next June will have the blessing and backing of the city of Medical Lake. Just how that happens, however, will remain somewhat up in the air following the Oct. 2 meeting of the Medical Lake City Council.
After much discussion, a motion was eventually presented with very broad language to support the wall. “I don’t even know how to say it,” Mayor Shirley Maike said when crafting the language on which to vote.
A 4-1 vote approved city involvement. Councilman AJ Burton voted against the measure, wishing to have all members present on a decision as both Laura Parsons and the newly appointed Don Kennedy had excused absences.
Following the lengthy discussion at the council meeting and many questions for Terri Cooper, chair of the Moving Wall Committee from Re*Imagine Medical Lake, the meeting adjourned with uncertainty as to whether the week-long stay of the display would happen at the corners of Brooks Road, State Route 902 and Lefevre Street.
Concerns from the city, specifically Councilwoman Jessica Roberts, as to the nature of needed improvements to the former site of the Ball and Dodd Funeral Home, left things up in the air as to if that property would be the final resting place of the replica wall.
On one hand, the owners of the wall required that it be placed in a park-like setting, but to get that corner into such a state, temporarily, was thought to be way more work and cost than everyone was willing to cover.
For instance, if sod was going to be in place, it needed to be laid in October so it would be green in June. But then the grass would have to be removed.
The quandary may have been solved at Re*Imagine’s Oct. 8 meeting. The preliminary decision was made to place the exhibit at the site of the old Medical Lake Elementary School on Prentis Street the week of Founder’s Day.
“Doing so places the wall in a more tranquil environment and requires less ground work,” Cooper wrote in an email. “A big thanks to Medical Lake School District for their ongoing partnership.” A preliminary site visit is planned for Sunday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. to ensure space, parking and logistics are attainable before a formal announcement is made.
Cooper also took time in that email to thank the city.
“Let me thank the city of Medical Lake, their maintenance department, and public works committee for considering our proposal to use the corner lot at Lefevere and SR-902,” she said. “Fostering a working partnership between the city and civic groups is of utmost importance to Re*Imagine Medical Lake.”
Detouring back to other meeting business, City Administrator Doug Ross reported that the routine biennial audit by the state of Washington is currently taking place and has so for a couple of weeks.
“As (Finance Director) Karen (Langford) can attest, we have the auditor here and they’ve kept us hopping,” Ross said. “It is a little draining, I’ll be honest with you. If past history is any indicator, the inspection will offer the city a clean bill of health
Amidst that distraction, Ross reminded the council that everyone is right in the midst of “budget season” where departments are figuring out where and what to spend money on next year.
One item that will see future discussion of the full council is a change in the language to City Ordinance 1063, amending Section 9.11.083 regarding use of alcohol in city parks. It is on the agenda for the next council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. as the twice-monthly schedule resumes.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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