Tentative Agreement between SEIU and OMC

Olympic Medical Center has reached a tentative contract agreement with Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW.

Hospital commissioners and union members will vote next Tuesday.

PDN Price Going Up?

I haven't found this online anywhere, but I've heard the PDN will be costing 75 cents per issue, starting in April.

Proposed Moratorium on Biomass Energy

City Councilman Max Mania has proposed a moratorium on Nippon's biomass project until we have a better understanding of the potential health hazards.  Mayor Cherie Kidd said she will talk to City Manager Kent Myers about adding this proposal to a future agenda for discussion.

Chinook Motel Might Be Demolished

The Chinook Motel has been bequeathed to the nephew of the motel's previous owner, William Youtef, who passed away several weeks ago.  The nephew, Aihab Gerges, is considering demolishing the building and selling the land.

Director of Feiro Marine Life Center to Speak at PABA meeting

Deborah Moriarty, director of the Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles, will be the guest at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.

Two Cruise Ships Coming to Port Angeles

Two Holland America cruise ships will be stopping in Port Angeles, on April 18th and May 11th.

At Terminal 1, adjacent to Westport Shipyards, disembarking tourists will be greeted by volunteers, vendors and shuttle buses.  Shuttle stops will include the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, the Lower Elwha Klallam Heritage Center and the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.

Guest Speaker from Ecology Department at PABA meeting

Rebecca Lawson, toxics cleanup manager from the state Department of Ecology, will be the guest at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.  She'll be discussing the cleanup of the Rayonier property and Port Angeles Harbor.

Marine Sanctuary Campus in Port Angeles

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recommended building a campus in Port Angeles for oceanic research.

The NOAA suggested a partnership between the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.  Other potential partners could include the Port, the City, Peninsula College and the tribes.

Exeltech to Design New Lauridsen Boulevard Bridge

The City Council voted 6 to 1 to award the $1.6 million contract to Exeltech, which is based in Lacey.  Max Mania was the No vote.

The same vote also award Exeltech a $100,515 contract to design a new intersection at Lauridsen Blvd. and Lincoln Street.


Exeltech also managed the construction of the Eighth Street bridges and the Gateway Transit Center.

Dog Park in Lincoln Park

According to Richard Bonine, Port Angeles recreation services manager, there is now enough funding to build an off-leash dog area in Lincoln Park.  The dog park will be 1.8 acres and will be built east of the BMX track.  It should be completed within the next few months.

"Transition Town" Status for Port Angeles

Port Angeles City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch and Sequim resident Dave Taylor want Port Angeles to become a Transition Town.  There are 114 transition towns in the United States.

A transition town is a community that strives to make itself a model for finding new ways to deal with global issues at the local level.  These issues include energy crises, climate change and economic shifts.

Smart Meter Project Delayed

The City's smart meter project was originally supposed to be completed by this past January.  But few homes have had them installed.  There have been problems in ensuring proper communication between the computers at City Hall and the equipment in the field.