The City of Richland is excited to kick off construction next week on the first phase of the West Village Community Park. The 33-acre park in Badger Mountain South will be adjacent to the new Fire Station 76 currently under construction on Trowbridge Boulevard.
The 4.5-acre Phase 1, expected to be completed by the end of 2024, will include parking, landscaping, grass play areas, space for a playground, and a comfort station. Phase 1 construction marks just the beginning, with the installation of playground equipment slated for Phase 2. Park plans began taking shape when the City of Richland sought public feedback on a draft long-range plan for the West Village Community Park in 2021 with two in-person public meetings, one Zoom meeting, and an online survey. Feedback from the community was impressive, with 306 responses received. For up-to-date information on the construction and to view long-range plans for the park, see www.ci.richland.wa.us/projects.
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Port of Pasco Executive Director Randy Hayden announced at the April 10th Board of Commissioners meeting that he would be retiring at the end of March, 2025. Hayden, 59, has been at the Port for 24 years and has served as the Port’s Executive Director for the last 10.
Hayden added that he wanted to provide a long lead time with his announcement so that the Port had ample time to search for a successor. Port Commissioners are expected to decide on a process for his replacement at upcoming meetings. The announcement was bittersweet for Hayden, who said that it was hard to consider leaving a job he loves, but he knows that the Port is in excellent hands. “From the Commissioners to every level of staff, to our tenants and community partners, the Port is on solid ground for continued success.” From Port Commission President Jean Ryckman; “Executive Director Hayden has done an incredible job for the Port and for the community. He will be leaving the Port of Pasco in an even better position than when he took it over, healthy and thriving. We will miss not only his abilities as an Executive Director, but his interactions with all of us on a personal level. We congratulate him on his well-earned retirement.” Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) is pleased to partner with BioFiltro for an exciting pilot program that will study the effectiveness of worm-powered wastewater treatment on airport deicing wastewater. Deicing is critical for aircraft in the winter months, but deicing fluids are predominantly made of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and other ingredients that are potentially dangerous for the environment if not properly collected and disposed. Tri-Cities Airport traditionally collects its deicing wastewater and disposes it through the Pasco Wastewater Treatment Facility. However, as airline activity increases at PSC, the airport is getting ahead of potential deicing disposal problems by employing BioFiltro to treat their wastewater onsite before discharging, while also boosting their sustainability by choosing a natural, low-tech, low-input, and energy efficient treatment system. “It sounds strange to use worms to treat deicing fluid, but we’re excited to tap into this innovative, sustainable way to manage a necessary aviation product,” said Buck Taft, Airport Director. “We hope this pilot program will be a success story for the entire aviation industry.” The pilot unit is 90 square feet of BioFiltro’s patented Biodynamic Aerobic (BIDA) system to treat a portion of Tri-Cities deicing wastewater for a 180-day period. BioFiltro’s BIDA system consists of a bed of wood shavings that are rich in earthworm and microbial activity. The worms serve many functions in the system, including aerating, turning nutrients into vermicompost or worm castings, and maintaining the biofilm that is essential to biological wastewater treatment. After the pilot period, BioFiltro and Tri-Cities Airport plan to explore a full-scale system that will lead the aviation industry to a new standard for turning deicing fluid into clean water and natural fertilizer. The Benton Conservation District is set to host its annual Salmon Summit, an enriching educational initiative where local elementary school students actively participate in a program focused on nurturing salmon within classroom environments, ultimately leading to their release into the Columbia River. Scheduled for April 15th and 16th, 2024, from 9 am – 1:30 pm, the event will span the East end of Columbia Park, extending from the Regional Veterans Memorial to the East Boat Launch, while ensuring continued access for the public to the Playground of Dreams.
The Salmon Summit serves as a platform for young learners to delve into the intricacies of salmon's life cycle, their vital role in the ecosystem, and the impacts of human activity on their habitats. Through hands-on involvement in raising and releasing salmon, students gain practical insights into environmental stewardship. This event is exclusively for participating schools and not open to the general public. Temporary Road and Boat Launch Closures: In support of the event, the City of Kennewick Parks and Recreation Department announces temporary closures to the East Boat Launch and a segment of Paul Parrish Drive in Kennewick, to protect the safety of participating children. Signage detailing closures and detours will be prominently displayed in the park. The East Boat Launch will be closed from 7 am – 12 pm on April 15th and 16th. Additionally, sections of Paul Parrish Drive, spanning from the East Boat Launch to the Regional Veterans Memorial round-about, will be closed from 7:30 am – 2 pm on April 15th and 16th. Alternative routes behind the Fishing Pond will be available for the public throughout the event. The Department of Parks and Recreation remains dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of all participants and attendees, and appreciates the public's cooperation during these temporary closures. Trios Health is pleased to announce that Janeen Reding, Ed.D. SPHR, has been appointed as the new Director of People Services. Janeen will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for all areas of people services, including employee relations, talent acquisition and assessment, compensation management, performance management, training and leadership development, policy, and procedures; and managing the Trios team of people services professionals. Janeen brings over 23 years’ experience in transforming people services teams from a traditional, task-oriented department, into a team that drives change and optimization with systems designed to help staff work with higher efficacy toward data driven quality outcomes. She has a strong background in culture transformation as well as Workday HRIS implementation and optimization, labor relations and career development, making her an invaluable addition to our organization. Janeen holds bachelor’s degrees in both Psychology and Business Administration from University of Great Falls and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Administration from Indiana State University. She later attained her Doctorate of Organizational Leadership & Development from Grand Canyon University. “We’re excited to bring Janeen on board and believe her wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and thriving workplace culture align perfectly with our company's values and vision” said David Elgarico, Trios Health CEO & Market President. Prosser Memorial Health is thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Jack Brandabur, MD, FASGE, to the esteemed team of gastroenterology physicians at Prosser Digestive Health Center. With over thirty years of extensive experience in gastroenterology care, Dr. Brandabur joins us with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Dr. Brandabur's journey in gastroenterology began in 1991 at Virginia-Mason Medical Center in Seattle where he laid the foundation for his distinguished career. His dedication to advancing the field led him to serve subsequently as Medical Director for the Swedish Digestive Health Institute in Seattle and later as Executive Medical Director for the Providence Digestive Health Institute. Most recently, Dr. Brandabur has been providing exceptional interventional and general gastroenterology care at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He is board-certified in Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. At Prosser Digestive Health Center, Dr. Brandabur will offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community. Conditions treated and services provided will include colon cancer screening, removal of colon polyps (including large and complex polyps), gastroesophageal reflux disease, swallowing problems and esophageal motility disorders, Barrett’s esophagus, celiac disease, bile duct and gallbladder problems, pancreatic disorders, constipation and diarrhea, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disorders, workup and staging of gastrointestinal cancers, and more. Prosser Memorial Health is at the forefront of healthcare innovation with Dr. Brandabur performing advanced interventional gastroenterology procedures including ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and EUS (endoscopic ultrasound). Prosser Memorial Health has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, receiving a 5-Star CMS rating and being recognized as one of the top ten hospitals in the State of Washington. With the addition of Dr. Brandabur, we further solidify our reputation for delivering exceptional healthcare services to our community. When Dr. Jack Brandabur isn't delivering exceptional care to his patients at Prosser Digestive Health Center, he finds joy in spending quality time with his wife Shana and their eight children and grandchildren. Dr. Brandabur and Shana often venture outdoors. Whether it's exploring scenic hiking trails or embarking on exciting travel escapades, they relish the opportunity to discover new landscapes and cultures together. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jack Brandabur to Prosser Memorial Health, and we look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly make on the health and well-being of our patients. To learn more about Dr. Jack Brandabur and his services or to schedule an appointment at Prosser Digestive Health Center, please contact us at 509.786.5599 or visit us online at prosserhealth.org. Dr. Brandabur’s webpage can be viewed at www.prosserhealth.org/provider-directory/providers/jack-brandabur/. This is your chance to share your vision on recreation in Kennewick in a BIG way!
The public is invited to attend information and input sessions that will discuss the feasibility of a state-of-the-art Indoor Recreation and Sports Center, and the potential for recreational facilities within our community. Our consultant will share the recreation study purpose and background, review recreation opportunities and trends, conduct a Menti-meter polling questions and discussion, and the public will participate in a Build-a-Center exercise. Make sure you, or someone in your group, brings a smart phone for the Menti-meter polling. Both sessions will cover the same information so please only attend one. Thursday April 11 Keewaydin Community Center: 2:30p - 4:00p Numerica Pavilion: 6:00p - 7:30p Keewaydin Community Center is located at 500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick, WA 99336 Numerica Pavilion is located at 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick WA 99338 It is important to note that there is not an approved project or identified funding source for a future facility at this time. These outreach sessions are part of the discovery phase to gauge community interest and for visioning purposes. For more information, please contact Brandon Lange at 509-585-4279 or brandon.lange@ci.kennewick.wa.us. Gesa, a community-focused credit union, is partnering with the American Red Cross Northwest region to support the “Sound the Alarm (STA). Save a Life.” campaign, which provides free smoke alarms to those in need and educates the public about home fire safety. Gesa is encouraging the community to join its efforts by donating and volunteering for the campaign if they are able, in order to help keep more community members safe.
“Everyday families throughout the Northwest are tragically affected by home fires. That’s why our volunteers and staff work to not only deliver vital services, like providing relief and support to those in a crisis, but also to help the public feel prepared to respond in times of disaster,” said Hannah Christen, Red Cross Regional Preparedness Manager. “This national initiative has helped thousands of people in the Northwest over the last 10 years, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors.” From now until May 3, community members can visit a Gesa branch or go to gesa.com to donate money to the STA campaign, which will be used to help communities across the Northwest prepare for, respond to, and recover from house fires. The credit union will provide a matching donation of up to $10,000. Additionally, Gesa team members will volunteer to help with installing free smoke alarms and providing home fire safety education to community members who sign up for a free home visit with their local Red Cross here. The campaign is still in need of additional volunteers, especially individuals that are bilingual. To become a volunteer, community members can sign up here. Every day, an average of seven people in the U.S. die in home fires, often in homes without working smoke alarms. Since the campaign began in 2014, more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms have been installed and more than 1 million households have been made safer across the country, resulting in more than 2,000 confirmed lives being saved. “We are honored to partner annually with the American Red Cross Northwest region on this vital campaign. Our joint efforts not only aid those in need but also contribute to a broader initiative aimed at enhancing household safety and preventing fires across the Northwest,” said Amber Merrill, Community Relations Manager at Gesa Credit Union. “Since the start of the program, American Red Cross has helped thousands of people and installed free smoke alarms to millions of households. Our team at Gesa is proud to support these efforts that will undoubtedly save more lives each year.” Each year, the American Red Cross Northwest region assigns a signature city for the STA campaign, where the non-profit will allocate more time and resources during the campaign. This year, the signature city selected is Aberdeen, Washington. For more information about Gesa Credit Union visit www.gesa.com. For more information about the Sound the Alarm Campaign, visit redcross.org/sound-the-alarm. The City of Richland is pleased to announce the selection of Craig Meidl as Interim Chief of Police. Chief Meidl brings over 30 years of distinguished law enforcement experience, including seven years as the City of Spokane's Chief of Police.
Meidl was selected after a comprehensive background investigation, consistent with RCW 43.101.095, and is expected to serve in the interim role for 3-6 months. This will allow the City of Richland ample time to conduct a thorough search for a permanent Police Chief. Before his role as Chief of Police, Meidl served in a wide range of positions within law enforcement, including Patrol Officer, Tactical Team, Special Investigations Unit, SWAT Team, Traffic Unit, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, School Resource Officer Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant (Shift Commander), Crisis Intervention Team Commander, Internal Affairs Lieutenant, Liaison to the Office of Police Ombudsman, Precinct Captain, Major in Charge of Operations Support Bureau, and Assistant Chief of Police. Chief Meidl is also a proud United States Marine Corps Active Reserves veteran. Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. “We are confident that Chief Craig Meidl’s extensive experience, proven leadership, and commitment to community policing will serve the City of Richland exceptionally well during this transitional period,” said City Manager Jon Amundson. Meidl will begin his service on Monday, April 15, 2024. The City of Richland will provide additional updates on the search for a permanent Police Chief as the process progresses. The City of Richland’s Permitting Office is moving to an all-digital permitting process beginning Monday, June 3, 2024. The self-service portal will allow applicants to apply for Building Permits, Planning Applications, Right-of-Way Permits and Fire Permits online via desktop, mobile, and other devices, making it a convenient way for applicants to complete and track permit activities.
The City’s implementation of a new permit management software system is designed to help the City improve efficiency, provide greater transparency into City processes, and deliver better customer service. During the transition period, from Tuesday, May 28 through Friday, May 31, 2024, there will be a temporary closure of the Permitting Office as the City integrates the new system. The closure will impact new submittals, permit issuance, and inspections, so please plan all permit and inspection activities accordingly, bearing in mind that no permits or inspections will be processed during this time frame. It is anticipated that public access to the new system will be fully operational on Monday, June 3, 2024. You can use the portal to:
More information can be found by visiting www.ci.richland.wa.us. |
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May 2024
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