Pre-construction activities, including soil testing and a traffic impact study, have begun. The work was made possible by a long-awaited agreement between Village Green Foundation and Kitsap County.The foundation joined the Non-Profit Insurance Pool, a credible and helpful solution, to help the foundation to meet the county’s insurance requirements.
The foundation has also been engaged in detailed conversations with the Village Green Senior Housing project developer and with Kitsap County Public Works regarding where future property lines will be. Finally, VGF is also exercising an option to purchase a tax-title strip along the east side of the property, which will support site access plans.
New library plans
Plans for a smaller library that shares a common entry with the community center are also being drafted.
The foundation will meet first with Kitsap Regional Library management to discuss these plans, then provide the public an opportunity to weigh in on the changes from what was unveiled last April. The foundation is projecting a library of 4,000 square feet which is more than three times larger than the present Kingston branch. Plans could allow a future library expansion to 8,000 square feet.
Grant writers galore
A big thank-you to the dozen people who attended the March 10 grant-writing workshop with the foundation’s contracted grant-writer, Donna Doerer. There was a lot to do and so much enthusiasm for doing it that the group is meeting again on March 29, when they will actually complete initial work on at least one grant application. Special thanks to Jane Mack and Bobbi Wodtli, who have painstakingly re-written and re-formatted the foundation’s business plan.
It will surprise no one to learn that although the foundation’s applications for state capital funds have been received, the foundation is not counting on funds from the state in this budget climate. However, the tally on the matching appeal made at the end of 2010 keeps rising. It was $14,000 at last count. In this economic environment, this response seems an indicator of how valuable this project is to our community.
Park district and maintenance
Meantime, an agreement has been inked between the Village Green Metropolitan Park District and the county.
County commissioners approved an interlocal agreement to enable the district to begin funding maintenance at the Village Green for 2011, until the 2012 property tax levy generates income for the district. This interlocal agreement permits the district to draw on a line of credit from Kitsap County for up to $40,000.
The budget will be posted at the district website (see the contact information listed below). In a nutshell, the district will now be able to pay basic bills. Maintenance tasks such as watering (should that ever be necessary this year) will be shouldered by the district, freeing up foundation money exclusively for funding the capital project.
Who’s who at Village Green
The Village Green Foundation and the Village Green Metropolitan Park District are both focused on the public park and building a new community center, which will include a senior center, library, Boys & Girls Club in Kingston.
The foundation is a non-profit corporation with the mission of designing, financing, and constructing the community center. Cooperatively, they will oversee building and park use.
The park district is a public taxing district created to secure and administer money to operate the park and community center.
Contact foundation Executive Director Nick Jewett at njewett@whispercom.com. Contact district board President Bobbie Moore at bobbie@myvillagegreen.org.
The foundation’s website is www.kingstonvillagegreen.org. The district’s site is www.myvillagegreen.org.
— This column was submitted by the board of the Kingston Village Green Foundation.
