Council slates

annexation hearings

for Wells, S. Viking

At its Dec. 8 meeting, the Poulsbo City Council set a Jan. 5, 2005 public hearing for the Wells and South Viking Avenue petitions for annexation. Wells is slated for 7:15 p.m. and South Viking will be heard at 7:20 p.m. Both will take place in council chambers at City Hall off Jensen Way.

The Wells annexation petition was authorized by council Dec. 3, 2003. It includes three lots near the Deer Run plat off Noll Road that total more than 2 acres.

The South Viking Avenue annexation petition was authorized by council May 12. It includes five properties along Viking Avenue Northwest between Northwest Finn Hill Lane and State Route 305.

For more information about either of these petitions, call the Poulsbo Planning Department at (360) 779-5111.

Sluys offers reward

for waterfall vandals

Sluys Poulsbo Bakery owner and downtown landlord Marion Sluys is hoping that putting a little dough behind the search for local vandals will yield some results. Sluys said this week that he’s offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for putting soap in Bill Austin’s waterfall near the corner of Bond and Lindvig Roads.

Sluys, who made a contribution to the water feature’s construction two years ago, said he was moved to action after hearing that the waterfall had been vandalized 15 times. He recalled having a conversation with Austin this summer after a soaping and learning how much time and money it cost to clean up after the incidents.

“Boy, it made me mad to hear that it had been done again,” Sluys said of the soaping that occurred in late November. “Not only does it take a lot of work to clean it up but it’s a danger.”

Sluys said he decided to put up a reward because he thought it might motivate people who have information about the soapings to come forward. He said he appreciated Austin’s efforts to build a waterfall for the community and wanted to make a strong statement that the community wouldn’t stand for people ruining the public amenity.

“More than anything, I’d like to see them apprehended and out in the public eye,” Sluys said of the vandals.

Anyone with information about this crime should call the Poulsbo Police Department at (360) 779-3113.