By TERRYL ASLA
Herald Correspondent
POULSBO — Andy Pate was sworn in as deputy chief of the Poulsbo Police Department, Feb. 17.
Pate succeeds John Halsted, who asked to be returned to the position of sergeant. Pate was also a sergeant until his promotion.
Pate, a native Texan, served at Bangor when he was in the U.S. Navy, then returned to the area and joined the Poulsbo Police Department in 1993. “He has always been there for his city and his fellow officers,” Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said in her introductory remarks.
Pate said implementation of new body cameras is one of his first priorities.
In other council action:
— Erickson proclaimed June 4 as Poulsbo Sons of Norway Day in honor of the local lodge, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its chartering on that date in 1916.
— The budget was amended to include $3,800 to repair the Velkomen til Poulsbo signage at the base of the Norseman statue at Viking Avenue and Lindvig Way. The signage was destroyed by a vehicle.
— The City Council unanimously approved the Farmers Market’s move to the parking lot in front of the Parks and Recreation Building on Front Street. The market is losing its old location and is considering several sites, including this one. It is to notify the city of its decision by March 1. If the market does decide to move to the city parking lot, the council approved making any needed paving repairs prior to the market’s opening on April 2.
— The City Council unanimously approved the Twilight Criterium’s special event application. The event, 3-9 p.m. June 11, will feature seven bicycle races with professional riders and is expected to bring 600 riders and support staff to Poulsbo. The circuit race will be downtown and will require closing several streets, including Front Street. Downtown businesses have endorsed holding the event there.
— The City Council unanimously approved the Poulsbo Cystic Fibrosis Walk special event application. The event is scheduled 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 4. Previously, the 24-year-old event took place outside the city limits. The new course will go from Home Depot to Vinland Elementary School.
— There was considerable discussion between council members and representatives from Kitsap County Public Works Sewer Utility Division when that group presented its 2016-22 Capital Facilities Plan Update for the City of Poulsbo. Capital projects affecting the City of Poulsbo include upgrades to Pump Station 67, to be completed in 2016. The City of Poulsbo will pay 94 percent of the estimated $5.7 million cost.
Other future expenses include possible repair, expansion or replacement of the pipeline that carries Poulsbo’s wastewater and stormwater under the bay from Lemolo to Keyport. Poulsbo would pay 100 percent of those costs. Other future expansion costs will depend on how wastewater-flows increase as new people move into the area.
— Public requests for information are increasing. In 2011, the city received 75 requests. In 2015, that number more than doubled and officials expect more than 500 requests in 2016 at the current rate.
— The City Council unanimously approved a budget revision to purchase a new pipeline inspection camera that enables city employees to remotely examine sewer and water trunk lines and branch lines.
The city will accept the $147,000 bid from CUES for the new camera system and expects to have examined all of the pipes in the city within the next two years. It is estimated that there are 51 miles of trunk lines and 75 miles of branch lines under the city. Additionally, the new camera system can be used in emergency situations.
