FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
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COMEBACK FALLS SHORT
Mount Si closes to within three points in the second half but falls to Bothell, 31-21 Page 10
North Bend negotiates $1.69 million bid for Torguson Park improvements Original cost estimates ranged from $500,000 to $1.2 million, but project attracted no contractors BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com
After receiving zero bids on a capital improvements project for Torguson Park in June, the City of North Bend negoti-
ated directly with Rodarte Construction to come up with a contract for the work, arriving at a price that is more than $1 million more than some of the original estimates. Eight contractors showed
interest in bidding on the project by requesting copies of the park plans, according to city documents. In a very rare phenomenon for any North Bend project, the city did not receive a single bid on the project. After contacting the contractors who requested copies of the park plans, the city learned
that some companies were too busy, others had got noncompetitive job offers that they didn’t need to bid on, and still others had bid on other jobs with a “preferable scope of work (e.g. a street project vs. our park project),” according to city documents. The city went forward
with direct negotiations with Rodarte Construction because of the lack of a bid. In June, City Councilmember Alan Gothelf said that he was concerned about “scope creep” on the Torguson Park project. Gothelf said at the time that SEE PARK, PAGE 5
Hikers descend on Snoqualmie Point to celebrate WTA’s 50th BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com
Chiropractic, said a 10-by-20 foot tent was blown into the air on top of another one, and four tents were broken. “The large tent in the middle of the street (Center Boulevard Southeast) went completely airborne,” Glass & Bottle Bistro owner Adam Fry-Pierce said.
Serious Washington hikers might be among the most water-resistant group of people out there. If any outdoor event could thrive in Saturday’s stormy weather, it was the Washington Trails Association’s 50th anniversary party at Snoqualmie Point Park. Guests, volunteers and staff squished through the grass around the park as the ground became increasingly soggy from noon until 6 p.m. The moisture didn’t stop people from enjoying food trucks, educational booths, log crosscutting, a beer garden, music and other entertainment. The celebration was a culmination of several events WTA has been hosting since August to mark 50 years of protecting and promoting hiking across Washington. “Fifty years is exciting, but what’s really exciting is seeing people come together, seeing so many people from WTA history in one place sharing memories,” said Kindra Ramos, the group’s director of communica-
SEE PARTY, PAGE 3
SEE WTA, PAGE 6
KRISTINE HAAK | Imageworks Northwest
Adam Fry-Pierce (in yellow), event organizer Jessica Self (in green) and others restrain a soaring 10-by-20 foot Sigillo Cellars tent for the beer and wine garden before the Snoqualmie Valley Block Party on Sept 17.
Wet, gusty weather crashes Snoqualmie Valley Block Party BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com Area events scheduled for the last weekend of summer were dampened by the first wet and windy autumn weather of the season, which saw airborne event tents sailing around downtown Snoqualmie Ridge. The fourth annual
Snoqualmie Valley Block Party was canceled Saturday due to safety concerns about strong gusts carrying off tents. “We were OK with rain,” block party organizer Jason Green said. “It was when tents started flying all over that we got concerned.” Green, who owns Snoqualmie Optimal Health
STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com
Youngsters attending the Washington Trails Association’s 50th anniversary celebration interact with a horse at Snoqualmie Point Park on Saturday.
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