50 Years of Town Gown...

Technically, Kent State University has called Kent home for 100 years so we’ve actually got a century of town/gown experience, but last week we celebrated the 50th year of the Town/Gown Bowman Breakfast so I’m going with 50 years to match up with the title of the speech given by resident historian and editor of the Record Courier, Mr. Roger J. Di Paolo.

Roger offered a great personal view of the evolution of town/gown over the last 50 years with abundant local trivia that only Roger can provide.

Roger’s monologue did such a great job of capturing the state of town/gown relations that I asked his permission to reprint it here in the blog.  Ever gracious, he was happy to share it.

Enjoy.

______________

Roger’s Speech from April 16, 2013
______________

Three years ago, when the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce was celebrating its centennial, it was my privilege to address the Bowman Breakfast. This morning, as we celebrate another anniversary — the 50th anniversary of the Bowman Breakfast series, I’m back.

Sorry about that. But it’s my own fault. When we gathered here three years ago, I indulged in a bit of time traveling about what Kent would be like in 2013, and Lori Wemhoff told me I needed to come back to see how accurate my predictions are. So this is an accountability session. Plus Lori knows that I’ll work for food.

I’m pleased to be back, actually humbled. It’s an honor to be part of this celebration — and nurturing town-gown ties on a regular basis for 50 years is something to celebrate. And I’m happy to report that our bit of time traveling, for the most part, was right on target. Actually, I think we exceeded someof our most optimistic expectations. And I’m not to proud to admit that I was wrong about a couple of things … later about that. But I really don’t feel badly about those, either.

Three years ago, I spoke in praise of audacity — of daring to dare, taking a risk, going forward with bold dreams in the faces of the naysayers and forces of negativity. Some people seem to enjoy failure, or watching others fail, but there’s a case to be made that you can’t succeed without it.

Well, we’ve succeeded big time. We’re in 21st Century Kent and the view is incredible. Audacity has paid off.

Three years ago, when we gathered here in April 2010, Kent was just beginning to realize some of the dreams that so many had talked about for so long — the revitalization that true believers knew could happen, given the right set of circumstances and the right set of players. Acorn Alley had just opened and Ron Burbick was making plans for its successor. The plans were on the drawing board for what some were calling the Haymaker Block; the KSU hotel and conference center was in the works and so was PARTA’s transit facility. Except for Acorn Alley, though, the downtown redevelopment plans existed only in our minds — hard to picture for some of us, even when we tried (as I did when I spoke three years ago.)

Three years ago, Erie Street still looked like a tank trap with cars parked in the middle of it; the old Record-Courier office was standing empty; so was Kent Hardware — the old sign for the A&P that somehow managed to remain in its parking lot for 35 years after it closed was still there, too. The bar across from the Courier that had more names than anyone could remember, was still standing. Remember all that? It’s almost difficult to believe now — and let’s be honest, it’s difficult to believe just how bad that part of our downtown looked. I haven’t heard anyone say they miss any of it … except for Jerry’s Diner, and that closed in 1987.

What a difference three years makes. What a difference a bit of time, a lot of money, a huge dose of confidence and — as Dave Ruller and Dan Smith might attest — a few prayers makes. Today, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bowman Breakfast, a community event that has endured for a half-century that has seen this plenty of ups and downs for this community — we also can celebrate the birth of 21st Century Kent. And, rest assured, it would not exist without the cooperation of the city of Kent, KentStateUniversity and a strong business community led by the Chamber of Commerce. All of us – everyone in this room – are stakeholders in Kent. Nor would it exist without the belief that things CAN change for the better, as audacious as that may be.

We are the poster child for economic revitalization in the face of the worst recession in memory. We are the comeback community, the CinderellaCity. We did it. We did it together. We are proud of what we did. And we need to celebrate it.

Fifty years ago, in 1963, the Bowman Breakfast came into being after a speaker at the Kent Chamber’s annual meeting called for greater interaction between the city, the Chamber and KentState. George Bowman was retiring after nearly 20 years as KentState president, and if ever there was a leader who exemplified audacity, he was it. (That’s not to say some of his successors don’t share the same trait.) President Bowman transformed what essentially was a teacher training college in 1944 when he became president into a major state university, and he did it with a sense of vision that translated into near-continous construction of new classroom facilities and dormitories, a growing enrollment year after year and a commitment to academic excellence that encouraged some of the finest educators and public-spirited citizens to make Kent their home. President Bowman made a conscious effort to interact with the Kent community and encouraged the campus community to follow his example. Sustaining this series named in his honor — for a half-century, gathering nearly 300 strong — is an apt tribute to him.

I remember my hometown fifty years ago. I was in second grade at St.PatrickSchool. Downtown Kent was a thriving retail center with parking problems — sound familiar? I have fond memories of a downtown with three drugstores on the square –Jim Myers was behind the counter at Thompson’s, where he filed so many prescriptions of that green antihistamine Dr. Lang prescribed for my allergies that my parents should have owned stock in it. John Carson was across the street at Donaghy’s; he was a councilman and later would become an outstanding, although unappreciated mayor. Portage National Bank was on another corner; City Bank was down the street. Purcell’s, Standard Drug and other businesses were in the block on the fourth corner. I remember going to Lou Friedland’s for Jumping Jack Shoes, down the street on South Water was Kline’s Market, where Francis Kline would sometimes pause at the doorway in his white apron. Hahn’s Restaurant. I remember McCrory’s 5 and Dime, which sold just about everything and had a warped wooden floor with a wave in it; next door was W.T. Grant, which was a cut above McCrory’s. On the corner was Schine’s KentTheatre, where I saw Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady — I remember what it was like to leave there after dark and walk out in a blaze of blinding, pulsating light when the marquee was turned on. The Hotel Kent Ellis was across the street, and it still had paying guests.

I also remember the feeling of neighborliness, community, small town comfort that you experienced when you shopped in downtown Kent. Our merchants were our neighbors, they had gone to school with our parents, their kids went to school with us. We saw them in church; we knew them as individuals. They took pride in their businesses and they enjoyed helping one another. They realized that no business community can thrive in isolation; cooperation is key. When I read stories about the Kent Chamber in the 1950s and 1960s, I am struck by the “can do” attitude that seems so evident. These were men and women who believed in Kent — who loved it, in fact — and who worked hard to make it succeed.

Fifty years later, as we celebrate 21st Century Kent, we can be proud that that spirit has returned. You can sense it and you can see it. It’s present in gatherins such as this one. It’s present whenever the Chamber has a luncheon — OK, that’s also because Lori also throws a great party — and it’s wonderful to behold. Especially because, for some many years, that spirit seemed to be absent. I remember what Kent was like 30 years ago, when there were vacant storefronts on Main Street and I could cross it at the noon hour without ever worrying about traffic. And nobody complained about parking then, either. A dormant, defeated town is a sad thing — and it can be deadly, too, if that spirit persists. We were asleep for a very long time until we finally realized we needed to wake up or perish.

I love my hometown. I am an unapologetic civic cheerleader. I love going downtown, even when I have “no reason” to be there. I love how 21st Century Kent looks … the flags atop the Ametek building that teach us a lesson in geography every time we look at them, Davey Tree’s headquarters that reminds us that our Tree City is headquarters for a company that has been taking care of the environment, while based in Kent, Ohio, for over 100 years. The new businesses lining Erie Street: Laziza, Georgio’s, whose $5 pizzas are a lazy single dad’s salvation, and my personal favorite, Tree City Coffee, where I’m trying to get my boss to let me open a satellite office. There are so many others: Popped, Off the Wagon, Last Exit Books. I love seeing families with small children — kids in wagons and strollers walking around on Saturday and Sunday, taking in the sights. I love seeing students — the lifeblood of this community, which we sometimes forget — enjoying themselves downtown and realizing that there’s plenty to do there even when it isn’t dark.

As we celebrate our 21st Century revival, we need to celebrate — and thank — those who took the leap of faith and invested their time and treasure there. We also need to remember those who stuck with downtown Kent for so many years when there wasn’t a great deal to celebrate; who stayed in business when times were tough. And we need to ignore those who seem to revel in failure, who gleefully point to temporary setbacks and vacant storefronts and thrill to an “I told you so” mentality. We listened to them for too long and they paralyzed us — for nearly 40 years. We’re not going back to sleep again. More than bricks and mortar, restaurants and retailers, we celebrate a new sense of community – or perhaps a rediscovered sense of pride in Kent.

We can look forward to many more reasons to celebrate. I can’t wait to spend a night in the new hotel on the site where I worked for nearly 14 years. I’m excited at the design for the new architecture building — I want to see what it’s like from that lawn three or four stories above downtown Kent. The new courthouse on East Main will be a vast improvement over what used to be there, and with a bit of luck, may stimulate other improvements there. The Esplanade will finally put an end to the Haymaker bypass being Kent’s DMZ — and the poet and preservationist in me is thrilled to see the May Prentice house being used for the WickPoetryCenter. It says something, too, that Kent will have a PoetryPark helping to bridge the campus and the community.

Oh, almost forgot. It turns out I was wrong about a couple of my predictions three years ago. I said we’d be gathering in the Lefton Balroom in the new KSU Hotel. Well, that was a bit premature. I also said we’d enjoy a beautiful spring day and walk along the Esplanade — I was off a couple of months on that.

And there was also that crack about the old hotel — “still around the corner. Well, you can’t have everything.” I was REALLY wrong about that one, and I’m so happy that I was. I tell people that I used to pray to St. Jude when it came to impossible causes, but now I offer a plea to Ron Burbick and Doug Fuller. More than anything else in downtown Kent, the rebirth of the old hotel as Acorn Corner is the most incredible element of our CinderellaCity. Three years ago, had I said we’d be enjoying dinner there — and waiting in line to eat, as a matter of fact — you could have caled me certifiable. That’s the true Kent Miracle.

One hundred years ago, in April 1913, the people of Kent were anxiously awaiting the opening of KentStateNormal School. Their audacious dream had come true, and they looked forward to welcoming students and visitors with a mixture of pride and, frankly, a bit of anxiety. There undoubtedly were some who wondered how Kent was going to pull off being a college town, and I’m sure there were some — Kent being Kent — who were just waiting for it to fail.

One hundred years ago, Kent rose to the challenge of being a college town. I’m proud to be a KentState alumnus, as so many of us are. And this campus is beyond the wildest dreams of even the most visionary, optimistic civic cheerleader of 1913.

One hundred years later, as we celebrate a half-century of fellowship between the city, KentState and the Chamber, we not only rise to the challenges of the future — we embrace them and we exceed them. We have both feet planted firmly in the 21st Century and it’s an exciting place to be. Be proud. Celebrate. We pulled it off.

City – KSU International Town Gown Award...

Three cheers for town/gown in Kent.

____________________

Press Release
____________________

Kent State and the City of Kent Honored with Inaugural Award for Town-Gown Collaboration

Kent State University and the City of Kent have been selected as the winners of the Larry Abernathy Award from the International Town-Gown Association (ITGA). The award honors the town-gown relationship that best represents the spirit of ITGA.

The award was announced this morning at the Bowman Breakfast, the semi-annual meeting and celebration of town-gown relations in Kent.

“This presentation best exemplified a town and university working together cohesively and promoting partnership and resources between all entities including the town, university, leaders, students, faculty and staff, neighborhood residents and businesses,” said Beth Bagwell, ITGA program director.

Larry Abernathy, the former mayor of Clemson, S.C., had a passion for town-gown collaborative efforts, and it was through his initiatives that the ITGA was created in 2003. The first Larry Abernathy award will be presented on June 5 at the annual ITGA conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

“The spirit of collaboration that we have fostered has allowed us to undertake some truly transformational projects,” said Kent State President Lester A. Lefton. “We are committed to building an exciting future for Kent State, the city and beyond. I’m enormously proud to be part of a community that is making such meaningful contributions to a regional renaissance.”

The downtown Kent redevelopment project includes:

• The Kent      State University Hotel and Conference Center, which is scheduled to open      this summer. The hotel and conference center is a partnership between the      Kent State University Foundation and the Pizzuti Companies of Columbus,      Ohio.
• PARTA’s new      Kent Central Gateway Multimodal transit center, which will accommodate buses,      pedestrians, bicycles and cars.
• Acorn Alley      and its second phase, Acorn Alley II, a retail office space development      created by Kent business leader Ron Burbick.
• College      Town Kent, a pedestrian-oriented shopping office and lifestyle center      developed by Fairmount Properties and its partners. The      185,000-square-foot development includes the new AMETEK and Davey Tree      buildings.
• The      extension of the Kent State University Esplanade that will strengthen the      ties between the university and the city by providing a physical link,      providing students with a safe pathway to visit, enjoy and patronize      downtown Kent and its businesses, as well as connecting residents and      visitors to the Kent Campus.

In addition, during the next four years, Kent State will be transforming its campus with new buildings and revitalized classroom, laboratory, studio, performance, living and studying spaces.

The ITGA award also recognizes the on-going collaborative efforts between the city and the university. Kent State representatives keep in regular contact with city officials, creating a more open and productive environment.

Kent State’s Office of Community Relations works to promote respect, civility and collaboration between students and community members, and is actively involved with city officials, area businesses, the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood canvassing efforts. Several other on-going collaborations between the university and city also were cited in Kent’s winning nomination.

Kent City Manager Dave Ruller, who has worked closely with Lefton, university and city officials and private developers on the $110 million downtown development over the last several years, said working collaboratively yields real results.

“It’s great to have our work recognized as being the best that can be found – not just in Ohio or in the U.S. – but around the world,” Ruller said. “Constructing new buildings and reconnecting the campus to the downtown has been transformational, but the real excitement comes from discovering what we’re capable of accomplishing together.”

As part of the Larry Abernathy Award presentation in June, both the university and the city will receive $500 checks, both of which will be donated to Kent State scholarships.

“With 2013 being the 50^th anniversary of the Bowman Breakfast, recognition by the ITGA is truly an honor for everyone involved,” said Lori Wemhoff, executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. ”Having the awarded monies go toward our scholarship efforts only reiterates the commitment of the entire team.”

The ITGA provides a network of resources to assist civic leaders, university officials, faculty, neighborhood residents and students to collaborate on common services, programs, academic research and citizen issues, creating an improved quality of life. For more information on the ITGA, visit www.itgau.org

Dr. Lefton’s Retirement...

Food For The Hungry...

You can’t find a better cause than feeding hungry people so I’m pleased to help spread the word that two food drives are planned for the first week of April — one through the KSU School of Public Health and the other through Kent & Ravenna Mayor’s challenge.

Take a minute to read the press release below and remember to mark your calendars for the first week of April.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Name: Carissa Bowlin
Phone #330.672.2703
E-mail address: crbowlin@kent.edu

Announcing the Kent State University College of Public Health Second Annual Food Drive

KENT, OHIO – FEBUARY 28, 2013 –Kent State University College of Public Health is pleased to announce its second annual food drive to benefit Kent Social Service’s food pantry (The Lord’s Pantry).

“We are thrilled to once again be able to offer the community an opportunity to give back,” expressed Dr. Sonia Alemango, Kent State University’s Dean of the College of Public Health. ”We welcome the opportunity to contribute in our own backyard.”

Donations will be collected through a community “bag drop” being planned by graduate students from Kent State University’s College of Public Health. The food drive is organized by graduate students enrolled in Public Health Programs: Planning, Implementation and Evaluation (HPM 53007), taught by College of Public Health Assistant Professor Deric Kenne, Ph.D. “Students participating in the course get a real-world, hands-on experience in planning, implementing and evaluating a public health program,” says Kenne. “At the same time, students are able to contribute to the community.”

The project hopes to add to last year’s success that resulted in more than 4,000 food and personal care item donations—the food pantry’s largest one-time donation.

Kent State University students and volunteers will be making rounds through many areas of the Kent community to distribute paper bags donated from the ACME grocery store in Franklin Township on Tuesday April 2^nd. Residents who receive a bag are asked to donate any non-perishable food and personal care items they can.

Students and volunteers will return to the same areas of Kent on Saturday April 6^th at 10am to collect the bags of donated goods and deliver them to the food pantry. Residents who receive a donation bag are asked to leave their bag of donated items in front of their home in a location visible from the street. All donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.

For residents who do not receive a bag, but would still like to contribute, donations may be taken directly to Kent Social Services at 1066 S. Water Street during the Kent & Ravenna Mayor’s Challenge Hunger campaign also occurring Saturday, April 6, 2013.

“Last spring the food drive was supported by the city, the media, and other community members.” Says Kenne. “We want to build on those relationships this year to further raise awareness of the project and the need it helps to fill in the community.”

###

Winter Construction on the KSU Campus...

There’s been a lot of publicity over Kent State’s $250 million construction plans.  Here’s how that will translate into actual projects in the first half of 2013.

WINTER 2012 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE
Here are the major facility and infrastructure improvements that are currently being administered by the Office of the University Architect:

PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Allerton Apartments Abatement and Demolition of Buildings E, F, J, K, L, and M
Residence Services determined that Allerton Apartments Buildings E, F, J, K, L, and M had reached the end of their useful lifespan. The unwanted and unused buildings are being removed and the site will be prepared for future use. Public utilities to the main trunk lines are being removed and capped per utility recommendations and electrical ductbanks to the main manhole on south side of street are being removed. The sidewalks and parking lots will also be removed. Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Portage County has been salvaging furniture and other useful items.GCS Industrial Services completed asbestos abatement work in November. Russ James Contracting’s demolition work continues; Buildings E and F are demolished; demolition of Buildings J and K continues, while electrical systems are being rerouted near Building L. Buildings L and M will be demolished by the end of December, thus completing this project designed by The Osborn Engineering Company.

Cartwright Hall Partial Roof Replacement
Terik Roofing should be completed by the end of December with roofing work and masonry repairs for this Cartwright Hall project designed byMakovich & Pusti Architects. The roof above the ornamental dome in the Auditorium has been replaced; old ventilation shafts and other abandoned equipment were removed to provide better drainage; and parapet and facade masonry repairs were completed.

Heer Hall Renovations for Administrative Functions
Heer Hall, a former residence hall built in 1967, is being renovated to provide office space for multiple administrative functions. Once this project, designed byThe Collaborative, is completed, Human Resources, currently located in Terrace and Wright halls, will relocate to Heer Hall. Work involves the conversion of the residence rooms and bathroom facilities, improvements to the public areas, and the upgrade/replacement of the entire heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, electrical distribution, telecommunications systems, fire alarm and fire suppression systems. The new lobby addition will be enclosed later this month and site utility work is nearing completion. Interior work continues with mechanical and electrical rough-ins and wall framing. Drywall installation will follow behind the rough-in work. Construction is scheduled to continue through Winter Break with anticipated project completion in late February.

Library Third Floor Renovations for the School of Library and Information Science
The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) currently occupies an area on the third floor of the Library and the program has grown significantly. Additional space is needed to accommodate students and faculty. This project, designed byPayto Architects, will include interior renovations and systems upgrades to the approximately 10,000 SF of vacated space on the third floor of the Library. The program will include additional faculty office and research spaces, as well as instructional spaces. Stitle Construction Corporation commenced construction on December 14; work is scheduled to continue until June 11, 2013.

Lincoln Building Office of Continuing and Distance Education Relocation
In order to properly work with instructors to set-up their online coursework, the Office of Continuing and Distance Education (OCDE) needs additional space. The OCDE will be moving out of the Schwartz Center and into the Lincoln Building.DSV Builders, Inc. commenced work on December 10, and construction will continue until the end of March 2013. This project was designed byWanix Architects.

University Esplanade Extension
Kenmore Construction Company’s construction of the University Esplanade Extension continues to progress on schedule. Utility relocation work is nearly complete. The concrete sub-base is complete between Lincoln and Willow Streets, while work continues on the section betweenWillow Street andHaymaker Parkway. Pavers cannot be installed until the return of dry spring weather conditions; all other work will continue, as weather permits.

University Esplanade Site Development
Ten (10) houses are currently being demolished byLockhart Concrete Company along the new University Esplanade Extension to allow for future development and the creation of green space.

Williams Hall Third Floor Multi-Discipline Lab
Kent State University is in need of additional space to expand its research opportunities and create state-of-the-art, flexible, and adaptable laboratory space to recruit high-caliber faculty researchers. The existing Chemistry/Physics library (approximately 4,780 SF) will be converted into a multi-discipline research laboratory for up to five new, primary research faculty members. This project, designed byVan Auken Akins Architects, is a complete renovation of the existing space, including HVAC, electrical distribution, lighting, teledata, plumbing, casework, and architectural finishes.Coastal Quality Construction’s on-site construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year with an expected occupancy and move-in date in January 2013.
ENERGY CONSERVATION PROJECTS:

Kent Campus Classroom, Laboratory, Auxiliary Buildings and Utility Assets Energy Conservation Project, Phase 1
In mid-November,The Brewer-Garrett Company began activity on their Performance Contract services for energy conservation measures in Kent Campus classroom, laboratory and auxiliary buildings, Summit Street Power Plant and utilities infrastructure. This project impacts over 3.6 million square feet of buildings, plus parking lot and roadway lighting and campus utilities (electricity, natural gas, chilled water, steam, domestic water and sewer). The potential $50 million project has been limited to a $25 million Phase 1 with a potential, yet to-be-determined value, future Phase 2. External special bond funding was approved by the Kent State University Board of Trustees and the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority; funding all-in rate achieved 1.25% with a very positive effect on project cash flow. Expectation for Phase 1 of this project is that the majority of the House Bill 251 energy use reduction goal of 20% will be met. Select envelope deferred renewal projects include: window replacements for: Administrative Services Building, Bowman Hall, DeWeese Health Center, Dix Stadium, Library, Rockwell Museum, Nixson Hall skylights; new roofs for: Bowman, Henderson, Moulton, and Nixson halls. General project scope items include select lighting retrofits, replacements of air handlers, chillers, boilers, pumps, heat exchangers and domestic water heating systems, installation of piping system insulation, building envelope repairs, and comprehensive utility metering. A substantial amount of noticeable Phase 1 work and select exterior improvements are planned for: Bowman Hall, DeWeese Health Center, MAC Center, Schwartz Center, Ice Arena, Dix Stadium, and the Library. A complete campus exterior pole lighting project retrofitting to LED will be completed. Summit Street Power Plant gas and electric utility contract/operation re-negotiation is also included in Phase 1. The project is utilizing House Bill 7 Performance Contracting regulations for payback of the project costs with guaranteed energy savings and possibly operational and avoided capital costs over a maximum 15-year time period.

Kent Campus Residence Services Energy Conservation Project
This project encompasses approximately 1,800,000 SF of twenty-six residence hall buildings on the Kent Campus to address the House Bill 251 energy use reduction goals. Potential construction installation cost is $20,000,000 resulting in $1,800,000 total annual guaranteed utility cost savings. The Brewer-Garrett Company commenced installation processes in June 2011 and on-going as work is being coordinated with other residence hall projects planned outside of this project’s scope. This project exceeds the 20% HB 251 energy reduction goals with 37% annual energy consumption savings and avoided greenhouse gas emissions. The project is utilizing provisions per Ohio Legislation HB 7 for payback of project cost with guaranteed energy savings over the allowed 15-year payback time period. In addition, substantial deferred renewal items are being addressed: replacement of single-pane, original windows at Prentice, Verder, Dunbar, Lake and Olson halls; installation of air handling equipment in Beall/McDowell Center, and caulking, tuckpointing, lintel repair and replacements on the building envelopes. A student room energy conservation control system is being implemented throughout; this strategy will automatically reduce HVAC and electrical usage when rooms are unoccupied. Envelope repairs and windows replacements in Dunbar, Prentice, Verder,Lake and Olson Halls and envelope repairs at Tri-Towers Rotunda and Engleman Hall have been completed. Temperature controls in student rooms are operating in Centennial Courts A-F, Stopher, Johnson,Lake, Olson, Korb, Engleman, Beall, Prentice, Verder, Dunbar and Allyn halls. Room automation at Tri-Towers and the Eastway Complex has been delayed in effort to coordinate the work with other planned renovations in those buildings. The Tri-Towers Complex domestic hot water heaters have been replaced and the system is currently being upgraded to replace storage tanks in the towers with master mixing valves. Retro-commissioning of the hall’s HVAC equipment is being performed to correct any deficiencies and ensure efficient operation. A total of 2,051 water conserving low-flow sink aerators and approximately 1,600 reduced flow showerheads were installed in all of the residence halls. To reduce electricity consumption, lighting retrofits were completed in Stopher and Johnson halls, Centennial Courts A-F, Verder, Prentice, Dunbar, Engleman,Lake, Olson, Beall, McDowell, and Koonce, Leebrick and Wright halls. New motors with variable frequency drives were installed on the building heating systems in multiple resident halls. Kitchen hood controls were installed inEastwayCenter and Tri-Towers Rotunda that will automatically reduce exhaust flows by up to 70% when not required to capture heat and/or fumes from cooking. Condensate from steam heat recovery systems are in operation at Lake/Olson halls, Centennial Courts A/B, C/D, and E/F that save energy by extracting more heat from the condensate prior to sending it back to the Power Plant. The condensate heat recovery systems will reduce the steam required by buildings and help to provide more opportunities for waste heat recovery at the Power Plant. Utility meters have been installed in all of the residence halls and are reporting consumptions to the building automation system for billing. The foundation has been established for the potential development of a Web-based energy dashboard that could be accessed by parents, students and staff to promote energy conservation and review utility consumptions. Utility meter readings for individual residence halls will be used to promote and document energy conservation competitions between similar halls. This project is approximately 80% complete.

CONTRACT AWARDS PENDING:

Child Development Center Outdoor Learning Laboratory

An Outdoor Learning Laboratory will be expanded and improved at the playground of the ChildDevelopmentCenterin order to enhance the mission and philosophy of the Center. Designed by Behnke Associates, the contract award is pending with the apparent low bidder,Cavanaugh Building Corporation, for construction bids that were opened on November 30.
Loop Road Recreation Field Pavilion

The new Loop Road Recreation Field, a new pavilion and secured field equipment storage building will be built for the convenience and use of recreation users and visitors. The pavilion will include a covered area with picnic tables for group gatherings, enclosed restroom facilities, electrical power and wireless Internet access. Site utilities, irrigation controls, field lighting and water well controls will be relocated from their current, temporary locations into the new building. This project was designed byBraun & Steidl Architects. Apparent Low Bidders (ALB) for construction bids opened on November 16 are as follows:DSV Builders, Inc. is the ALB of the pending General Trades (Lead) Contract;Synergy, LLC is the ALB of the pending Mechanical Contract; and Becdel Controls, Inc. is the ALB of the pending Electrical/Telecommunications Contract.

Schoonover Stadium Varsity Baseball Field Lighting

Outdoor lighting and lighting controls will be installed at the Schoonover Stadium Varsity Baseball Field. The construction contract with the apparent low bidder,B & J Electric of Poland, Inc., has been submitted for final approval by the Ohio Attorney General’s office. It is anticipated that work will commence on-site at the end of December. This project was designed byOSports.

Stockdale Dispatch Renovations

Designed byFour Points Architectural Services, Stockdale’s dispatch center will be relocated into a larger, more secured room. Renovations will involve complete demolition and reconstruction of the new center and installation of furniture systems for five dispatch workstations. The contract award is pending for construction bids that were opened on December 7;DSV Builders, Inc. is the next apparent low bidder after United Contractors of North East Ohio withdrew their bid.

PROJECTS UNDER DESIGN:

Bond Construction Program Management Services

Kent State University recently selectedThe Ruhlin Company to provide Program Management and Oversight Services associated with the staged implementation of the university’s bond construction initiative, called “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future,” which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces. The goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university. The capital program includes the planning, programming and implementation of various renovation, demolition and construction projects related to buildings, infrastructure and grounds throughout the Kent Campus which are anticipated to be undertaken over the next three years, and possibly beyond. Firms that responded to the Request for Qualifications must have experience facilitating and managing the implementation of large capital programs over multiple years; establishing the procedures and protocols; assembling and coordinating the efforts of programming, planning and delivery teams; organizing and advertising the initial projects; and managing the capital projects process.

Centennial Research Park Lab Improvements

Swing space will be needed during the science facilities renovations and research space is also needed for new hires.Van Auken Akins Architects is designing the renovations to Centennial Research Park’s former 4,000 SF wash bay area which includes installation of lab casework, window openings, new restrooms, HVAC, fire protection, electrical distribution and lighting systems.
Library Roof Replacement and Parapet Repairs

URS Corporation’s contract is being processed for approval to design the replacement of the Library’s tower and main building roof systems. Work will include lighting protection, fall protection, and removal of old chillers and cooling towers no longer in service. Documents will be prepared for bidding in February for construction during the summer of 2013.
McGilvrey Hall Building Envelope Restoration

Carl Walker, Inc. is designing this project to replace McGilvrey Hall’s building roof systems and prepare for a major restoration of the building’s stone and brick facades. Work will include lighting protection, fall protection, and removal of old mechanical equipment no longer in service. Documents will be prepared for bidding in February for construction during the summer of 2013.
Multiple Science Buildings Renovations and Addition

Three science buildings, Cunningham, Smith and Williams halls, will be renovated and a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) addition will be built to increase academic and research spaces. Renovations will address deferred maintenance needs, focusing on replacement of aging and failing infrastructure and systems and reorganization of the program spaces within the existing buildings’ general layouts, and at the same time will establish state-of-the-art science facilities for teaching and research. Renovation of all three buildings will be treated as a single project to provide a cohesive approach to science instruction and research space in these areas; this project will be registered with the USGBC for minimum Silver LEED certification. Additionally, all three buildings and programs will need to continue to operate portions of the buildings during construction. Sharing of temporary facilities in all three areas will be part of an overall sequencing plan for the construction period. The 93,000 SF Williams Hall, built in 1967, provides space for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The 47,000 SF Smith Hall, built in 1968, provides space for the Physics Department. The 93,000 SF Cunningham Hall, built in 1968, provides space for the Department of Biological Sciences. Cunningham Hall also includes an addition that was completed in 2001; work in this addition is anticipated to be modest and limited to systems that interface with the original building, such as building automation, security and fire alarms and re-commissioning of the HVAC system. The Office of the University Architect is workingAyers/Saint/Gross, Incorporated to assist with designing and providing project management for all phases of the project. The Mechanical/ Electrical/ Plumbing engineering firm,Prater Engineering, is under contract with the Architect of Record. The Office of the University Architect selectedKarpinski Engineering to serve as the Commissioning Agent. A LEED Process Consultant will also be selected and contracted directly with the university. The university selectedTurner Construction Company to serve as Construction Manager at Risk. The design team is starting programming and conceptual design which should be completed in December.
Music and Speech Center D-Wing First Floor Ceiling Replacement and Chilled Water Line Relocation

Chilled water lines in the D-Wing of the Music and SpeechCenterwill be relocated from the ground floor to the first floor ceiling, the spline ceiling will be replaced with new two-by-two lay-in ceiling tiles, and the existing surface-mount lighting will be replaced with recessed, high-efficiency lights. Currently, this project is under design byPardo Consultants.

New Building for the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology

In support of the recently redefined and renamed Collegeof Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, KentState University intends to construct a new facility reflecting the level of sophistication envisioned with the college. The new facility is envisioned to be between 40,000 and 50,000 SF and three stories tall. The facility will house classrooms, labs and administrative and faculty offices. In addition, a portion of the building will be planned as shell space for future expansion as additional funding becomes available. The research activities of the college will be located in another building on campus. This project will be registered with the USGBC for minimum Silver LEED certification. This project will utilize the Construction Manager at Risk project delivery method.Bostwick Design Partnership is serving as the Architect of Record. The university selectedHammond Construction, Inc. to serve as Construction Manager at Risk. In addition to the A/E and CMR firms, separate consultants will be contracted with Kent State as the Major Construction Program Manager, LEED Process Consultant, and Commissioning Agent.
Prentice Dining Hall Renovation

Kaczmar Architects is assisting Dining Services to program options for a new dining facility to replace the Prentice Café which serves the north campus area.
Prentice House Relocation and Renovation

The May Prentice House, a residence of historical significance to KentStateUniversitywill be relocated due to the Esplanade Extension project and for future use by the university. Interior and exterior renovations are required to bring the building up to code for the university’s use.Rick Hawksley, Architect, dba Design with a Vision, assisted with planning this two-phased project. This project should be advertised for construction in January 2013 with work to commence in February and completed by July. A new foundation, basement and structural floor system will be built, new electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems installed, accessibility upgrades made, and interior and exterior improvements will be completed.
Renovations and Additions for the School of Art

The Schoolof Artcurrently occupies six different buildings on the Kent Campus: the ArtBuilding, Art Annex, Van Deusen Hall, SchwartzCenter, Olson Hall and the CeramicsBuilding. The intent of this project is to consolidate the school into two buildings and provide renovated and new spaces for their programs. The Art Annex is the university’s former central heating plant in which a two-phase renovation was planned to house several art programs. Phase one was completed in 2007 and this project will complete the second phase of renovation to provide approximately 32,000 SF. An additional 68,000 SF is anticipated as renovation and addition to either Van Deusen Hall or the ArtBuilding, based on the results of a study phase. Either building will need significant renovations to accommodate the art programs. In general, the project will provide new MEP infrastructure, interior finishes, and envelope repairs/replacement. This project will be registered with the USGBC for minimum Silver LEED certification. This project will utilize the Construction Manager at Risk project delivery method.Payto Architects, the Architect of Record, has completed a study with several different renovation scenarios.Ozanne Construction Company is serving as Construction Management at Risk. The construction manager, during the preconstruction services phase of the project, is assisting in evaluating and determining the final project scope based on estimates, schedules and constructability. Recommendations regarding the selection of theArtBuilding or Van Deusen Hall are nearly completed. Portions of the buildings will remain occupied during the renovations. In addition to the A/E firm, separate consultants will be contracted withKentState as the Major Construction Program Manager, LEED Process Consultant, and Commissioning Agent.
Schwebel Room Improvements

Bialosky + Partners Architects is working with Dining Services to plan improvements to the Schwebel Dining Room located on the third floor of theStudentCenter.

Taylor Hall Building Envelope Restoration

Braun & Steidl Architects, Inc. has been retained to design building envelope repairs which includes replacement of Taylor Hall’s upper and lower roof systems; perform concrete repairs to the structural building frame; and window replacements. Work will include a green roof at the lower deck with irrigation systems; lighting protection, fall protection, and removal of old cooling towers no longer in service. Documents will be prepared for bidding in February for construction beginning in the spring, continuing through the fall of 2013.
Tri-Towers Residence Halls Rooms and HVAC Upgrades

Built in 1968, the Tri-Towers complex consists of two ten-story residence halls, one twelve-story residence hall and a central connecting building for dining and student activities. The complex houses approximately 1,400 students and has received two large-scale, but partial renovations within the last ten years. This project addresses deferred maintenance issues, including aging HVAC infrastructure, building envelope failures, interior room configurations and finishes that were not corrected as part of previous renovations and extending the life of the buildings for another thirty years.Domokur Architects is serving as the Architect of Record to assist with designing and providing project management for all phases of the project. Domokur contracted directly withScheeser Buckley Mayfield for MEP engineering design. Four Seasons Environmental is under contract with the university to serve as the Commissioning Agent.Gilbane Building Company is serving as Construction Manager at Risk for this project. Bidding and construction will be scheduled over a three-year time frame with the majority of construction work completed while buildings are unoccupied during the summer breaks of 2012 through 2015. During the summer of 2012, Hummel Construction Company completed improvements to the breezeway and storefronts in August.

SELECTING FIRMS FOR:

Bond Construction Multiple Projects Commissioning Agent

KentStateUniversityis commencing an approximately $250M, six-year program of significant construction and renovation to the Kent Campus. The majority of the work will be focused on renovation and rehabilitation of existing buildings. All significant new facilities and renovation projects will be designed and certified to a LEED silver rating minimum. A Commissioning Agent (CxA) will provide services for all phases of the multiple projects as listed: Renovations and Additions for School of Art; New Facilities for the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology; Olson Center Renovations for Undergraduate Studies; New Building for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design; Campus Infrastructure Improvements to multiple buildings; and other projects as determined. The CxA from each of these projects will also be expected to interface, cooperate and coordinate work that is affected by other projects. The Office of the University Architect will determine scope and assign tasks in these situations. For renovation projects, the anticipated scope of work will focus on replacement of aging and failing infrastructure and systems and reorganization of the program spaces within the existing building’s general layout. The infrastructure and system needs will include new air handling equipment, heating and plumbing piping replacement, HVAC controls, fire suppression systems, electrical system upgrades or replacement, new fire alarm system, and telecommunication system upgrades. Although some changes to the interior building layout may be included, the general building organization is anticipated to remain intact. The space planning will consider the reassignment and reuse of existing spaces as much as practical. New finishes and laboratory casework are required in most areas of the buildings. On January 8, 2013, KentStatewill be interviewing three (3) shortlisted firms:Four Seasons Environmental, Inc., Heapy Engineering, and The Brewer-Garrett Company.
New Facility for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design

The Collegeof Architectureand Environmental Design (CAED) is one of KentStateUniversity’s signature programs. Currently, the program is fractionalized with classroom, studios and faculty offices scattered across the campus in three separate structures that do not reflect the caliber of the program. Taylor Hall, located in the heart of campus is the base of operations and the location within the May Fourth Historic District makes it impossible to modify the existing building in a constructive way. Therefore, the university has set the construction of a new building for the program as a facility improvement priority. The proposed building is programmed at approximately 120,000 SF and will include studios, classrooms, administrative offices and various shop and research spaces. The new building will be located on the Esplanade walkway extension, a path currently under construction between South Lincoln Streetand Haymaker Parkwayto connect the Kent Campus with downtown Kent. The connection of the building to its surrounding site will be an important part of the design and the project will include all sidewalks, parking lots, landscaping and utility extensions to the site and building. The university has identified three primary drivers of project: the building must be architecturally significant and representative of the stature of the CAED program; the building must be a model of sustainable design and energy performance; and the building must be affordable while accommodating all of the programmatic needs of the college. KentStatewill be interviewing the following, four (4) short-listed finalist firms interested in designing this project:Bialosky + Partners Architects, LLC, Richard L. Bowen + Associates, Inc., The Collaborative, Inc., andWestlake Reed Leskosky, Ltd..KentState is currently reviewing qualifications from Construction Management firms interested in this project. In addition to the A/E and CMR firms, separate consultants will be contracted with the university as the Major Construction Program Manager, LEED Process Consultant, and Commissioning Agent. This project will be registered with the USGBC for minimum Silver LEED certification. Maximizing energy conservation is a critical component of the design goals to comply with House bill 251. The A/E and CMR must demonstrate a thorough understanding and commitment to LEED design and is responsible for executing the design and meeting LEED goals as set forth by the university.
New Institutional Advancement Building

This project has been placed on hold for an undeterminable amount of time.
Olson Center Rehabilitation for Undergraduate Studies

OlsonCenter, located along the University Esplanade and adjacent to the Memorial Athletic and ConvocationCenter, was constructed in 1961 as a dining facility, but was converted to offices in the early 1980’s. The renovation of the building will address the growing list of deferred maintenance issues, but more importantly, will enhance the building facade facing this highly-visited section of the campus. The Department of Undergraduate Studies is located in the OlsonCenterwith the AcademicSuccessCentertutoring and other operations in the SchwartzCenterand the Main Library. Undergraduate Studies is responsible for assisting undecided students with degree and career planning; assessing the basic skills of all entering freshman students; providing tutoring services that promote student learning; and providing support tools and resources for low-income, first generation and precollege students. At 28,000 SF, the former kitchen and dining hall areas that currently house Undergraduate Studies and two departments from the Schoolof Artwill be transformed into a modern, student-focused tutoring and exploratory advising center. With its prime location in the center of campus, students will easily access tools to help them achieve success at KentStateUniversity, including group tutoring, walk-in tutoring, online tutoring and scheduled tutoring. The art programs, currently located on the north side of the building, will be permanently relocated into the new art facility once it is completed. On January 10, KentStatewill be interviewing three (3) shortlisted A/E firms:Domokur Architects, TC Architects, Incorporated, and Van Auken Akins Architects, LLC. On November 15, Kent State interviewed three (3), shortlisted Construction Management firms,Giambrone Construction, Inc., Hammond Construction, Inc., and Welty Building Company, LLC, in order to select one firm to serve as Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) for this project. Separate consultants will also be contracted withKentState as LEED Process Consultant and Commissioning Agent. This project will be registered with the USGBC for minimum Silver LEED certification. Maximizing energy conservation is a critical component of the design goals to comply with House Bill 251. The CMR must demonstrate a thorough understanding and commitment to LEED design and is responsible for executing the design and meeting LEED goals as set forth by the university.

Portage County Economic Development Update...

As the City Manager in Kent I am a member of the Portage County Economic Development Board so I’ve had a front row seat to watch this new organization go from a good idea to an actual generator of jobs in Portage County.

There’s always room for the County to join cities and towns at the economic development table and it’s been great to have a new partner to turn to for leads, contacts, and business opportunities.  More feet on the street, knocking on doors and drumming up business for Portage County is a good thing and I’m pleased with the early returns from effort.

The Portage Development Board is made up of local business leaders that have agreed to volunteer their time (and often their money) to be a part of buildling a better economic future for Portage County.  Everyone wins with a stronger Portage County.

The volunteer board members bring their collective business wisdom to the table and then hand the ball off to the staff to run with it.  It’s a model with a proven track record and it’s encouraging to see Portage County heading down that track.

In the business of economic development, the strength of the local relationships and networks is the difference between being a runner-up and being on the podium announcing new jobs, new technology investments and business expansion.  Building these local relationships is arguably the most important by-product of this new County effort.

The reality is cities have often felt that they are left out on their own to fight for every business scrap, crumb and morsel they could find which naturally led them to be pretty territorial and parochial — with an I have to win so that you lose mentality.  Changing those longstanding perceptions is hard work but that’s exactly what the Portage Development Board is in the process of undoing.

It turns out that we can work together and we do grow stronger as a county by cooperating and combining our resources.  The old scarcity model was wrong; prosperity is contagious and economic growth occurs more frequently in counties that have witnessed job growth irrespective of city boundaries, so your gain will be my gain too.

Here’s a short press release issued by the Portage Development Board:

Press Release

July 11, 2012

Portage Development Board
217 South Chestnut Street
Ravenna, OH  44266
330-297-3470
330-297-3472 (Fax)
behrhart@portagedevbd.org
Contact:  Brad Ehrhart, President

For Immediate Release:
####

Portage Development Board Announces Activity for First Half of 2012
Ravenna, OH – The Portage Development Board announces that it has successfully worked on eight projects that will generate over $125 million in new investment in Portage County.  These
projects will keep 800 people working in Portage County, and over the next three years these projects will create 340 new jobs for the county.  The total annual payroll for jobs retained and to be created is nearly $70 million.

“We have some exciting things happening in Portage County,” said Lissa Barry, Chair of the Portage Development Board (PDB), “and we thank these companies for making an investment in Portage County.”

To accomplish this terrific start to 2012, PDB partnered with Jobs Ohio/Team Northeast Ohio, the Ohio Department of Development, Portage Workforce Connection, the Portage County Port Authority, the Development Financing Authority of Summit County, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Greater Akron Chamber, Neighborhood Development Services, Maplewood Career Center, Portage County, and the communities of Aurora, Brimfield, Kent, Ravenna, Streetsboro, and Tallmadge.

“Collaboration is the key to each of these successful projects,” said Brad Ehrhart, President of the PDB, “We are grateful for the assistance from each of partners.”

In addition to the project work, as of June 30, 2012, we have called on 74 existing companies to see what we can do to assist them to stay and grow in Portage County.  These calls have generated 53 referrals to our partners such the Ohio Small Business Development Center, Portage Workforce Connection, Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium, the Kent State University College of Technology, and Neighborhood Development Services.  Our goal is to contact over 150 companies in 2012.

Finally, PDB, the county chambers and the city economic developers started sponsoring quarterly Industrial Round Tables that will focus on major business climate issues that are being identified from the business calling program.  Our first Industrial Round Table was held on April 24th at Maplewood Career Center, and it focused on local workforce development resources.  Our second Industrial Round Table will be on September 12th at 7:30 am at Maplewood Career Center and it will focus on the Ohio Workers Compensation System.

The Portage Development Board is a private-public partnership that is responsible for the coordination of economic development activities in Portage County.  The PDB became operational as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit on February 1, 2011.  It is funded by the Portage County Board of Commissioners and contributions from the private sector, local institutions, and local communities.  Its mission is to help companies to stay, grow, start-up, and locate in Portage County.  The board’s goal is job creation and retention.

Formore information on PDB and up-coming events, please call 330-297-3470.

Kent Fireworks Gets the Green Light...

After inspecting the areas closest to where the fireworks are launched this morning (Kramer ballfields in downtown Kent), Kent’s Fire Chief has determined that enough rain has fallen in the last 24 hours to reduce the fire risk to a level where the Chief believes it can be safely managed so he has reversed his earlier decision to cancel the fireworks and they are back on for Saturday night, July 7th.

I believe that the State Fire Marshall has requested extra safety precautions this year that our Chief will work to put into place, e.g., larger safe zone around the launching area, which may mean spectators will have to adjust their favorite viewing spots accordingly.

So if you go to watch, please be patient with any safety changes, and keep your eye out for any rogue sparks!

Traffic Stops...

Nobody likes to see police lights flashing in their rear view mirror but they serve an important purpose. 

Most obviously they help keep our driving habits sharp and within the limits of the law — which frankly in a town that gets a large influx of new teenage (student) drivers each year that’s probably a good thing — and may even be a great thing when it helps save lives.

Regardless of age and driving experience, we all probably get a bit complacent in our driving and the long arm of the law is there to help get us back on track and keep us safe.

But you’d be surprised how many times a simple traffic stop leads to the discovery of other criminal activity.  It turns out that criminals often drive with the same irreverance towards the law that they have in other areas of their lives.

What we’ve found is that a routine traffic stop frequently puts our Police Officers in direct contact with felons with outstanding warrants and lots of criminal ambition and thanks to their less than ideal driving habits we often find ourselves in a position to thwart those ambitions.

Thwarted criminal ambition is a good thing so while a traffic stop ranks up there with a root canal for things that we all least look forward to, you can at least take some solace knowing that traffic stops are one of our most effective means for catching trouble before it happens which helps keep all of us just a little bit safer — both on the streets and in our homes.

I was reminded of this last week when I read the Police Chief’s weekly staff update (see excerpt below) and she credited two Kent Police Officers with some fine Police work at traffic stops that led to two arrests:

Ptl. Bowen made a traffic stop for a minor moving violation and used his investigative skills and training leading to the arrest of a local well known felon.  The arrestee was subsequently found to have drug abuse instruments and a white powder substance on his person.

Ptl. Poe also made a stop of a speeding driver who displayed indications of deceit upon questioning.  Poe’s investigation of the driver led to an arrest after drug abuse instruments and a white powder substance was found.

Great job in your efforts in keeping the streets safe!

Fireworks Rain Dance...

It appears that everyone that’s been doing the rain dance in hopes of restoring the Heritage Festival fireworks has had some success, prompting Fire Chief Williams to send around a notice this morning (Thursday, July 5) that if the weather forecast for additional rain holds true, he’s likely to authorize the fireworks for Saturday night (July 7th).

The Chief is still worried about preventing a flash fire in the fields adjacent to the fireworks launch area but his comfort level definitely rose as the rain fell over the last 12 hours.

The Chief has advised the sponsors of the Heritage Fest that he is re-considering the fireworks permit and he promises to have his final decision by Friday morning so that the Chamber can get the word out regarding the status of the fireworks.

Keep dancing for the sake of fireworks — and lawns all over town.

Drought Takes a Toll...

Living in northeast Ohio I never thought the day would come that I would complain about having too much sunshine, but on behalf of my lawn, that day has come.

Who would have guessed that once June arrived we’d be stuck in a cycle of 90 degree days and sunny skies for what must be close to 5 straight weeks.  That may be a slight exaggeration as I remember a day or two in the 80s but June is usually my favorite month with 70 degree daytime temps and cool evenings.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

This year we skipped a month or two and jumped from Spring into the dog days of August.  My mountain biking has benefitted as the trails have been dry as a bone but my gardens and lawn have suffered greatly.   I have a new appreciation for cactii and sagebrush, as they are about the only plants that thrive under these conditions.

There’s a fine line between a lawn that has gone dormant and one that is dead, and I’m seriously stressed that mine has passed the point of no return.  I do my best to conserve water but until plants, trees and grass are reasonably well established, they need the extra drink to keep the grim reaper and his sickle in my neighbors yard rather than mine.

I suppose I should be grateful that the drought has helped keep my travel costs down since whenever I feel the urge to enjoy a sandy beach all I have to do is go out in my backyard and roll around on what used to be grass but is now an acre of desert sand.   And when I hear the weekly testing of the community storm advisory alaram, images of the dust bowl and sand storms spring to mind.

I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Steve Hardesty, the City’s Water Plant Manager, to ask him how his water reserves are holding up without getting the aquifer recharge that we would normally get in June.  I probably don’t want to know which is why I keep finding reasons not to ask.

I suspect our Finance Director is happy as water usage is likely up, which means water sales figures should be up, but at what price?  It’s hard to call yourself a proud green community when the prevailing color of plants and lawns is burnt sienna.

City Utility Billing Building Landscaping Showing Signs of Drought

Another consequence of all this dry weather is the canceling the 4th of July fireworks show this year due to the extreme fire hazard risk.  The fireworks show in Kent is the annual exclamation mark that signals the end of the Kent Heritage Fest and I know that its going to be missed.

Due to the unusually dry conditions, Kent Fire Chief Williams has decided that the public risk from fire is too great to allow the launching of fireworks following this year’s Heritage Festival.

Chief Williams recognizes that this is going to be a disappointment to the many people that enjoy the downtown fireworks show but he has to look out for public safety first and he is concerned with his ability to protect the public under such ideal conditions for uncontrolled fires to break out.

The downtown location for launching fireworks is great way to end the downtown festival but it definitely presents challenges for fire safety.  Chief Williams explained that the State Fire Marshall was recommending doubling the clear zones for falling fireworks debris this year and that would require closing Franklin Street and cordoning off Franklin properties to prevent any spectators from entering that area — which historically has been one of the most prominent viewing areas and is typically packed full of people.  Holding the public out of that area is likely to present some real logistical challenges.

In addition, with the Kramer Fields bridge still out of service, Chief Williams does not have the ability to bring fire apparatus into the ballfields so if a spark were to set off a fire in the ballfield area he would have a very limited ability to safely suppress the fire.

Chief Willams noted that if we get significant rain later this week he might be able to rescind the fireworks cancellation.

My lawn and I are anxiously hoping for some rain.