The Pierce County Council has approved a nearly $19 million contract for an upgraded radio system for sheriff’s deputies and other emergency responders.

The contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. would allow the county to comply with new federal standards for so-called “narrowbanding” taking effect in January 2013.

All but about $874,000 – the portion for the county’s public works department – would be funded by the South Sound 911 measure that Pierce County voters approved in November. Starting in April, it will raise the sales tax by a penny on every $10 purchase to provide money to help build a combined radio network and two new dispatch centers.

The contract faces one more step. A board of elected officials, called the South Sound 911 Policy Board, is expected to approve assigning the contract to the new South Sound 911 funding when it meets March 28.

One goal of the voter-approved measure is to remove gaps in radio coverage between emergency agencies.

The $18.65 million contract would upgrade the VHF radio system used by Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies, corrections deputies and county emergency management workers to a 700-megahertz system. That upgrade would expand the 700-megahertz system already used by Pierce Transit.

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Pierce County’s program offering free disposal of debris from last month’s snow and ice storm will end Feb. 26.

More than 15,000 tons of debris has been collected since the program started on Jan. 20. On its busiest day, the Hidden Valley Transfer Station averaged 196 vehicles per hour. Debris can be hauled to three county transfer stations: Hidden Valley, Purdy and Prairie Ridge.

Here’s the news release:

www.piercecountywa.org

www.twitter.com/pierceco

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2012

Free storm debris disposal program ends Feb. 26

If you have put off cleaning up after the January snow and ice storm, time is running out to take advantage of free storm debris disposal. Pierce County’s program will wrap up on Sunday, Feb 26.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing $450,000 to continue studying ways to address flooding dangers along the Puyallup River.

The funding will allow a six-year study now in its second year to continue without delay. The study – known as the Puyallup River General Investigation – involves local jurisdictions and partners.

Pierce County announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding today.

The Puyallup River Executive Task Force, established by Pierce County in 2008, provides regional coordination for the general Investigation.

The task force includes most local jurisdictions in the Puyallup River basin as well as Pierce County, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Port of Tacoma, King County, the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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A bill that would have stopped local governments – including Lakewood and Pierce County – from using a federal work eligibility program – failed to get votes by late today in the state House, The Associated Press reported.

House Bill 2568 appears to have died. House Democrats spokeswoman Melinda McCrady said lawmakers ran out of time before making final adjustments, the AP reported.

Earlier today, the Pierce County Council unanimously opposed the bill because it would stop the county from requiring its contractors verify their employees can work legally in the United States.

Council members said the system, called E-Verify, works well and the Legislature should let local governments decide whether to use it.

“This is another example of the Legislature meddling in local government,” said council member Rick Talbert, D-Tacoma.

The council took a firm stand against the proposed measure that would have barred local governments from mandating that private contractors use the federal E-Verify program.

E-Verify is an internet-based program that has been adopted by 11 counties and cities in Washington, including Lakewood.

If approved, the bill would have nullified a Pierce County ordinance approved in 2009 that required use of E-Verify by county contractors for their employees and by the county to verify the employment status of its workers.

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A proposal to reduce the number of days to legally ignite Fourth of July fireworks in unincorporated Pierce County went down to defeat with a thud today.

Dick Muri was the only Pierce County Council member to vote for his proposal to cut the number of days from eight to one: the holiday itself.

Several council members said restricting fireworks further was unenforceable.

“We can’t enforce the current statutes,” said council member Roger Bush. The county doesn’t have the manpower and resources to back up a stricter law, Bush said.

Council member Rick Talbert said Muri’s plan would unrealistically …

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The newly renovated ice arena at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway will play host to a figure skating show Feb. 10-12 with a 100-member cast, including an Olympic medalist.

The Lakewood Winter Club, in cooperation with Pierce County Parks and Recreation, will present “Reflections on Ice – Celebration, the Next Generation.”

The annual event showcases local talent and a featured guest. This year’s guest performer will be Olympic bronze medalist and European champion Jozef “Jumpin’ Joe” Sabovcik. He once landed a quadruple toe loop skating at the European Championships.

Five performances will be presented in the Sprinker ice arena, which reopened Saturday after a $6.5 million renovation. Tickets for the show are $12 and $18. Order tickets by calling 253-798-4000 or in-person at Sprinker Recreation Center, 14824 S. C St.

Here’s the news release:

www.piercecountywa.org

www.twitter.com/pierceco

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 2, 2012

Jumpin Joe Sabovcik, local skaters featured in new ice show

The Lakewood Winter Club, in cooperation with Pierce County Parks and Recreation, is delighted to present the 2012 ice show, “Reflections on Ice – Celebration, the Next Generation.”

This professionally choreographed figure skating show will be held Feb. 10-12 at Sprinker Recreation Center’s Ice Arena, which just reopened after a $6.5 million renovation. Five public performances are scheduled, including a special Friday afternoon matinee catered to senior citizens and the Pierce County Boys and Girls Clubs. Balcony and on-ice seating will accommodate up to 1,000 spectators per performance. Each show lasts approximately two hours.

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Pierce County will offer a free workshop on the fundamentals of a reverse mortgage at four times on Feb. 13 and 15.

Community Connections Aging and Disability Resources is sponsoring “Reverse Mortgages: A Primer for Consumers” as part of the “know it before you need it” series. The workshop will explain the features of reverse mortgages and how people can tap into their home’s equity to remain homeowners.

Here’s the news release with times, dates and locations:

January 31, 2012

Workshop explains Reverse Mortgages

Most Americans would prefer to remain in their own home for as long as possible. One way that people can do that is a “Reverse Mortgage.” Knowing the fundamentals about Reverse Mortgages can make for a solid decision and prevent major problems. A Reverse Mortgage enables seniors 62 or older to access their home equity for a variety of purposes.

Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources is sponsoring “Reverse Mortgages: A Primer for Consumers” as part of the “Know it before you need it” series. The free workshop explains in clear, impartial terms the basic features of a Reverse Mortgage and how one can provide the means to stay in one’s home.

“Many people are apprehensive about getting a Reverse Mortgage,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “But they can be a prudent way for seniors to tap into a home’s value and provide the means to remain at home without sacrificing anything. When it comes to Reverse Mortgages, knowledge is everything.”

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Pierce County residents can report their damage from the snow and ice storm online to the county’s damage assessment center at www.piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage.

Here’s the news release:

Pierce County Emergency Management
Report storm damage online
Posted By Sheri Badger on Jan 27th, 2012 at 2:28 PM

The Pierce County Damage Assessment Center (DAC) is now collecting damage information from homeowners and business owners affected by the recent ice and snow storms online at www.piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage.

If you have additional questions, call the DAC at 1-866-798-6363 (toll-free) or email PCEOC@co.pierce.wa.us. The DAC is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.

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