It pleased Warren Nance that Kent city officials came out May 11 to the soon-to-be annexed Panther Lake area to present an open house about what services the city offers.
“This is a good start with public outreach,” said Nance, who has lived 16 years in Panther Lake in unincorporated King County, during an interview at the event. “This is very beneficial.”
Nearly 200 residents attended the open house at the Kentridge High School library to find out more about city of Kent programs and services. The annexation becomes effective July 1. Voters in November approved annexation to the city.
About 24,000 residents will join the city, including the Panther Lake and Benson Hill communities that currently sit north of the city on the East Hill.
Nance expects residents to be more acceptable to join the city the more they know about the services it offers.
“People tend to reject change because of the unknown compared to the known,” Nance said.
Mayor Suzette Cooke, Council members Jamie Perry, Deborah Ranniger, Dennis Higgins, Ron Harmon and Les Thomas attended the open house along with numerous city department heads.
“We are excited to be here and to have this area part of the city,” said Perry, the Council president, to the crowd. “I always considered this area part of the city.”
Thomas, back at work at his part-time Council job for the first time since being hospitalized in February after complications following surgery, told the audience he wanted to attend this meeting.
“This is one of my most exciting events,” said Thomas, who has served on the Council since 2004. “It has been my dream to have Panther Lake be part of the city. This is a great turnout and I wouldn’t miss this.”
Cooke encouraged the residents to call or e-mail the city with any questions they have that were not answered at the open house. She also told them about Kent’s jump in population to more than 112,000 residents.
“This may or may not matter to you, but we will be the third largest city in King County behind Seattle and Bellevue and the sixth largest in the state,” Cooke said.
Seattle is the largest city in the state followed by Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Bellevue.
Bob Lemm looks forward to becoming part of Kent.
“I’m delighted to be coming into the city primarily because services will be improved,” Lemm said at the open house. “I’m sure we will get better police protection by a long shot.”
Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan said during an interview at the open house that Panther Lake will become part of a new fourth district to be served by officers. The department currently has districts on the East Hill, West Hill and in the Kent Valley.
Panther Lake residents can expect to see more traffic patrols starting July 1.
“Our traffic unit will do a lot of patrols the first few weeks after annexation along the Benson Highway and South 208th Street,” Strachan said. “We’ve heard a lot of complaints about speeding and running stoplights along those streets.”
For more information about annexation, go to www.ci.kent.wa.us/annexation call the annexation message line at 253-856-5777 or send an e-mail to annexation@ci.kent.wa.us.
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