Firefighters want you

The Bainbridge Island Fire Department is seeking volunteers to assist with its new long-range planning process.

The department is looking for about 20 island residents or business owners who are willing to join user groups.

Staffing, levels of service and fire education are among the issues to be discussed as part of the process, which will include four to six evening meetings over the next year, officials said.

The first meeting will likely be in late June.

Island residents or business owners interested in participating should contact Carol Mezen at cmezen@bifd.org, or visit www.BIFD.org before June 6.

In related news, the city is in the process of updating the fire code.

The multi-phase effort is aimed at updating outdated code and making it more user friendly.

The first phase was reviewed for the first time by the City Council last week. Final passage is expected this summer.

Sell the Suzuki property?

The city is pondering whether to sell the Suzuki property, a 14-acre parcel at the corner of Sportsman Club and New Brooklyn roads.

Proceeds from the sale could be used toward design and construction of a new police and court facility.

The new building would cost an estimated $9 million.

The existing police and court facilities are separate, but equally challenged by space restrictions and problems associated with the age of the respective structures.

The city will hold a public hearing at the June 11 City Council meeting to address the issue.

The council’s Public Works and Transportation Committee on Monday approved funding for a cost benefit analysis for the planned facility.

BIPD swears in new officer

The Bainbridge Island Police Department became one stronger last week, as new officer Michael Tovar was sworn in.

Tovar most recently served as an investigator for the Washington State Human Rights Commission, and worked at the Yakima Police Department for 11 years.

“We are very pleased to have been able to recruit Officer Tovar,” Bainbridge Police Chief Matt Haney said. “His experience with the Human Rights Commission will make him a great resource for the department, and since he is a licensed Peace Officer who has already completed Academy training, he can jump right in to work.”

During the same ceremony last Wednesday, three Bainbridge officers were honored for “service above and beyond the call of duty.” Lieutenant Denise Guintoli, Officer Benjamin Sias, and Officer Walt Berg received departmental commendation for their actions during a welfare check in March.

According to a city release, officers Sias and Berg were called to a Bainbridge apartment building to check on an elderly man. They knocked on the door and received no response, and were unable to gain entry with the managers’ key.

They were informed by other residents that the man might be out of town visiting family. But the officers continued the investigation and requested Fire Department support to access the apartment’s second-story windows.

While they waited for the Fire Department, Berg was able to boost Sias up to a window, where he removed the screen and climbed in. Once inside, Officer Sias discovered the resident on the floor, unconscious.

Lt. Guintoli had been called as backup, and she and Berg successfully performed CPR. The officers later learned that the man had suffered a stroke and choked.

Last chance to file for office

The Nov. 4 general election is still five months away, but Friday is the final day for candidates to file for office.

All candidates are required to visit the Kitsap County Auditor’s office in Port Orchard between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to complete filing papers and pay a fee amounting to one percent of the salary of that particular office. They also must file a financial statement with the state.

There are few uncontested posts remaining in Kitsap County.

As of Tuesday no one had filed to run against County Commissioner Steve Bauer of Hansville, who represents Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap. County Auditor Walter Washington had no announced opponent.

Both Bauer and Washington were appointed to fill unexpired terms.

At the state level, the three Democrats representing the 23rd Legislative District each have a Republican challenger.

Larry Cooney, a Poulsbo resident and executive director of the Bread of Life, a homeless mission in Seattle, recently announced his candidacy for the seat of Rep. Sherry Appleton of Poulsbo.

Mark Lowe of Bremerton will face Rep. Christine Rolfes of bainbridge, while Poulsbo City Council Member Connie Lord will attempt to unseat Bainbridge Sen. Phil Rockefeller.

Washington’s primary is scheduled for Aug. 19. For the first time the state will be using a “top two” primary, in which only the two candidates with the most votes continue on to the general election, regardless of party.

Wing Point still in flux

A road project at Wing Point Way has been trimmed, but remains on track for now, following a City Council committee discussion Monday.

Members of the council’s Public Works and Transportation Committee recommended that a sidewalk still be constructed on the south side of the street between Ferncliff and Park or Fairview avenues.

Committee members decided against cutting the sidewalk work short at Azalea Avenue.

Bike lanes, sidewalks, traffic calming and other elements were cut recently by city staff due to budget constraints.