Kent North Park Neighborhood

The meeting was brought to order by President Tina Budell at 6:30, March 11, 2010.

Items of neighborhood business:

– Graffiti paint-out committee had a March 6 work party. CleanScapes helped out with a power washer truck to remove a significant amount of graffiti from a garage on the alley behind 1st Avenue, between James and Cloudy streets.

– Qwest will help us in removing tied-together shoes thrown over power lines. The shoes are a signal to drug buyers that drugs are available nearby.

– Police were notified of an unpermitted car parked on 1st Avenue (between James and Cloudy) which turned out to be a stolen vehicle. Parking permits issued to neighborhood residents are helpful to help police identify stolen vehicles as well as to keep ShoWare Center attendees from parking on our streets.

GUEST SPEAKERS:

First speaker Greg Markley, Battalion Chief, Fire Prevention, spoke in favor of Ballot Proposition #1. Voter approval of the plan would combine the fire department administrations of Kent and Fire District 37 into a single entity of governance.

The City of Kent, King County Fire District 37, and the City of Covington have jointly concluded that forming the Regional Fire Authority is the best solution to:

– Address threats of declining fire and emergency medical services.
– Create regional response efficiencies.
– Develop a fair and equitable funding mechanism to meet the expanding needs of our growing and aging community

Visit http://www.ci.kent.wa.us/content.aspx?id=7336&terms=kent+fire+department for more information on Proposition #1.

Second speaker Richard Burgess, tax preparer at H&R Block, Kent Station, answered members’ questions regarding tax returns for 2009.

– The IRS is stepping up its efforts to collect all taxes due, so prepare your return carefully.

– Self-employment (income reported on Form 1099) requires you to make quarterly payments and take out your own deductions for withholding, Medicare, and Social Security. Deduct all your eligible expenses, keeping careful records in case you get audited. A home office has to be 100% separate from personal living, including everything that is on your work computer.

Refreshments were furnished by Liz LaFramboise (cupcakes) and Tina Budell (coffee). Thanks, Liz and Tina!

NEXT MEETING
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE!
Barbecue party at Tot Lot on June 1

REMEMBER
Call 9-1-1 when you see anything that might be illegal occurring in our neighborhood.