Council plans to openly discuss golf course

Published 4:06 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Regarding Mr. Robert Allred’s recent letter (“Proposed ‘private’ sale of golf course is disturbing”, Kent Reporter, June 7): I agree with Mr. Allred that the community and the City Council must carefully weigh the costs and benefits of the Riverbend par-3 course.

The public will have many opportunities for input, and the council will deliberate a great deal more before making any final decisions.

I do need to correct the record on two possible missimpressions Mr. Allred may have. First, by law all council meetings, including the council retreat held in March, are announced and open to the public. Second, Kent Parks Director Jeff Watling did not speak out of turn in his comments.

The Kent Reporter article in question quotes Watling as saying, “It’s an option at this point. There’s no final decision.” That is a fair assessment by Mr. Watling of the discussion that the council held at its retreat – an open public meeting.

– Dennis Higgins, Kent City Council president