Mayor Baker talks Kenmore with President Obama, others

Kenmore Mayor David Baker and President Barack Obama briefly met face to face last month at the White House. “I had a small chat with him about Kenmore — it was extremely memorable,” said Baker, who was in Washington, D.C., Oct. 26-28 to speak with: • U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about transportation infrastructure and Kenmore’s involvement with the SR 520 Bridge Replacement Project.

By Andy Nystrom • November 16, 2011 5:06 pm
President Barack Obama visits with Kenmore Mayor David Baker at the White House.
President Barack Obama visits with Kenmore Mayor David Baker at the White House.

Kenmore Mayor David Baker and President Barack Obama briefly met face to face last month at the White House.

“I had a small chat with him about Kenmore — it was extremely memorable,” said Baker, who was in Washington, D.C., Oct. 26-28 to speak with:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about transportation infrastructure and Kenmore’s involvement with the SR 520 Bridge Replacement Project.

• Army Corp of Engineers about the continuing effort to get local commercial channels dredged.

• Legislators about funding of the Kenmore State Route 522 project.

• Key staff of the Super Committee about the need for a long-term transportation bill and the region’s need for infrastructure funding.

• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Committee staff about the need for senior housing and the Community Block Grant program.

It was Baker’s first time meeting Obama, and the mayor noted that they spoke about Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to raise a healthier generation of children. National nonprofit KaBOOM! named a Playful City USA for the second straight year in September.

“If you want funds in these times, you’ve got to show up,” added Baker — who is on the National League of Cities board of directors — about one of the reasons for his trip to D.C.

One key project that is proposed to happen in Kenmore soon is a three-year job to precast component materials at the LakePointe site as part of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement Project.

Kiewit‐General‐Manson, the design/build contractor chosen by the Washington State Department of Transportation for the project, is proposing to use a portion of the LakePointe property as a supplemental construction yard, with site preparation and maintenance, component construction and barge transportation to the SR 520 bridge.

“This means 50 family-wage jobs for Kenmore and sales-tax revenue for the city,” Baker said. “It also means cleaning up that site, making it better tomorrow than it is today.”

The 44.1-acre site at 6525 N.E. 175th St. is owned by Gary Sergeant of Pioneer Towing; approximately 14 acres would be used for the project and KGM — which is proposing to occupy the site this December — anticipates spending $25 million on operations at the Kenmore site, according to city documents.

Information about the proposed project is available on the city’s Web site, www.kenmorewa.gov.