SEQUIM — Sequim will rent out a house at Gerhardt Park in hopes its tenant will discourage thieves and vandals and generate some money for a park fund.
The undeveloped 7-acre park at South Third Avenue and Reservoir Road has suffered thefts from its shed and vandalism, Sequim City Council members learned Monday night before voting 6-1 to rent the house.
The single-family house on the site also needs about $7,500 in improvements.
Renting it for about $10,000 a year should pay for the fix-up and put some money into a fund to develop the park, according to city Special Projects Manager Joe Irvin.
Councilman Erik Eriksen opposed the action.
Slum lords?
“We’re turning into slum lords,” he said. “I don’t believe that’s one of the things we should be doing as a city.”
But Mayor Candace Pratt said renting out the house through a management company would allow the city to advertise the property and screen tenants.
Motion-activated lights have been installed at the shed, Irvin said.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Councilman Dennis Smith.
“It’s just sitting there vacant, not doing anything right now.”
Councilman Ken Hays agreed, saying, “It makes a lot of sense” to fund improvements of a city asset instead of letting it deteriorate, while recouping the costs and raising money for the park.
Search firm
Council members also scheduled a special meeting for 4 p.m. today to choose a search firm to seek candidates to replace retiring City Manager Steve Burkett.
Finalists to conduct the search are Prothman Co. of Issaquah and Colin Baenziger & Associates’ Northwest regional office in the Tri-Cities.
Burkett has said he intends to retire sometime in the middle of this year.