Lacey Highlights

Plans for a roundabout on College Street and 22nd Avenue are advancing. The North Thurston School District has reached agreement with the City of Lacey to donate a portion of Mt. View Elementary School property for the roundabout. In exchange, the city will help the school build a new parking lot. An open house will be set to inform adjacent property owners.

Property owners in Beckonridge have sent a letter to the city saying they opposed Fourth of July fireworks at William A. Bush Park schedule for 2013. The city will take up the issue at a committee meeting on October 1.

Opposition to a Tourism and Promotion Area from Lacey motels has cooled. The Thurston County Visitor and Convention Bureau reports it has reached the 60 percent threshold needed to institute a new bed tax. The three cities will soon be asked to approve the new promotion area.

Efforts to change the city’s Business and Occupation Tax has drawn some action. The city reports that a three-year exemption to new small businesses would have minimal financial impact on the city. However, any loss from the B&O tax, could be made up from an increase in the city’s utility tax.