This just in from our Public Works Administrator:
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Latest update on the situation with the Royal Hills Sewer line.

Internal TV inspection has revealed that the second sink hole in Royal Hills Dr. was caused by a large hole in the pipe line a few feet upstream of the portion that was replaced on June 8. The sink hole has been filled with crushed rock, and the entire width of the street continues to be covered with 20-foot wide steel plates above the pipe. One lane of the street will be closed to traffic and barricaded over the weekend, the other lane will be open to traffic.

The TV inspection has revealed that the entire section of pipe between the MH next to Royal Hills Dr. and the downstream MH in the Royal Hill Apt. complex (about 200-feet of line) is in a near failing condition and has to be replaced soon. The preliminary results of the TV inspection indicate that the pipeline going up the hill to Tiffany Park and the pipeline downstream of the 200-foot section that is failing are in better shape, and may not require immediate attention.

Two methods of replacement of the 200-foot section are being evaluated and priced: replacement with a more shallow line about 4 to 5 feet deep with transition manholes at both ends, or pipe bursting, which involves inserting a device in the failing line which bursts the walls of the pipe and allows a high density polyethylene pipeline to be pulled thorough the passage to serve as a replacement pipe. We will obtain cost estimates for these two alternatives early next week.

Because of the need to proceed with replacement soon, this may constitute an emergency situation. Declaration of an emergency would allow construction without the need for competitive bidding, which would save time. This also will be evaluated early next week.

No construction work on the line is planned for this weekend. However, a call out maintenance worker will visit the site every 8 hours to check the pipeline trench for possible widening, or for development of other sinkholes. If a problem develops, a crew will quickly be mobilized to deal with it. The bypass pump will remain in place on Index Ave. up the hill in Tiffany Park, but will not be running unless an emergency happens over the weekend. If a problem is identified, sewage can once again be quickly bypassed around the deteriorated pipe.

No sewer overflows from this line have been noted since June 2.

Gregg

Gregg Zimmerman, P.E.
Public Works Administrator
City of Renton

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While the Renton sinkholes were extremely dangerous, they did not come close to the startling hole that opened up in Guatemala last week.

In Guatemala, a horrendous 300 foot deep pit opened up, killing several people and swallowing a building.

Guatemala Sinkhole which opened up this week during record floods. This could be a very difficult situation to repair.

(Of course, the circumstances that created the Renton sinkhole and the Guatemala sinkhole are different. The Renton sinkhole is man-made, as a break in a sewer line started sweeping away soil supporting the road. The Guatemala hole came about from the regions volcanic geology which allowed the creation of a subterranean void that became exposed during record flooding. Sinkholes are usually about water in some way. They typically develop where water has moved soil or dissolved soluble rock over a period of time. There can be man-made contributing factors beyond the presence of leaking pipes. For instance, the presence of underground mines –which we have in parts of Renton, or excessive changes in underground water conditions –which we work to monitor in Renton as we pump water from our aquifer.)

Thanks to Kenny for pointing out this video for me. It’s pretty clever. (Be aware they will use the F-word once near the end). Enjoy!

This 57 second video gives you a quick picture of the environment down at the market today. Temperatures are perfect, the food is fantastic, the music is great, and there are lots of your friends and neighbors there. It’s a perfect street fair.

Above: my youngest three kids and wife Cathy down at the market today

The Landing’s new travel store “The Savvy Traveler” has it’s facebook site up and running. Facebook users should be sure to connect! Here is the link. (If the link does not work for you, type “the savvy travler into your facebook search page.)

Cathy and Susie dine on crepes at the Renton Farmers Market
The Renton Farmers Market opened this afternoon in the Piazza. This is sure to be it’s biggest season so far. In addition to a record number of booths offering produce, flowers, and hot food, the market has expanded across Logan Avenue this year to include arts and crafts sellers.

Cathy and I enjoyed getting dinner at the market with the family, catching up with many old friends, and then bringing home some excellent purchases. The rain stayed away, and the temperature was actually pretty comfortable today. It was an excellent opening day.

We’ll be back next Tuesday….hope to see you there! It will be open every Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00, until mid-September.

My middle-son Kenny and his wife Anastasia at the Market

Hamming it up for the camera, downtown business owner (and community booster) Mary Clymer offers a great selection of locally made art, clothing, Renton-branded products, and other fun items at her “Happy Delusions booth”. Mary had worked hard to create the new arts and crafts section of the market.

The view from the Happy Delusions booth across Logan to the rest of the market. The market is bigger and better than ever.

Savvy Traveler Store Manager (and frequent world traveler) Alexandra Rousu (right) and a knowledgeable member of her staff inspect merchandise displays during the store’s soft opening today.


The Savvy Traveler is located on North 10th street in Renton, across the traffic circle from Caffe Felice, in the entertainment section of the Landing (near Boeing and Lake Washington.)

Rentonites planning to head out of town will want to stop by the Landing’s new “The Savvy Traveler” before their trip. Whether you are headed on an overnight to Portland or a month-long visit to Taipei, you’ll find maps, guidebooks, clothing, luggage, travel organizers, and all other items that will make your travels go more smoothly.

The beautiful new store at the Landing had a soft opening today, and will start regular hours from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM tomorrow.

The store is the second “The Savvy Traveler” location, and expands a successful business owned by Petra and Don Rousu. Their first location is in Edmonds Washington where Petra Rousu also sits on the board for the Chamber of Commerce.

This location will be managed by their daughter Alexandra, who shares her parent’s passion and experience at world travel.

Cathy and I and our daughter Susie had a fun time browsing their bright and cheerful store today, finding many items that would have made our travel easier in the past. We will be sure to stop by the Savvy Traveler the next time we are planning a trip out of town.

In addition to a wide range of merchandise, the store will be offering travel symposiums to help customers learn skills to make their trips more productive and enjoyable; attendees will be able to learn everything from packing for the trip to planning a major itinerary from other experienced travelers. While their class offerings in Renton are still being planned, here is a list of seminars available at their Edmonds store. Their offerings in Renton will probably be similar.

Please make a point to drop by and welcome the owners and staff of the Savvy Traveler to Renton. While you are there, be sure to check out their great merchandise.

Here are some of my photos from my visit today:

Savvy Traveler owners Don and Petra Rousu. They are both extremely experienced travelers themselves.

 

The Renton Farmers Market will start a new season tomorrow. This popular market will be open every Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00 in the downtown Piazza park until mid September. Here are more details in the Examiner.

Here a few photos I shot this weekend with an animal theme.

This is our Mustang Zeus, on Cougar Mountain.

Another picture of Zeus on Cougar Mountain, with my wife Cathy riding

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This is our friend April with our Newfoundland Dolly. April is an amazing artist, and she had just sketched Dolly in pencil. She gave us her sketch, we framed it, and then I shot this picture.

There is a stimulating discussion continuing in the comment section on my blog about proposed Cedar River Trail safety improvements. Click here to participate!

I received this press release yesterday. The Renton Reporter posted a story pretty fast which you can find here .

Shooting – Shell Station 300 Rainier Ave S 10-5846

At 2318 hours, we were dispatched to a Shoplift at the above location. The RP advised that the suspect was GOA. Two minutes later the RP called back to advise that the shoplift suspect had returned and that he had been shot in the leg. Officers arrive and find Maurice A. Harris (10/8/62) with a gun shot wound to the knee area. He said that he got into a dispute with 4 black males and 1 black female who were in a silver 4dr. vehicle parked outside the gas station. Harris said he was shot when he turned away from vehicle and he could not identify the shooter or any of the occupants. Harris was transported to HMC with non-life threatening injuries. A single .380 caliber casing was located at the scene.

There is no further suspect information. Surveillance video from the gas station is pending.

Hopefully, we won’t need to use “Top Kill” to fix this one: Here is an email I received this morning.

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Councilmembers:

The following press release was issued a short while ago by the Department of Ecology regarding the cooking oil spill in Renton today.

The boat launch at Gene Coulon is expected to have normal operations during this weekend.

In addition to Dept. Of Ecology and Waste Management, I will be available in the event of media calls.

From: Partridge, Dan (ECY)
To: Preeti Shridhar
Sent: Fri May 28 22:22:21 2010
Subject: FW: Dept of Ecology: Cooking oil spill near Lake Washington

Here you go

Washington Department of Ecology
May 28, 2010
Cooking oil spill near Lake Washington

RENTON — The Washington Department of Ecology tonight is overseeing the cleanup of a cooking oil spill that was reported this afternoon near Lake Washington.

Ecology is working with a contractor hired by Waste Management to vacuum up as much of the spill as possible before it flows into storm drains which empty in Johns Creek. The creek flows through Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park into Lake Washington. A crew with the City of Renton public works department was also on the scene tonight.

A Waste Management truck caused the spill when it knocked over a 140-gallon waste oil container about 5:15 a.m. today behind the Panda Express restaurant at 750 Park Ave. N. in Renton. The driver replaced the container and placed absorbent pads around the area, as required by Company policy. Ecology spill responder Brad Martin said the spill wasn’t reported to Ecology until 3 p.m. but Waste Management is cooperating with Ecology in getting the spill cleaned up.

It is unknown how much of the oil made its way into the storm drains before a vacuum truck arrived but some of it may make its way to the creek and into Lake Washington.

“We’re doing everything we can to keep as much of the cooking oil out of the water as possible, “ Martin said. A catchment area will be set up to collect the oil as it flows down the creek overnight and the contractor will return early tomorrow morning to collect the oil with absorbent pads.

Oil not trapped in the catchment area may be visible on Lake Washington over the weekend, Martin said.
Martin said there has been no evidence of adverse impacts on fish or wildlife. Cooking oil is of low toxicity but can stick to fish or birds who come in contact with it.

City of Renton officials said boat launches this weekend from Gene Coulon Park are expected to proceed as usual.

CONTACTS:
Dan Partridge
Department of Ecology
360-480-5722
Katie Salinas
Waste Management

206-962-1673

This is a cute video. (Thanks to Ryan on Facebook for pointing this one out)

Here’s proof that even if your name is Young Boozer, you still have a chance to win public office. I tried going to this candidate’s website, but I received the message that his bandwidth was exceeded.

 

A friend took this photo today as a black bear stopped by her back yard in Newcastle. It seems like bears are getting more common in our area.