MARYSVILLE – Sue Kendall, wife of the late Dennis Kendall, the city’s former mayor, stole the show at the City Council meeting May 23.
During the public comment period, she addressed Peter Condyles, a high school student who will graduate in June and attend Western Washington University in Bellingham this fall, planning to major in history.
Peter has attended most of the council meetings for eight years, after meeting the former mayor in the fourth grade.
“He was just a little kid then,” Council Member Donna Wright recalled.
Council Member Jeff Vaughan added that Peter demolished the record of now Councilman Jeff Siebert for most meetings attended by a citizen.
Sue Kendall told Peter that she knows her husband influenced his life, but that, “You had an influence on him,” too.
“Mayor Kendall changed my life” and taught me how to be a leader, Peter said.
Of current Mayor Jon Nehring, Sue Kendall joked to laughter, “You got the best, and a tad bit less.”
Also, parks director Jim Ballew said the Spray Park downtown at Comeford Park will be opening Memorial Day weekend. “Bring your bathing suits,” he said.
He also talked about work being done at Jennings Park, rebuilding the floating bridge and dinosaur area. He also said summer camps start up in three weeks.
Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said, “A lot of stuff is going to happen this summer” in his department, too. He said two grants for a total of $1 million have been received to improve the Sunnyside Boulevard and 80th areas. He also said new sidewalks will be going in at the Opera House and at Cedarcrest Golf Course. Work on Grove will go out to bid and so will work on the Qwuloolt Estuary Trails.
At the meeting, the council:
•OK’d spending $1.63 million on its pavement preservation program this summer.
•OK’d spending about $475,000 for a new roof on the Cedarcrest water reservoir.
•OK’d Maryfest for June 11-19, with the fireworks moving back to the public works area, and The Market making some changes for the better, Ballew said.
Also:
•Dave Hall was honored for 10 years working in the parks department.
•Comcast was honored for its volunteer work at the Marysville Boys and Girls Club.
