Poulsbo names new Public Works Director

Barry Loveless will take over the post of Public Works director for the city of Poulsbo this May, Mayor Kathryn Quade said Wednesday night.

Two candidates interviewed for the job. Both would have been a great choice, council members said.

Loveless has 25 years of experience in the Navy and now works for the Kitsap County Public Works Department. He will start May 12. Current Public Works director Jeff Bauman announced his retirement earlier this year. He will leave the job May 30.

Council Member Ed Stern said the city saved $29,000 by not using an outside search firm for the hiring process.

“We did our own work on this one,” he said.

Annexation Task Force appointed, ready to begin

Twelve members of the Poulsbo community have been appointed to the Annexation Task Force, which will have its first meeting Monday.

Mayor Kathryn Quade named four annexation opponents and four annexation proponents — six of whom live within the Urban Growth Area and two of whom do not — to join council members Dale Rudolph and Becky Erickson, Planning Commissioner James Thayer and Poulsbo Historical Society President Bob Hawkinson on the working team. Over a 10-week period they will meet to discuss various annexation-related issues and have two public involvement sessions. All meetings are open to the public. The first will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the council chambers April 21.