The City Council recently recognized residents Jim Ito and Melanie Granfors who have lived in Mountlake Terrace for about 16 years.
Parks and Property Management Superintendent Ken Courtmanch and Keith Edholm who serves on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission thanked Jim and Melanie for their hard work to help establish the city’s Off Leash Dog Park including the formation of its Task Force in 2007. “It took two years to get it going,” Courtmanch said. “Jim oversaw the day-to-day operations and started a group named MLT DOG (Dog Owners Group) and was elected as its President. He set up a website, organized work parties to spread wood chips, coordinated on Eagle Scout projects, and worked to keep up the park since 2009,” Courtmanch added. Jim and Melanie were also instrumental in raising funds to help maintain the dog park and volunteered there regularly.
“At the MLT Library, Melanie would bring in her therapy dogs and do a free Reading with Rover program,” said Managing Librarian Kristin Piepho. “The program was started due to Melanie’s efforts. The dogs are nonjudgmental, so it’s easy for the children to read and talk to them.”
“We appreciate everything you’ve done for this city,” said Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen. “Jim is a Firefighter with the City of Bothell and Melanie is a Public Information Officer (PIO) with Shoreline Fire, so they are very civic minded citizens,” Olsen added. “I’ve taken many photos of Jim and Melanie walking their dogs around the city and used them in our newsletter and on the website,” said Olsen. Jim has served on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission and together, Jim and Melanie worked tirelessly advocating for aging civic facility issues.
Jim and Melanie were presented with a plaque imprinted with a photo of the grand opening of the Off Leash Dog Park in commemoration of their contributions to benefit the residents and dogs in Mountlake Terrace and the surrounding community.
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