February 3, 2025

Dear Washington City Council, Washington City Planner, and Mayor Mainier,

Please consider placing on hold for 90 days any future action regarding the proposed Amphitheater honoring Mr Jim Hengst’s wife.

Your constituency might be more supportive of this endeavor if you provide a question and answer Town Hall format meeting which addresses citizens’ concerns about the project. Then the information could be made available on your website to those who are unable to attend a Council meeting.

Important Questions to address:

Where can we find the data that supports the positive financial outcome of this project?

Is there a guarantee that the local and state noise ordinances will be met? Will it be too late to fix this matter after the fact?

Will the amphitheater’s location affect many neighborhoods with high noise level and increased traffic?

Will our police department have enough officers to keep the amphitheater safe from vandalism when not in use?

What studies do you have which provide the data for the projected FINAL cost to the City of Washington? Could those studies be made availabe to your constituents?

Please give us more information before moving ahead with a project that leaves the citizens of Washington with so many questions.

Please put any further action on the Amphitheater project on hold for 90 days.