LaceyLife – January 2023
Happy New Year!
The City of Lacey wishes you and yours a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. We appreciate our community’s support and look forward to new beginnings in 2023.
BSA Troop 222 Provides a Great Community Service: Christmas Tree Round-up, Saturday, January 7
Local BSA Troop 222, with support from Asplundh, LeMay/Pacific Disposal, and Thurston County Waste & Recovery Center, will collect Christmas trees on Saturday, January 7, for residents who live in the Lacey city limits*. Please remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands, and other debris and place your tree on the curb by 8 a.m. If you live in an apartment or mobile home, check with your manager for the location to place your tree for pick-up. Please note: Flocked trees are accepted. However, trees with any of the items listed above left on them cannot be composted and will not get picked up.
BSA Troop 222 accepts donations for this great community service:
• online: Troop222wa.org
• mail: make check payable to: BSA Troop 222, P.O. Box 5379, Lacey, WA 98509
Note: For the security of your contribution, please do not leave donations on tree.
For more information on the Christmas Tree Round-Up, call John, BSA Troop 222 Assistant Scout Master, at (360) 888-5215.
Other Ways to Recycle Your Tree
If you use Pacific Disposal’s yard debris pick-up service, cut your tree into 3-foot sections and place it in, or next to, your yard-waste container on your normal collection day. If you live outside the Lacey city limits* or miss the pick-up day, you can take your tree, free of charge, to the Thurston County Waste & Recovery Center (2420 Hogum Bay Road NE, Lacey) December 26 – January 15 (closed January 1). Open Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday,
8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Reminder: New Online Utility Payment Portal Requires Users to Create New Account
In mid-December, we launched a new online utility payment system. If you would like to make automatic payments, you will need to set up an account in the new system. The old portal is no longer available.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact our Utility Billing Department at (360) 491-5616 or UtilityBilling@ci.lacey.wa.us.
Licensing Your Pet Helps You Get Reunited if They Get Lost. Online Licensing Option Makes it Easy!
Did you know licensing your dog and/or cat is required in Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater? And, in Thurston County, dogs are required to be licensed. Licensing your pet is the first step in getting them home if they ever get lost. Joint Animal Services offers an online portal where you can license your pet, renew a pet license, and update your contact information — 24/7! Visit Joint Animal Services website to access the portal, view instructions, and learn about more pet-licensing options.
Pet licensing fees help fund the shelter and services that keep animals and people safe in our community. For more information, visit Joint Animal Services website or call (360) 352-2510.
City of Lacey 2023 Budget Highlights
The City’s Budget serves as the guiding policy document outlining City priorities, initiatives, and essential community services funded by limited public resources.
Although COVID-19 is decreasing, the 2023 Budget was designed to respond to future challenges, such as an uncertain economic outlook, labor shortages, supply chain issues, and historic inflation. With the City’s continued commitment to strong fiscal and planning policies, the 2023 Budget enhances many community programs and initiatives, including additional funding for public safety, social services, equity efforts, climate resiliency, affordable housing, and parks, culture, and recreation.
The 2023 Budget continues to enhance the quality of life for Lacey community members by making community-improvement investments, maintaining infrastructure maintenance and repair levels, providing for necessary construction-improvement projects, and planning for the community’s future.
You can view the 2023 Budget document online. If you have questions or comments, contact our Finance Department at Finance@ci.lacey.wa.us or (360) 491-3212.
PARKSPLORATION: Wonderwood Park
Wonderwood Park is a community gem located between College Street and Ruddell Road. The Park is a perfect mix of forested woodland spaces and a variety of recreational options. Park users can wander through the park on soft-surface trails amongst the tall trees and vegetation or take a walk along the paved pathways that wind through the woods. You can also enjoy a game of soccer, basketball, softball, tennis, or pickleball — all within the park’s boundaries! Youth can play on the two, updated playgrounds with slides, an ADA-accessible swing, climbing areas, and more. And, don’t forget the picnic areas, including two shelters to accommodate gatherings in all types of weather. So many options!
If you’re looking for a peaceful place to spend the day or just an afternoon, you should visit Wonderwood Park!
FUN FACT: In 1971, the City purchased approximately 20 acres for what would later become Lacey’s first park with $14,500 of City funds and a $58,000 grant. Three years later, the City purchased an additional 20 acres and completed the first phase of Wonderwood Park.
Lacey’s Park System includes just under 1,200 acres of park land and open spaces, miles of ADA-accessible trails, hiking trails, a premier regional athletic complex, and several community buildings. To learn more discover other Lacey parks and trails, visit the Lacey Parks website.
Want to Reduce Your Home Energy Usage? Start with a Free, PSE Online Home Energy Assessment!
With the cold weather upon us, now is the perfect time to discover ways to reduce your energy usage and lower your costs. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has a free, quick, and convenient online assessment that will help you understand and control the energy usage in your home in 3 easy steps!
- Complete a 5-7 minute, online assessment to see how energy is used in your home.
- Review your assessment results and suggested ways to save.
- Measure and monitor the impacts of the changes you make, using the information available in your myPSEaccount.
If you do not have an online myPSEaccount set up, you can easily create one, even if you don’t have your account number handy. To learn more, visit PSE’s website.
Register for Community Safety Alerts
Thurston County Emergency Management, Lacey, and other participating cities have a system to help you stay informed of potential hazards and threats in our area. Community members can register for the Thurston Community Alert system to receive emergency and non-emergency alerts via text, voice, and email. To get more information and register, visit the Thurston County website.
Community members can also create a Smart911 profile that includes information about you to help first responders better assist you in an emergency. Visit their website to sign up.
View the January LaceyLife pdf format.
