Ray's Place to Clean Up Alley Downtown

An often garbage-filled alley downtown is about to get a little cleaner.

Ray's Place is in the midst of getting approval from city officials to install a new garbage receptacle in the alley next to the popular tavern that connects Franklin Avenue to South Water Streeet.

Kent City Council voted in committee earlier this month to allow the tavern's owner, Charlie Thomas, to install two metal racks in the public right of way — on the alley sidewalk — to hold garbage cans.

Kent Service Director Gene Roberts said the city health and zoning departments support the effort to resolve complaints received by the city about trash in the alley.

"The request is made in the hopes of correcting a long-standing problem regarding animals tearing trash bags and unknown persons dumping garbage cans," Roberts said in a memo to the city manager's office.

Council will take a final vote on the request to occupy the public right of way at theire regular meeting later this month.