August 2008 Archives

Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell

The Olympian has run a story in recent days questioning the motives of retiring County Commissioner Diane Oberquell:

August 26th:
Oberquell records request called 'exceptional'
Retiring commissioner sought information on failed legislation

"Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell sent a state agency one of the biggest public records requests ever filed, costing the agency an estimated $9,000 for 300 hours of staff time and about $500 for printing almost 10,000 pages of documents.

Oberquell, acting as a private citizen, filed the request Feb. 9. She asked the office of state Attorney General Rob McKenna for records, e-mails and other documents that mention a failed bill in the state Legislature that would have required county commissioners to tape their closed-door executive sessions. Oberquell testified Feb. 5 against the bill...

Some observers, such as Rowland Thompson, executive director of Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, and Olympia attorney Greg Overstreet, former special assistant to the state attorney general for government accountability, said Oberquell's request appeared to be — at least in part — retaliation for a time-consuming public records request filed with Thurston County in 2006 by state Auditor Brian Sonntag.

Thurston County was one of 30 government agencies queried in a statewide performance audit to judge agency responsiveness to and compliance with the state Public Records Act.

In the project, which ran Nov. 2, 2006, through Jan. 30, 2007, Sonntag's staff posed as citizens and asked for a test sample of records.

That triggered Oberquell to complain publicly in August 2007 that Sonntag was "asking us for things like a job description of the IT person, sheriff's travel, (chief administrator) Don Krupp's telephone records — you know, things like that," she said in a news story in The Olympian.

Thompson said if Oberquell's effort was retaliatory, it backfired in that McKenna's office, by fulfilling her request, upheld the public's right to know...

In response to Oberquell's request, the agency printed 9,800 pages at a cost of 5 cents a page, but Oberquell decided to take copies of only 60 pages and several CDs containing documents, for which she was charged $20, said Dan Sytman, a spokesman for McKenna's office.

The 300 hours of staff time — including managers, specialists and support staff — cost an average of $30 an hour, or $9,000...

Agency staff members contacted Oberquell several times to "see if she could narrow the scope," but the efforts were unsuccessful, he said."

UPDATE: September 1, 2008
The Olympian Op-ED said this in today's editions:
"Oberquell was spiteful, wrong
Citizen activism is a right. Harassment is not.

Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell has submitted two voluminous public records requests to state agencies out of pure spite. It's vindictiveness at its worst and as a public official, Oberquell should know better. She has embarrassed herself in her final days in office and her retaliatory requests for public records are yet another indication that at 20 years, she has stayed in office too long...

Attorney Greg Overstreet, former open records ombudsman for the attorney general, said, "I think 99 percent of public records requests are made by well-meaning people -- this seems to be the other 1 percent."

As a county commissioner, Diane Oberquell has the same right as every other citizen to hold her government accountable. And while citizen activism is admirable, forcing taxpayers to cover the costs of retaliatory requests for public records crosses the line.

The sad reality is after 20 years of public service as county commissioner, Oberquell has ruined her reputation on her way out of office."

ED NOTE: This writer has said the same thing twice in the last year : with another "indication that at 20 years, she has stayed in office too long."
Mrs. Oberquell passed over her own Thurston County Planning Commission's recommendations and citizen comments about the 2007 Yelm Comprehensive Plan Transportation Update, which will not reign in the continuing traffic issues here.

Further, The Olympian reported on June 16, 2008 that "Poor planning led to budget woes" with the Thurston County deficit and that lies directly at Mrs. Oberquell's and her fellow Commissioners' feet.

YELM'S COATES RD.
This writer was questioned by a Blog reader about the cost differential between a Yelm Road's cost to widen and repave vs. Bald Hill Rd. in Thurston County.

I spoke with the city's Stephanie Ray, Project Manager, to ask her why the Coates Rd. project [Click Here, then click MINUTES, then August 12, 2008, & see 8B] costing $1.2 million for 3 tenths of a mile ($3.6 million a mile) is so expensive compared to the Bald Hill Rd. project costing about $860,000 a mile.

Ms. Ray made these points about the Coates Rd. Project:
- this is a commercial collector roadway in a city.
- right-of-way acquisition required. Ms. Ray said she thought such was not the case with Bald Hill Rd.
- underground utilities, which Bald Hill Rd. did not have.
- water lines (new PVC, sewer work).
- gas line relocation.
- street lighting.
- planter strips.
- sidewalks.
- A $550,000 grant was received from the state gas tax, which requires alot more detail than a non-granted job. The Bald Hill Rd. project received a Federal Grant, which is even more stringent.

I found Ms. Ray's straight forward and enthusiastic responses to my questions to be refreshing from a City Hall that usually doesn't even return my calls or emails.

Even after Ms. Ray's explanations, this writer was amazed at the differences in costs: $860,000 for Bald Hill Rd. a mile vs. $3.6 + million a mile for Yelm's Coates Rd., Yelm's being 4 1/2 times greater!

YELM'S HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE PERMANENTLY CHANGED
"Visitors must use the east end access, formerly the exit, located across from Mountainview Road. THIS IS A PERMANENT ACCESS CHANGE AT YHS. Students must use center turn lane into the new access point. Westbound commuter traffic should keep right through the YHS school zone. Click the link for more project information," quoting the city's website.


YELM'S BYPASS
On July 7th, I received an email from Cindy Teixeira, Community and Government Relations Coordinator saying that she forwarded my letter of that day to Mayor Harding for a response. To date, Mr. Harding never responded to my request for information on the location of funding for a Bypass. In questioning the WSDOT, they say they have no funding and to go back and ask the Mayor to support his assertions. I did-

"Mayor Harding told the Yelm Chamber [of Commerce] Forum on Tuesday, April 8 that Yelm's Bypass construction is set to begin in 2009 using left-over right-of-way acquisition funding of $9-10 million and was quoted in the March 14th edition of the Nisqually Valley News in a story titled "Bypass funding is back on track" saying in the text, 'It is quite possible they could start phase one of the construction project in 2009.'

...in speaking to the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT), they tell me to "Ask Mayor Harding to present where the $10M construction fund is located in their Transportation Budget?"

THE HONORABLE MAYOR RON HARDING

Mayor Harding,
The $9 million is a prediction by WSDOT of how much will be left over after all of the right-of-way is acquired for the project. Right-of-way acquisition has not been completed, so we may not know until next year (2009) the status of any leftover balance.

Can you update the community on where this stands?
Or, is your silence a confirmation of WSDOT's claim that there is no left-over funding yet available?

While many in City Hall just wish I would go away, I am going to continue to speak out on issues that affect all of us in the Nisqually Valley.

QUOTING SIERRA CLUB'S SIERRA MAGAZINE (Sept./Oct., 2008)
"NOT LONG AGO small private colleges had a near monopoly on campus environmental initiatives in the United States. But today supersize public universities are nipping at the nimble, hemp-shod heels of those pioneers by adopting green building standards, expanding environmental studies programs, and converting fleets to zero-emission vehicles...

The top schools earned points in ten categories: policies for building, energy, food, investment, procurement, and transportation; curriculum; environmental activism; waste management; and overall commitment to sustainability. A perfect score in every area would give a school 100 points.

IN THE TOP 10:
CLICK #5 EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE, OLYMPIA
4,400 students
Evergreen first made headlines for getting rid of grades and majors in the 1970s. Now the college creates buzz with its environmental policies, which include a mandate that all new building projects comply with silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Less than a quarter of students use their intercity bus passes (included with tuition) to get to school, but new bus shelters with solar-powered lighting may help them get jazzed about public transit.

Highlight
Student activism: At least nine campus organizations take on environmental and social justice issues.

Lowlight
Investments: No transparency or reported sustainable-investing policies.

Score: 88

CLICK #9 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE
39,250 students
The home of the Huskies is one of the few universities whose overall energy use has decreased (by 10 percent between 2000 and 2005) despite campus growth. All the university's energy comes from renewable sources (including hydropower), and 14 buildings are slated for construction or renovation in compliance with LEED standards.

Highlight
Investments: Endowment funds support renewable energy and LEED-certified development projects.

Lowlight
Student activism: Environmental advocacy remains a fringe activity.

If you go Sign up for courses in the College of Forest Resources--many of them include field trips to the Pacific Northwest's awe-inspiring woodlands.

Score: 84"

This writer's letter of Wednesday, August 27 to State Senator Rasmussen and Reps. Campbell & McCune sums up the City of Yelm's official, on-the-record response to the public commenters on the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS. This is the first response the community has heard from the City on this matter:

Dear Elected Representatives of the Yelm District,

I am dismayed at the arrogance of City of Yelm officials in their blatant disregard of the public last night [August 26], as they officially went on the record at their regular City Council meeting denying there will be any response to public input on the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS prior to the final EIS, for a 5,000 home proposed development and one of the State's largest, that would effectively quadruple the size of Yelm.

Area resident Diane D'Acuti asked the Yelm City Council during the public comment section:
1. Why were the city's SEPA rules not followed in the length & conciseness of the DEIS?
2. When will the over 50 commenters questions & concerns be addressed and why have they not been answered before now?

Yelm Community Development Director Grant Beck stated,
"I will address all of the comments and SEPA rules in the final EIS."

Ms. D'Acuti said the Draft EIS does not follow the city's own rules regarding the SEPA and requested that issue be addressed.
Mayor Harding answered, "In the appearance of fairness, we (the Council) can't get into that."
[Ed. Note: WHAT??? Where is the appearance of fairness in denying the commenters a response? What about "fairness" for the public that elected all of you into office? You appear to bend-over backwards for the developer, rather than to your constituents!].

This is a major rejection of the SEPA, which is devoted to encouraging community participation and comment. Public input is of vital importance on a project such as this. That nothing will be addressed until the Final EIS means the public and commenters will not know where, if at all, Mr. Beck made any changes from the Draft EIS, without a full reading of the Final EIS.

This development will not only quadruple Yelm's population, it will choke the city with traffic even further, add the equivalent of 7 Super Wal-Mart's of commercial space, impact the aquifer and create a second downtown, all in direct violation of the City of Yelm Vision Statement in the Comprehensive Plan.
That the rules and intent of the SEPA in public participation are being shoved aside, is indicative of the reason the Yelm City Council was awarded the egregious Jefferson Muzzle Award in 2006 for prohibiting public comment on a then-planned Wal-Mart application. Mayor Harding (then as Mayor Pro-tem) & most of the current City Council members were then serving on that Council.
Just to be clear, I wish to make known that I am not running for Mayor of Yelm in 2009.

I have heard that Yelm issues require an inordinate amount of your time and attention percentage-wise, compared to the rest of your jurisdiction. With this Thurston Highlands EIS coming down the pike as the only vehicle that addresses public concerns, I suggest you will be hearing even more from this area's constituents.
I have attached my Letter to the Editor of the Nisqually Valley News published this week with more details.

Can you suggest anything to have our voices heard in Yelm's City Hall?

Most sincerely,

Stephen R. Klein
P. O. Box 1971
Yelm, WA. 98597

cc: Candidates for public office (Romero, Edmondson, Christenson, Powell, Becker)
The Olympian
Nisqually Valley News
Business Examiner
Yelm Planning Commission Chair Carlos Perez
Yelm Mayor & City Council
Yelm Community Development Department
Yelm Community Affairs

Ed. Note: The then-newly appointed Yelm Planning Commission Chair Carlos Perez asked the public for solutions and input on key issues affecting the community in his December 14, 2007 Letter to the Editor published in the NVN. The silence from Mr. Perez and the Planning Commission on the Thurston Highlands DEIS is indicative of their compliance with the city about not responding to public comments or following the SEPA rules. Interesting that the Planning Commission Meeting for August, 2008 was canceled, what with the Thurston Draft EIS creating a second downtown that usurps the city's own Vision Statement in the Comprehensive Plan. HMMM!

UPDATE: Friday, August 29th at 1:30pm
Unfortunately, the NVN in today's edition did not report on this turn of events, rather focusing on the "slam-dunk" approval of the next phase of Tahoma Terra, a 1,200 development by the same owners of Thurston Highlands and a lawsuit by JZ Knight.
The newspaper misreported two weeks ago when the NVN stated, "On July 18, Knight’s petition was denied in a summary judgment hearing."
The NVN printed a correction in a small box last week on page 2, instead of the large incorrect box on their front page the week prior.

Finally, the NVN got it right in today's edition, though in the last 2 lines of this story:
"On July 18, a petition for a summary judgment hearing made by the City of Yelm was denied.

The next court hearing, on the merits of the case, is set for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1."

Ed. Note: This means that the courts found Ms. Knight's case had sufficient grounds against the city to move forward and the city's request to have the case dismissed was what was denied. Why did THIS story not get front-page copy, in particular from a newspaper that reports on the front page every time the city has rejected Ms. Knight's cases?!

Candidates for State Representative JeanMarie Christenson, Congress Darcy Burner, State Senator Marilyn Rasmussen, Governor Chris Gregoire.
Photo Credit: Pierce County Dispatch

Clearly Western Washington has finally broken through the "glass ceiling" and voted their minds for candidates to represent them based on talent, rather than gender bias, as demonstrated by these four ladies who were winners in their respective races in the State's top two Primary August 19th. They move on to the November election ballot.
[Ed. Note: They all list a preference for the Democratic Party.]

Find out more about their campaigns by clicking on their names below to access their websites:
LD 2 State Representative Candidate JeanMarie Christenson
8th Congressional District Candidate Darcy Burner
2nd LD State Senator Marilyn Rasmussen
Governor Chris Gregoire

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE WOMEN FOR STEPPING FORWARD IN BEING WILLING TO SERVE!

Lady Washington, Official Ship of the State of Washington

"The historic tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will arrive in Olympia with cannons blazing as part of Olympia Harbor Days Aug. 29-31, it was announced today [Aug. 22].

The Official Ship of the State of Washington and her companion ship will add an extra day in the state capital Sept. 1 for additional public tours and sailings that celebrate the region’s maritime heritage.

The ships are scheduled to arrive at Percival Landing, 222 Columbia St. N.W., Aug. 29 at about 6 p.m.

Crew in period costume will welcome visitors aboard the ships for walk-on tours: Aug. 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A $3 donation per person is requested.

The ships also will take passengers on five Battle Sails -- three-hour excursions featuring booming cannon and close-quarters maneuvers between the two vessels.

Those sails are scheduled Aug. 30, 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.; Aug. 31, 6-9 p.m.; and Sept. 1, 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $60 for adults. For reservations call 800-200-5239 or go to www.historicalseaport.org," quoting The Olympian.

MASTER PERMACULTURE DESIGN TRAINING PROGRAM
with Bruce Weiskotten, Certified Permaculture Designer

You are invited to an Introduction to Permaculture Design talk at the
Blue Bottle this Wednesday, Aug 27th starting at 7:00 PM

This talk introduces the Permaculture Design method which individual people and Eco-Villages around the world are using to become more sovereign and self-sufficient at home and in their local community.
A full certification program in Permaculture Design is beginning Sat. Aug 30th here in the Yelm area. Course participants will have participate in design team practicums and learn to develop proven strategies, technologies and patterns for sovereign living. Upon completion of the course, graduates will be invited to participate in a permaculture design society Dancing Spirits Permaculture which will sponsor workshops in applied permaculture.


Bruce Weiskotten for
Dancing Spirits Permaculture

for further information call Bruce (360) 400-1350 or Satora (360) 446-0052

The term master refers to self-mastery. Permaculture means a sustainable culture of sovereign individuals cultivating their own food, medicine, building materials, energy resources and more ecologically and locally. Design is the process by which we co-create with God.

The Master Permaculture Design training program is a 72 credit hour course wherein the students learn how to develop their own models for Sovereignty.

Come and learn how to:
- Read the landscape to better understand your land’s potential
- Transmute the ground of your being
- Work with nature’s secrets rather than fighting back the jungle
- Recognize & make use of nutrients, water, potential energy & other freely available resources
- Create perennial harvest systems
- Reduce risks (disease, climatic extremes, fire, pest management,…)
- Maximize your sustainable yields
- Learn Darwin’s criteria of what makes a species the fittest to survive

"What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet. For a truly sustainable future, we need options – experimenting in all kinds of ways. Permaculturists are one of the critical gangs that are doing that."
-- David Suzuki

Introductory Evening with Bruce on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 7.00 pm at the Blue Bottle in Yelm
For information call Satora (360) 446-0052

The Business Examiner's 2008 Women of Influence honorees have been selected.

Women in the South Sound are first nominated and then asked to complete an extensive questionnaire about their business and community activities. Some 40 women qualified for consideration this year.

Judges review the materials and select the class of honorees....

Other honorees are: Cyndi Wikstrom, general manager of Tacoma's Click! Network; Kim Farnes, executive director of Communities in Schools of Orting, Rita Hutcheson fire chief of South East Thurston Fire and EMS; and Jill Kenly, director of Fund Development for Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity.

The annual class of business and community women is selected by previous honorees gathered by the Business Examiner. A special publication honoring the 2008 Women of Influence, including articles profiling each honoree, will be distributed in the Sept. 15 issue of the Business Examiner.

Women of Influence is presented by KeyBank - Key4Women. More than 375 business and community members are expected to celebrate Women of Influence alumni, honorees and nominees at an event Sept. 24 at the Sharon McGavick Student and Conference Center at CPTC," quoting this August 18 Business Examiner story.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIEF HUTCHESON AND WE THANK HER FOR ALL OF HER FINE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY!

This writer wrote to Yelm's Community Development Director Grant Beck on August 13, 2008 saying,

"I hear you have said to others recently that you have no intention to reject the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS for not following the SEPA rules.

Out of a total of 52 comments submitted to your office, most were by members of the community and almost all of those unanimously demanded that the draft be rejected for several reasons:

- this DEIS was over twice the length given as a maximum by SEPA rules

- this DEIS was not in clear and concise language

- many of the public asked for an extended comment period for some of these reasons

The city’s own promulgated version of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) states:

“Environmental impact statements shall be concise and written in plain language.
EISs shall not be excessively detailed or overly technical.
EISs shall explain plainly the meaning of technical terms not generally understood by the general public.
The text of an EIS (WAC 197-11-430(3))…shall not exceed seventy-five pages;
except for proposals of unusual scope or complexity, where the EIS shall not exceed one hundred fifty pages.” ...

The purpose and intent of the State Environmental Policy Act rules are largely devoted to encouraging community participation and comment for obvious reasons...
This public input is of vital importance and must be construed in the spirit of the SEPA rules. To date, there has been no response from your office on the comments submitted by the community...

Do you or do you not intend to follow the expressed wishes of the community and reject this Draft EIS, and have it reissued according to lawful SEPA premises?

A week later, I received no response, so I called Mr. Beck and left a voicemail message giving him yet another opportunity to respond. As of 10 days later, I have heard nothing.

However, Mayor Harding's and Mr. Beck's comments in yesterday's Nisqually Valley News say it all!

"Mayor Ron Harding said the document is lengthy because the city wanted to ensure it covered all aspects of the project.
Yelm's Director of Community Development Grant Beck said there actually isn't an overall size limitation to the document.
'It could be a million pages long,' Beck said," quoting the NVN.

No size limitation, Mr. Beck?
The State of Washington Administrative Code (WAC) about SEPA quoted above says your conjecture is not so!
Your silence in not responding to the 52 commenters or to my written and oral requests for comment clearly indicate that you have no intention to reject the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS for not following the SEPA rules.
Your flagrant disregard for the city's own version of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and lack of responsiveness to this community demonstrates your continued thumb-nosing at your constituents, to whom you were appointed to serve!

Did Mayor Harding read the public comments on the City of Yelm's own website about this Draft EIS?
JZ Knight attorney Keith Moxon's comments there clearly delineate in fine detail the incompleteness of the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS in failing to address so many issues.
Click here.
Olympia Engineer Ed Wiltsie's comments further show DEIS gaps:
Click here.
Bill Hashim, a local resident & state ecologist for over 25 years highlights more discrepancies and omissions in the DEIS:
Click here.
These are not some insignificant statements, rather well-researched and documented reports from knowledgeable and experienced professionals all pointing to a sorely deficient DEIS.

The silence from the Community Development Director bespeaks volumes!

That silence is matched by the community-at-large, as well. While I acknowledge those that took the time to send in their comments, only 52 comments were filed from the greater Yelm community of over 10,000 people; that's less than 1/2 of one percent.

The silence from the community on issues that will affect this town for generations bespeaks volumes, too!

The Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission and many in City Hall just wish I would be quiet and go away.
I will still bring up these issues for our community, nevertheless!

To our appreciated customers and friends,

Sadly, we have to announce the closure of our bakery, Sebastian's Best, by the end of August '08. Unfortunately, we are not able to meet and support our financial needs with Sebastian's Best and, after crunching all the numbers several times under different scenarios, we've accepted this reality. We even considered opening just a couple of afternoons a week, but could find little profit other than our enjoyment of being here with you.

Sebastian is searching for baking space to rent for 1 day a week to continue some wholesale business and perhaps special orders for you. Please feel free to call with any suggestions or leads. Also, perhaps you know someone who'd like to make a different business with this established kitchen. We are happy to talk to any interested parties - we think it'd be the perfect space for a caterer or special order business like pizza delivery or Dinners to Go.

If we don't find someone interested in taking over the kitchen, we will be selling off equipment and odds and ends (buckets, spatulas, etc.) over the month of September. Please request a list of items if you or someone you know is interested.

We have so enjoyed being here and serving you. Thank you!

--Sebastian, Amy and Elena Schefer

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG THANKS THE SCHEFER'S FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COMMUNITY & WISH THEM WELL IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

In the last year, the City has said good-by to friends at Annie's Bistro/Two Friend's Cafe, Arnold's Country Inn, & QFC.

INTRODUCING YELM'S TRULY MOTIVATED TRANSITIONAL LIVING

"Truly Motivated Transitional Living is a non-profit organization in Yelm, Washington offering affordable clean and sober housing to men & women in recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Joseph & Carmin both have hard fought experiences in the rooms of recovery, with over six years of sobriety each. Their similar stories disclose hopelessness, emptiness, jails and institutions, to recovery and new hope. Page 100 of Alcoholics Anonymous states “both you and the new man must walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress. If you persist remarkable things will happen”. Joseph and Carmin have set out to create a community where people in recovery can walk that walk.In 2005, Truly Motivated Transitional Living opened to address a significant community need for transitional living facilities. Situated in the quiet community of Yelm, Washington, it is well positioned to serve the South Puget Sound region. Three homes comfortably house up to 24 residents in a rural, park-like setting, offering the serenity of country living. A clean and sober environment offers encouragement and accountability. Nutritious food, on-site 12-step meetings and support services rebuild mind, body, and soul. It is our desire that residents find new hope, self respect, and dignity in addition to sustained sobriety. Residents may stay with the Truly Motivated family as long as they wish, gaining the confidence to go from here into a victorious life. A women’s facility is planned for 2008," quoting their website.

The Yelm Starbucks is selling raffle tickets for one dollar each for a Starbucks Gift Basket through Saturday, August 23rd. All proceeds will benefit Truly Motivated Transitional Living. This writer discovered this organization for the first time through the Starbucks raffle & asked about them.

Quoting Joe, "I want to thank Starbucks for their partnership and in particular, this store. They've just been great."

How You Can Help

Yelm Animal Alliance is sponsoring a Dog Wash, at
Days Natural Pet Food Store
in Yelm at 4 Corners
11432 Vail Rd SE
this Friday and Saturday
12 noon - 5pm
All proceeds go to Yelm Animal Alliance.

"We help find lost dogs their way home and also foster and adopt unwanted dogs;
hope to see you there (with your dog!)."

Elizabeth from Yelm Animal Alliance

"Fathom and Roadside Attractions present I.O.U.S.A.: Live with Warren Buffett, Pete Peterson & Dave Walker in an exclusive one night event in select movie theatres nationwide on Thursday, August 21st. This event will include the critically-acclaimed documentary, I.O.U.S.A., and a LIVE discussion about America’s economic crisis and what we can do to change course.

This one night event will be shown LIVE at 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT / 6:00pm MT / and tape delayed at 7:30pm PT.

The live discussion with America’s most notable financial leaders and policy experts, including Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; William Niskanen, chairman of the Cato Institute; Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP; Pete Peterson, senior chairman of The Blackstone Group and chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation; and Dave Walker, president & CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former U.S. Comptroller General, promises riveting dialogue and keen insight into the crisis we currently face. The panel will be moderated by Becky Quick, co-anchor of CNBC’s morning news show Squawk Box.

From the producers of Wordplay and the studio that brought you Supersize Me, the must-see documentary I.O.U.S.A. uncovers the source of critical economic concerns that touch the lives of every American. A tapestry of archival footage, hard data and candid interviews woven together, it paints an authentic profile of today’s economic condition. Solutions for how we can impact this nationwide crisis and evolve into a more fiscally sound nation for future generations are offered by the documentary’s powerful conclusion.

“May be to the U.S. Economy what An Inconvenient Truth was to the environment.” - Reuters"

In Olympia August 2, 7:30pm
Capital Mall 14
625 BLACK LAKE BLVD. SW
OLYMPIA, WA 98502
360-943-0769
Buy tickets here!

Greetings One and All!
We hope you are enjoying the Lovely summer sun this week!
The following is information about a very special Evening in the Blue.

On Aug. 30th, the Blue Bottle will be hosting the Musical Trio, Just for Fun:
Sonia Peñas, Din Wilkie, Greg Roth.
The evening begins at 7:30 pm with dinner and live music.
Tickets are $25 and must be purchased by Thursday Aug 21st.

This evening is intimate, with limited seating, so hurry down to the Blue Bottle to ensure your "Just for Fun" evening!
Experience an evening of fine wine, fabulous food, and exceptional music!

Thank You all!
The Blue Bottle
309 Yelm Ave E
Yelm, WA. 98597
360-458-4611
Blue Bottle By Day,
Blue Note By Night

NEW FILM EXAMINES VOTING IN AMERICA

"For more than 20 years, exit polls accurately predicted U.S. election results.
Over the last 10 years, that reliability has progressively disappeared.
What’s going on?
The last two presidential elections both came down to a relatively small number of votes, and in both elections the integrity of the voting process has been called into question. With the upcoming election looking to be similarly close, the time has come to ask the questions: what happened in 2000 and 2004; what has changed since; and what can be done to ensure a fair and honest tabulation of votes in 2008?

STEALING AMERICA: Vote by Vote brings together behind-the-scenes perspectives from the U.S. presidential election of 2004 – plus startling stories from key races in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006. Unbiased and nonpartisan, the film sheds light on a decade of vote counts that don't match votes cast – uncounted ballots, vote switching, under-votes and many other examples of election totals that warrant serious investigation.

Throughout STEALING AMERICA, we hear from voters who experienced a wide range of problems, including those whose votes flipped from one candidate to another and those whose polls didn't have enough machines to serve the number of voters. Investigative journalists describe how their reportage on election fraud was sidelined. First-person citizen testimonies speak of waiting in line nine hours to vote. We hear how polling experts’ requests for essential information – such as precinct voting data necessary to examine irregularities – had been rejected, while ballots were being systematically destroyed, making audits impossible.

In an effort to create the least biased and most balanced picture of this contentious issue, filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman has called upon experts from across the political spectrum.

STEALING AMERICA unveils patterns of anomalies at every level of the electoral process. Controversial partnerships perpetuate a secretive environment, as relevant facts and figures remain hidden from view. As a result, most Americans have no real sense of the threat to free and fair elections. As seemingly unrelated pieces of the puzzle come together, a chilling picture emerges of widespread, artfully crafted "glitches" that, in the final tallies, have the capacity to alter election results."

THIS FILM IS COMING TO PUGET SOUND
Sept 5th thru 11th at the Varsity 3
4329 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

Olympia Regional Airport

Olympia Regional Airport records near-record heat three days in a row

- On August 14, the official National Weather Service station for Thurston County at Olympia Regional Airport reported a high of 91, just short of the 1967 record of 93 degrees.

- On August 15, the 93 degree high was one degree short of the 1967 high of 94 degrees.

- On August 16, the 92 degree high was 4 degrees short of the 1967 96 degree record, however the morning low of 60 degrees broke a record for this day as the highest, low temperature recorded for any August 16th, surpassing the 59 degrees set in 1999.

Yelm records record heat three days in a row - Puget Sound's hottest!
This area recorded some of the hottest temperatures in Puget Sound, surpassing Olympia, Tacoma and Sea-Tac Airport temperatures:

- On August 14, the previous Yelm high temperature of 91 recorded in 1992 was surpassed by the 92 degrees recorded here.
"The area set a high for an Aug. 14 on Thursday, with 90 degrees recorded at Sea-Tac Airport. That broke the mark of 88 in 2005. It was 88 degrees at McChord Air Force Base," quoting the Tacoma News Tribune. Yelm's 92 surpassed all of those stations.

- On August 15, the previous Yelm high of 87 for that date was surpassed by the 94 degrees, which is also the warmest temperature recorded in Yelm this month.

- On August 16, the 92 degrees broke the record set in 1985 of 86 degrees.

From Weather.com.

Click here for Yelm August record temperatures.

KING-5 TV in Seattle reports, "Lightning adds to sweltering weekend".

Yelm Food Co-op
Co-op Board President Tom Dewell & Yelm Mayor Ron Harding cut the ribbon on June 29th

NEWS FROM YELM'S CO-OP

A Lottery terminal has been installed in the Yelm Food Co-op.
Your ticket purchases help support the store through the commissions paid to us as a Lottery vendor. And the Co-op will also share larger winnings for tickets purchased in the store with special vendor bonuses, up to $50,000 for a Mega-Millions winner!
Hope to see you winning with us soon!

The Yelm Co-op Staff
========================================

Dear Yelm Food Co-op Owner/Member,

Our next Annual General Owner/Member Meeting will be held Sunday, Sept 14th from 1.30pm – 3.30 pm at the Yelm Senior Center of 103rd Street.

As owners of the Yelm Food Co-op, this is your chance to meet with the management of your store, to discuss the future, to bring in suggestions and to vote on issues that we feel require your approval.

The agenda will include reports from the Board President and Treasurer and from the Store Manager. We will discuss efforts at receiving funding, the Owner/Member loan program, the Working Member program and its challenges, the AlpineAire program and its benefits to us, the upcoming booth at the RSE food court and other developments.

Please make this a priority. This is YOUR store and the management team would like to have your input on how to progress, your ideas on what you would like to see in YOUR store, suggestions on how to improve YOUR store and to learn how you can support us in this combined effort.

See you there!!

The Yelm Food Co-op Board

And non-members are welcome as well.

SUPPORT THE PLANET AND SAVE TREES

Contact: Christine Hartman 360.264.5190

Tenino WA.
A fundraising concert will be held in Tenino Park on Sunday, August 17th immediately following the Quarryman’s Auto show from 2-7pm featuring Mud Bay Blues Band, with guest George Barner, Randy Linder and the duo Croonella, and the Planetary People Reggae band. The concert is being sponsored by the Tenino Park Task Force Fundraising Committee, the Heernet Foundation, Friends of Tenino, local business and supporters to raise matching money for a land acquisition grant to purchase 12 acres of land
currently owned by Weyerhaeuser above the quarry pool. Weyerhaeuser has postponed their planned harvest for one year to give the Tenino groups and the Heernett Foundaion an opportunity to raise the funds to expand the park and protect the quarry.
“We feel this is a perfect match for the auto show to have a rock and roll concert to raise funds for this shared community project. It gives folks the opportunity to see importance of those trees above the quarry pool firsthand,” explained concert organizer Christine Hartman of Tenino.

Admission for the concert will be $10 dollars with food vending available during the show. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, help save the trees, and be a part of this community effort in Tenino.

Overbuilt market creating modern ghost towns
Americans love new construction, but some developments go unfinished

"But given that a growing list of builders have seen construction loans called by banks or fail to sell newly built homes fast enough to keep up with construction loan payments, it’s no wonder new construction “half-towns” are popping up along the landscape. The scenario is playing out all over the United States, and is the topic of blogs such as The Home Builder Implode-O-Meter.

While builders are suing in some communities to reinstate their construction loans so they can finish projects, the homes they’ve finished in recent months are taking a long time to sell. Data from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development indicate that the amount of time required to sell a newly constructed home has nearly doubled between 2006 and the present. In 2006 it was 4.3 months. By 2007 it had climbed to 6.2 months. As of this June it was 8.4 months. quoting MSNBC.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS HERE -- LIKE TAHOMA TERRA & THURSTON HIGHLANDS STILL UNBUILT???
WHO IS GOING TO QUALIFY TO BUY ALL THESE PROPOSED HOMES?
WHO IS GOING TO LOAN THE MONEY TO BUILD THEM?

The Olympian weighed in on this subject with this August 4th report titled:

"Home sellers turn to incentives to draw buyers
Cooler market prompts bonuses to take a look"

"A new Honda scooter, a trip to a Caribbean destination and a chance to win free gasoline are just some of the incentives that South Sound real-estate agents are using to entice prospective buyers in a slower housing market.

Some agents, though, are split on whether such incentives and other marketing efforts are worthwhile. Re/Max Four Seasons broker and owner Dean Stohl says the best approach for home sellers in this cooler housing climate is to think carefully about the sale.

'The most important 'non-gimmick' are sellers pricing the property competitively and making sure it is in 'tip-top' condition before putting it on the market,' he said.

Still, some agents are rolling out increasingly creative hooks to land that next sale because sales have cooled since the piping-hot years of 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, more than 4,000 houses sold in Thurston County. Through June of this year, sales have fallen more than 20 percent compared with the same period in 2007, Northwest Multiple Listing Service data show.

Tamera Strawn of Riley Jackson Real Estate is working with a Tacoma builder giving away Honda scooters for sales at The Overlook, a new 138-lot development at the top of Tumwater Hill, she said.

'We're just looking for something new and out of the box,' Strawn said about the promotion,"

Diana Crimi, who brought the issue of Yelm's Animal Shelter before the Yelm City Council and the public has resigned from the Yelm Animal Alliance saying,

"I am writing to let you all know I have made the decision to volunteer my time in dog rescue work a little closer to home [Roy] in the days to come. There are so many dogs out there that need help.

It has been a pleasure meeting and working with all of you. I know we all have worked hard and have been able to place many dogs in great homes. I also feel very good about the fact that the Yelm community now has such a fine group of people, as yourselves, to make them more aware than ever that there is a facility and organization that they can call on in the event their dog or cat is missing."

THANK YOU DIANA FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STAND AGAINST A DEFIANT CITY HALL AND IN CREATING THE YELM ANIMAL ALLIANCE!

Liquid Soul Cafe
35025 90th Ave. So. #10
Phone: 400-SOUL

The next meeting of the Yelm Animal Alliance is tonight from 6:00 - 7:00ish at Liquid Soul Cafe in McKenna.

They now have achieved the following:

1) Registered as a Non-Profit with the State of Washington
2) Registered as a Non-Profit with the IRS
3) Acquired a City of Yelm business license [as suggested by Mayor Harding]
4) Acquired a checking account.
5) Created / developed all of the necessary forms for Fostering, Adoption, etc.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. CRIMI FOR GETTING THIS UNDERWAY AND FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY STEPPING UP FOR THIS GRAND AND WORTHY CAUSE!

"Washington drivers already are experiencing pain at the pump because of higher oil prices. Soon, they could face more discomfort behind the wheel, too.

Area transportation officials say they have scaled back or delayed road projects because of the rising cost of asphalt, which is made with crude oil. Those delays could create bigger problems in the future, because the longer a road deteriorates, the more it costs to repair it.

The asphalt overlay placed on roads typically is made with sand and gravel, held together with a liquid binder called liquid asphalt that is distilled from crude oil.

The cost of a barrel of crude oil hit a record high of $147 in July but now is hovering around $120. The price of the binder has doubled this year because of both the higher price of crude oil and low production capacity.

Thurston County

In the midst of budget tightening, Thurston County has reduced the number of lane miles that receive "chip seals" from 80 to 22, and staff members are thinking about narrowing the thickness of asphalt overlays from 2 inches to 1.5 inches, said Brent Payton, the roads department operations manager.

Chip seals involve spraying liquid asphalt mixed with water, then coating it with a layer of aggregate, typically a sand-and-gravel mix. These projects preserve the road and restore its surface, costing far less than an asphalt overlay but not lasting nearly as long.

They offer good fixes for rural roads, which don't have a lot of traffic, officials say," quoting The Olympian.

YELM
[Ed. Note: Yelm continues full-steam ahead in road projects. The City Council will authorize tonight over $1million to improve Coates Road behind the Middle School. The City Council heard recently how all of its road construction projects have cost overruns. This writer certainly hopes a contingency is in-place for the Coates Road construction, so city officials do not have to keep going into reserves to pay for these overruns.]

On the City Council Agenda tonight:

"To authorize Mayor Harding to sign a contract in the amount of $900,021.17 with Wood & Son Earthwork and Utility Contractors, LLC, for the construction of the Coates Avenue NW Roadway Improvement Project.
Background

The total project cost is estimated at $1,280,000 which includes all engineering, construction, right of way acquisition, water and sewer line improvements and all environmental permitting.

... Approximately $115,977 will go to Gray & Osborne, Inc. for construction management of this project."

Ed. Note: Over $1.2 million for a 3 tenths of a mile road??? By contrast, Thurston County is reworking Bald Hill Rd. for less than $1 million per mile, some on hilly & curvy terrain.

Yelm area resident Diane D'Acuti attended the August 6th Yelm Water Planning Process Open House and filed this report:

"I attended the August 6, 2008 Water Open House at the Yelm Public Safety Building. As you are aware - the Thurston Highlands EIS has been an issue because of the many contradictions. I had attended those open houses also and written to request that an extension be given for the comment period since the EIS did not comply with the standards in that it was twice as long as mandated and was not written in "plain and concise" language.

This is what I wrote to Grant Beck [City of Yelm Community Development Director] on July 24, 2008:

Mr. Grant Beck
Director of Community Development
PO Box 479
Yelm. WA 98597

SUBJECT: Thurston Highlands EIS

Dear Mr. Beck:
According to the WAC 197-11-700 Definitions, number three states "shall" is mandatory. Therefore, the Thurston Highlands EIS is not in compliance with the standards because it is twice as long as alloted. According to 197-11-425, number four, it
states "......the EIS _shall _not exceed one hundred fifty pages." Therefore, this needs to be adjusted and at least a 60 day extension must be allotted to allow the concerned public to understand and comment. This policy is not clear and concise for the general public.

I have been attempting to carefully read this long and complex document and there are other issues of concern that need to be addressed referencing Thompson Creek, storm water, the wetland section and the proposed access to 93rd Ave.

Since the WAC has not been followed, I require that the adjustment take place and/or the minimum 60 day extension.

Diane D'Acuti

Grant Beck was at this open house [Aug. 6] so, since I had not heard any response to my email, I walked over and politely asked if he had given an extension for comments on the Highlands EIS. He simply said, "No." I asked him, "Why not?" He said, "No, you were given 45 days." I said, "Even though the EIS did not follow the state standards?" His response was that they could have gotten around that anyway by putting the information into appendixes." I asked again, "Even though it is not in clear and concise language?" He just said no again and that the information was there. I expressed that because of the length and the manner in which it was written, it was difficult to understand and having a little more time would be beneficial for the public to read this lengthy document.

The bottom line is no! No one is going to give any more time. I basically said that it seems that they [City's Development Dept.] had already made up their minds that it was going forward and it didn't matter what input they received. The best that I can determine - that is exactly what is happening. They go through the "legal" motions and already have their minds made up. I have yet to see, after inquiries, comments or questions, that any changes are made or any information is taken into consideration.

The unfortunate part of all this is that the public is not informed and most people learn of what is happening when it is too late.

Who do we go to that will listen? I know of many people who have offered their time for free to help the city and no one listens.

What do we do??????

Diane

Ed. Note: Aren't elected officials and their appointees here to serve the public they represent?
There are over 50 recorded comments [click here, then click Thurston Highlands logo on right] from the public that mostly all echo Ms. D'Acuti's remarks, yet Mr. Beck's disregard and downright disgust for the public he is supposed to serve is evident in his actions and remarks to Ms. D'Acuti.

The Yelm Comprehensive Plan specifically states that the Plan must follow the will of the community.

Why does the Community Development Director totally ignore the public in favor of developers, at every turn?

Why is the Comprehensive Plan and Yelm Vision Plan NOT being followed?

Their loud, collective chorus of silence is being joined in song by the Community Development Director's repugnance for the very public they were appointed to serve!

Have your say and leave a comment here.

UPDATE AUGUST 13:
This writer wrote to the WA. Dept. of Ecology:
"Who enforces the City of Yelm to follow the WAC on the SEPA rules about the Thurston EIS length?"

and received this response:
Mr. Klein,

The legislature has not provided a mechanism for enforcement of the State Environmental Policy Act. Compliance with SEPA is the responsibility of each state and local agency. Neither the Department of Ecology nor any other state agency attempts to police SEPA compliance by another agency.

If you have additional questions, please contact me.

Barbara Ritchie
Environmental Review and Transportation Section
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47703
Olympia WA 98504-7703
(360) 407-6932
brit461@ecy.wa.gov

Jean Handley with Yelm's Timberland Librarian Kristin Blalack
File Photo

GUEST ENTRY FROM AREA RESIDENT JEAN HANDLEY

"In this long season of campaigning I thought this quirky encounter would bring some joviality:

Doing my gig at Costco Saturday [Aug. 2] I spotted Gov. Chris Gregoire. I got up my chutzpa and introduced myself to her. She took my outstretched hand. I said, "Governor, I am Jean Handley and I am voting for JeanMarie Christenson."

I quickly went on to say, as I was on the Costco time clock, that I had been wanting to send her an email since the last winter's big storms. I told her that I like many others were glued to the radio during the outages. The only time I heard about her was days later. I told her that I believed she was behind her desk working but that she didn't show herself until the tour in Woodinville. She immediately replied that she was in Chehalis every day. I said good... you learned. Next time... get on the radio. I don't care if you are listing Red Cross shelters. People are eager to listen to leadership.

She leaned in replying, "Well said." Then I went back to work."

GUEST ENTRY FROM AREA RESIDENT MELODY RAE

"Dear Ms. Rae:

...
Thank you for contacting me regarding voter registration services to veterans. I appreciate hearing from you.

Senator Patty Murray

From Ms. Rae:
Dear Senator Murray:

Thanks for asking about Yelm. Actually we are in a battle over the Thurston Highlands project of several hundred new homes. This project appears to be being pushed through without thought to the environmental consequences of having that many new people on land that has not been proven ready to sustain that kind of a load. The environmental impact report far exceeds the page limit set forth by State law and it is not written in plain language. Those of us in the area are very concerned as we all have wells that supply the water to our homes Yet this information, so important to our lives and land, is inaccessible.
The traffic in Yelm, as you may be aware, is quite congested because new building has already advanced far beyond the capacity of our current roadways. Those involved with the Thurston Highlands project have suggested cutting through private lands for "easy access." Most of us moved out here for the quiet of the country. Others who have lived here all of their lives are watching commerce trounce their homeland.
There are many suburban type subdivisions already built here and they are not selling well. The whole idea of another one troubles the community greatly.
If this could be investigated by anyone in your office, my neighbors and I would be most grateful.

I thank you as always for your service on our behalf.

Warmest regards,
Melody Rae

The Nisqually Valley News reports,
"The 2008 Children’s School of Excellence auction netted more than $250,000, making it arguably the area’s most successful auction to date.

The most anticipated item, a one-hour private session with Ramtha, was purchased by Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment student Rebecca Capezio for $172,500.

Capezio is the granddaughter of Harry Oppenheimer, a South African businessman and former chairman of DeBeers Consolidated Mines...

Other items up for auction included a monogrammed denim jacket donated by JZ Knight. The jacket was modeled for the auction by actress and RSE student Linda Evans.

The publicity coordinator for CSE, Terri Church, won the jacket with a bid of $7,500.

A Wine of the Month Club membership netted $22,000, but a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado truck didn’t receive enough bids to sell.
[Ed. Note: A CSE spokesperson tells the Yelm Community Blog, "The NVN incorrectly stated: 'A Wine of the Month Club membership netted $22,000'. The item sold for $600 and the school netted approx. $200."].

Halfway through the auction, auctioneer Cindy Schorno, with the help of her brother, Dan Schorno, asked the audience for donations for the financial assistance program.

Each year, proceeds from the auction go to help cover operation and tuition costs for families who cannot afford the $5,500 a year to attend CSE.

Both Linda Evans and CSE founder Marjorie Layden donated the cost of a full year of tuition for one student.

Additional people donated money in $50, $100, $200, $500 and higher increments.

“People ask why we do what we do,” said Omey Nandyal, CSE board of trustees president. “It’s simple -- for the children.”

“We give them an environment. They already know that they’re kings and own the world. We keep that environment going as long as we can.”

CSE was founded in 1999. It is a Washington state approved pre-K through eighth grade, coeducational nonprofit school.

It is located in Rainier.

In comparison to the CSE auction, Yelm’s annual Dollars for Scholars auction in March raised $175,000 for scholarships."

[Ed. Note: The Dollars for Scholars auction goes to support Yelm Community Schools currently serving "more than 5,300 students in nine schools" and the K - 12 program of "Rainier School District's enrollment of 940 students, (which) makes it the smallest in Thurston County." That's almost 6,500 students served by Dollars for Scholars.

As a comparison, CSE (Children's School of Excellence) is a " Pre-K through Grade Eight, coeducational non-profit private school" located in Rainier, WA. with approximately 70 students.]

THAT THIS AREA GAVE $425,000 COMBINED FOR DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS & CSE IS HUGE AND SHOWS THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY!

WHAT SAY YOU?

Happy Birthday to my wife, sweetheart and best friend - Yael Klein!

Thurston County Council on Aging Equipment Bank

"With the consciousness on recycling and reusing things so prevalent these days, I thought I would share this with you, and your readers who may need items, or who may wish to donate items.

I've brought dozens of items to Carl over the years.
He runs an indispensable service to seniors and others requiring medical equipment," quoting a Yelm Community Blog reader.

Thurston County Council on Aging Equipment Bank

If you need medical supplies such as wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, beside commodes, canes, crutches, etc.

We may be able to provide what you need, at no charge.

If you have any such items to donate, we will make good use of them.

Contact Carl Longnecker @ 360-456-8810
We welcome your financial support
c/o Senior News
112 E 4th Ave.
Oly, WA 98501

"It's true that one person's junk is another's treasure. Thurston County has a host of organizations that will take your usable items.

[Click the hotlink below for]... a list of local organizations that would appreciate your reusable, unwanted items. Many are charitable organizations that rely on your generosity to serve their clients. Others are for-profit businesses. Call for hours and to make sure your items will be accepted. All items should be in usable condition.

If you know of other reuse organizations you think we should list, please contact the Thurston County 2good2toss website administrator," quoting the Thurston County Reusable Materials Exchange.

LD District 2 Rep. Candidate JeanMarie Christenson with Gov. Chris Gregoire

"Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered an immediate hiring freeze in state agencies this morning that is designed to save $90 million over the next fiscal year.

Gregoire’s included a clampdown on out-of-state travel, purchases of equipment and signing of personal service contracts - with exceptions made for emergencies...

The call to freeze was spurred by slowing tax collections.

'We've been watching it closely. The thing that triggered action now was the collection decrease for June … that came out in mid-July. We are seeing there is a slowdown in collections,' Kuper said [Gregoire's budget spokesman Glenn Kuper]. 'That was the primary motivation for acting now.'

Under the June forecast, the state was predicted to have $800 million in reserves at the end of the two year budget cycle on June 30, 2009. But Senate budget experts have predicted that a shortfall of $2.7 billion is developing for the 2009-11 cycle — leaving a net gap of $2 billion if the $800 million is applied. The $800 million includes money put into a special voter-approved "rainy day" fund," quoting The Olympian.

The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities reports 29 out of 50 states with budget shortfalls, Washington is not one of them.

THE CITY OF YELM SHOULD BEWARE!

Slower tax collections from lower property values on those being sold, the dried-up real estate market (slow sales reduces tax income) and retail sales tax revenue declines. While Yelm's retail sales figures are up over last year, that is mostly due to Wal-Mart and a few other businesses opening within the last year and that should be taken into account. Several high-profile businesses in Yelm have also closed. Energy prices have essentially doubled within the year and road construction costs have ballooned.

All of these things should be strongly considered as the City Council approaches the 2009 budget process this Fall!

UPDATED August 11:
* The PEW Center graded WA. with an A for performance in managing public resources.

* Gov. Gregoire's web page with a link to the Forbes article about WA being the 3rd best state in which to do business.

Olympia Regional Airport recorded an all-time record high for this date of 90 degrees today, surpassing the 89 degrees set just 15 years ago in 1993.

Yelm Kicks off Water System Planning Process

"The City of Yelm invites all residents, businesses and water utility customers to a Public Open House on Wednesday, August 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Yelm Public Safety Building, 206 McKenzie Avenue SE.

This is the first of three open houses that will give Yelm citizens and utility customers an opportunity to provide input into the development of the City’s 2009 Water System Plan

This spring [2008] the City of Yelm is kicking off two projects to help ensure that a sustainable, high quality water supply will be available for current and future residents.
The first project will define city-wide goals for water use efficiency and the second project will produce an update to the City’s 2002 Water System Plan," quoting the city's website.

As one blog reader wrote yesterday about the city pursuing more water rights, "There is something here that makes me think Thurston County well-users should go to high alert."

Another commenter wrote about the same subject, "Dori Monson wrote on this issue in Seattle:
"Dori writes...

It's the last working farm in Seattle.

Lisa Sferra's family has had the farm for generations. They raise horses and other animals there - and provide a place for children and the young at heart to ride horses right in the middle of the city.

But the Sferras may be getting taxed out of their farm. Last year, their surface water tax was $881. This year, it's more than $8,200. They used to be taxed at a flat fee - but the city is now basing the tax on parcel size.

So, to "protect the environment" with surface water management, the city may be destroying the environment by forcing this family to sell to developers who will no doubt carve up the 20 acres into several buildable lots. Much more environmentally unfriendly - but it would generate a lot of tax dollars to the city and county.

Listen to my interview [KIRO-710's Monson] with Lisa Sferra - and also you can check out the photos Phil took when he visited this urban oasis this morning," quoting Dori's Blog [scroll to August 4, Urban Farming in Seattle].

Cities pursue more water rights
Lacey, Olympia and Yelm seek to buy individual rights


"Three Thurston County cities soon could seek to buy water rights from dozens of individuals to serve their growing communities - although officials don't plan to use the rights for drinking water.

Lacey, Olympia and Yelm would place the water rights they acquire in the Deschutes River basin into trust; in other words, stop their active use. By making more water available for the river's flow from those rights, the cities then can subtract the same volume of water to serve its communities with no net effect, according to their proposal. The cities the would pump that volume of water from new wells.

On Thursday [July 24], the Lacey City Council signed an agreement to hire a consultant to negotiate the purchase of the water rights. The vote, preceded by little discussion, was 5-0. Council members Virgil Clarkson and Tom Nelson were absent.

Olympia and Yelm will take action on the agreement soon.

Last year, the cities agreed to hire a consultant, WestWater Research of Vancouver, Wash., to identify water rights in the river basin that could be used for mitigation. About 50 water rights were identified, said Peter Brooks, Lacey's water resources manager.

The cost of the new contract to negiotate any purchases will be split between the three cities and not exceed a total of $80,000, according to the agreement. The cost of the contract with WestWater was unavailable.

The cities have pending requests for new water rights before the state Department of Ecology that modeling shows would reduce the stream flow of the Deschutes River. Ecology requires the cities mitigate the effect to secure those new rights" quoting The Olympian.

MORE COMING HERE SOON ON YELM WATER!

Liquid Soul Cafe
35025 90th Ave. So. #10
Phone: 400-SOUL

My wife and I went to the Liquid Soul cafe in McKenna Thursday and had a delightful lunch.
We each ordered different things and shared from each other's entrees.

The special was a chicken quesadilla with a tortilla soup. The soup had wonderful beans and corn and a hearty stock; the quesadilla bountiful with chicken, cheese and goodies.
The second item was a chicken wrap with a tangy dipping sauce and salad with homemade dressing.

We split a blueberry scone made right there on the premises.

Liquid Soul roasts their own coffees and we bought a 1/2 pound and find this is thoroughly delightful.

They have bountiful parking, tables outside and pets are welcome!

TELL LIQUID SOUL YOU HEARD ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!