September 2009 Archives

Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Candidate Karen Valenzuela

You’re invited to meet County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela
&
Thurston County District 3 Candidate for the countywide election
Join us Friday, Oct. 2nd
7-8:30pm
Blue Bottle Café
309 E Yelm Ave.

GOV. GREGOIRE APPOINTED VALENZUELA TO FILL VACANT SEAT
"Gregoire's appointment of Valenzuela marked the end of a two-month process to find the successor for former commissioner Bob Macleod that started with the Thurston County Democratic Party, passed briefly to the two county commissioners and ended at the governor's office," quoting The Olympian last January.

VALENZUELA WAS TOP VOTE-GETTER IN AUGUST PRIMARY
"Valenzuela polled 44.5 percent of the 10,219 votes counted election night," quoting The Olympian.

VALENZUELA'S ACTION PLAN
"I have a five-point action plan that I am already at work on:

1. Bring sanity to the budget

2. Return to the letter and spirit of the growth management act

3. Confront climate change

4. Re-engage in Human Services’ partnerships

5. Work on inter-jurisdictional cooperation

Please support me this November in the special election to fill the remainder of the term to which I was appointed."

Hosted by Blue Bottle Café
& the
Yelm Community Blog

For information,
karenvalenzuela.com

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

"South Sound residents have the chance to see all of their major local candidates for the November election in one place over two consecutive nights.

The League of Women Voters of Thurston County and The Olympian are sponsoring candidate forums Wednesday and Thursday, at The Olympia Center.

Wednesday will feature candidates for Olympia City Council and the Port of Olympia Commission. Thursday brings hopefuls for the Lacey City Council, Tumwater mayor and Thurston County Commission.

The league has taped interviews with candidates in past elections, said Barb Theiss, the league’s voter services chair. But this year’s event will be live and open to the public...

There’s not much more time for campaigning. The Nov. 3 election is little more than a month away, and mail-in ballots must, by law, be mailed to voters at least 18 days before the election, according to the Thurston County Auditor’s Web site," quoting The Olympian.

NOTE: MAYOR HARDING IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED, SO THERE IS NOTHING TO DISCUSS WITH HIM SINCE THERE IS NO RACE.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN 4 YEARS AGO AND THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, MAYOR HARDING HAS NEVER HELD A TOWN HALL PUBLIC FORUM. HE HAS ONLY ALLOWED THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT CITY ISSUES DURING A CITY COUNCIL SESSION, AND LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES UNLESS ON A PRESSING ISSUE - LIKE THE RECENT WATER BILL INCREASES.

TWO CANDIDATES ARE ALSO RUNNING FOR THE SAME VACATING YELM CITY COUNCIL SEAT AND YOU WILL NOT HEAR THEIR VIEWS AT THE CANDIDATE FORUMS, EITHER!

UPDATE - OCTOBER 2ND, 2009
Yelm City Council Candidate Jennifer Littlefield tells the Yelm Community Blog she "agreed to appear for the forum; however, my opponent either wouldn't or couldn't appear, so the League canceled our forum date. They have a no "empty chair" policy and don't do forums for single candidates. I just wanted to clarify that point as your statement implied an unwillingness to participate."

WILCOX FARMS EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

October 2 - 3
Friday - Saturday
Pacific Harbor Boy Scout Family Camp

The Century old Wilcox Farms is hosting a free Scout family camp. Scouts and their families are welcome to camp at the historical Wilcox family farmyard. Families are welcome to bring RVs and tents. The farm has a on-site RV dump station and water with limited bathrooms. Feel free to show up anytime Friday Oct 2nd and stay through the weekend. There are trails and museums to tour as well as our annual Oct 3rd Harvest fest. All free of charge.

October 3
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Harvest Fest and Organic Event

Join us for Harvest Fest 2009 at the Farm. Free Fun for All Ages. Nestled in the beautiful Nisqually River Valley, Wilcox Family Farms has been raising chickens for 100 years. Come and celebrate the traditions of family farming with us, at HarvestFest 2009.

Wilcox Farms Inc.
40400 Harts Lake Valley Rd.
Roy, WA 98580
360.458.7774

Senator Randi Becker
Photo from Senator Becker's Legislative website

Did you know about Senator Randi Becker's "new 2nd District Online Government Guide, which contains contact information (phone numbers, addresses and e-mail addresses) for national, state and local officials? It also has information for police and fire, emergency services, libraries, schools, parks, and voter registration in our district. Now, getting involved is even easier!


From Senator Becker,
“This is truly a valuable resource for the citizens of my district, especially at a time when more and more people are getting involved by contacting their elected officials,” Becker said. “If people are as concerned as I am about some of the decisions our representatives have made or are considering, this guide will definitely point them in the right direction.”

“Unlike in previous years, this government guide will not be mailed to homes and businesses in our district,” Becker said. “This is an unprecedented budget crisis in Washington, and it has led to a number of tough financial decisions. Because of that, I don’t feel that mass-mailing this guide is a good use of the public’s tax dollars. In fact, I’m trying to find ways here in the Legislature to help you keep as much of your money as possible.”

When the 2009 legislative session ended in April, lawmakers weren’t able to sufficiently close the ever-widening budget gap. As a result, Becker says, the state will be faced with making even more tough decisions when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2010.

"I’ve included the news release below, which contains links to access the new Government Guide. You can print it out at home if you like, or you can always find it on my website, www.SenateRepublicans.wa.gov/Becker. I’ll be updating it as changes warrant. I hope you find it useful and informative."

As always, feel free to contact me with your questions, comments or concerns. It’s truly a privilege serving as your state senator, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Randi Becker
2nd District State Senator
(360) 786-7602

Sen. Randi Becker represents the 2nd Legislative District, which includes Eatonville; Yelm; Rainier; Roy; Orting; Wilkeson; Carbonado; Lacey; Puyallup; Graham; Spanaway; part of Fort Lewis; and beautiful Mount Rainier.

For more information contact Erich R. Ebel at (360) 786-7395 or ebel.erich@leg.wa.gov.
Please visit our Web site at www.SenateRepublicans.wa.gov and follow our updates on Twitter.
NewsFeedsub Podcastsub Vodcastsub

"The natural features that make Washington uniquely beautiful also make the state especially vulnerable to climate change...

But an increase of 1.5 degrees in the state's average daily temperature between 1900 and 2000 in Washington has contributed to a 30 percent decline in the spring snowpack in the lower Cascades and a similar decline in summer stream flows in several sensitive river basins.

Global climate models suggest the average annual temperature in the state will continue to climb about 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit each decade over the next 50 years, leading to milder winters, hotter summers, less water, more wildfires and drought, loss of hydropower and diminished summer water supplies, according to a 2008 climate change report issued by the state Department of Ecology.

'It's more than climate change; it's climate chaos,' Janice Adair, an Ecology climate-change specialist, said.

Take the iconic Puget Sound. Cities that have grown to the water's edge, including Olympia, will be susceptible to sea-level rise, which is predicted to be 6 inches by 2050 and 14 inches by 2100, according to a 2008 study by the University of Washington's Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Group.

Nowhere is the problem more acute than South Sound because the high tides are higher at the southern end of Puget Sound, noted Philip Mote, a UW research scientist.

Previous studies by the city of Olympia predict that it would take a sea-level rise of 3 feet to flood most of downtown during the one or two extreme high tides each year. But the more likely 1-foot elevation in sea level would be enough during extreme high tides to create pools of water on some city streets and flood low-lying buildings on the Port of Olympia peninsula and other areas built on fill.

The projected floods from sea-level rise almost mimic the original shoreline of the city before the filling occurred, city Public Works Director Michael Mucha said.

Sea-level rise is starting to factor in to decision-making on city projects such as the reconstruction of Percival Landing and the new City Hall, Mucha said," quoting The Olympian.

Sandra Romero

You’re invited to coffee with County Commissioner Sandra Romero

"This month’s coffee will focus on Thurston County’s noxious weeds with special guest Noxious Weeds Coordinator, Rick Johnson. Noxious weeds threaten public health, the environment, wildlife habitat, native plants, agriculture areas, and recreational areas. Thurston County Noxious Weed Control is monitoring for 36 species of noxious weeds which are targeted for control out of a list of 86 designated by the State of Washington.

'The Noxious Weed program has support available to members of the public that I’d like to share, including: educational presentations, plant identification, DVD's, videos, informational brochures and pamphlets.' said Commissioner Sandra Romero," quoting the e-mailer.

Join us Monday, September 28th
10am - 11am
Blue Bottle Café
309 E Yelm Ave., Yelm

Please join Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero as she hosts an informal coffee hour. There is a lot happening in Thurston County, and we want to hear from you. Commissioner Romero provides complimentary coffee to participants, that she pays for personally. These coffees give you the opportunity to talk about issues of concern, ask Commissioner Romero questions about the county, and share ideas. She is the representative of District 2, which includes Yelm, Lacey, and Rainier.

If you have any questions contact:
Lisa Paribello at 360-786-5747 or paribel@co.thurston.wa.us

The Yelm City Council received an earful for over one half-hour on September 22nd from local citizens about the water rate increases. Since there was virtually no business on the Agenda (Special Presentation delayed & the Ordinance 910 vote continued until Sept. 25), Mayor Harding allowed the 15 minute Public Comment session to be extended. All of the speakers were City of Yelm residents. Mayor Harding fielded the responses to these comments:

1. Deanna Davis
Ms. Davis said she recognized the huge increase when she received her last water bill of $377 for one month, saying, "I consider that outrageous!"
She said she was a caregiver in Olympia and her water usage is quite minimal, outside of watering her plants. She has been in Yelm 11 years and added, "I really feel these rates are not just high, they're outrageous. I really don't know how the average family can feed themselves with these rates. I would really like to know more as to why we're paying so much. My previous bill was $94."
Ms. Davis stated she went to City Hall to seek some information and was told the rates were necessary to provide infrastructure, adding "You had to move the wells. When is the next water increase going to be?"
Mayor Harding asked her if she thinks that there is a discrepancy in what she has been using.
Ms. Davis said she is using more, but not THAT much more (a four-fold increase).
Council member Isom asked if she has a sprinkler. Ms. Davis said, no; she waters by hand. She continued saying City Hall told her this rate increase was all about moving the wells (out to the SW Annex - Thurston Highlands).
The Mayor said he could not answer the issue in just 2-3 minutes and invited her to stay after.

2. Frank Jones (husband of Sept. 8th public speaker Jackie Keys-Jones)
Mr. Jones came up with a stack of printed documents well over one foot thick -- 1,500 pages of the Draft water System Plan.
He told the Mayor & Council that usage aside, he is no longer buying their answers vs. what the Plan identifies. He said he works for the U. S. Army and his job is to look at infrastructure, find flaws and fix them.
Quoting Mr. Jones, "Your usage problem is incorrect! There is no way all of these people are using this volume of water."
Mayor Harding said they're checking meters in Mr. Jones's neighborhood. He made an offer for Mr Jones to come in for a personal, one hour presentation on the Draft Water System Plan. Mr. Jones said he is being shipped out for deployment for a year on Sept. 24th, however his wife will keep informed on this matter.

Mr. Jones asked, "If this IS only a Draft (Water System Plan), and not finalized yet, why is there a rate increase? I have already turned away people from moving to this city (because of the high water bills here)."
He also mentioned that he believed the city is paying for Thurston Highlands' bankruptcy relating to water issues.
He continued, "I had the Army Corps of Engineers look into this Draft Plan and I want to share the flaws they found according to WA. State Code."
The Mayor said the Yelm Water Committee will look into the rates and he'd like to see the information from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Mr. Jones mentioned one flaw they found MAY be with the computer program the city employs relating to rate software.
Mr, Jones closed by saying, "I have not been shown the benefit to me, of this Water Plan."


3. The lady that is the neighbor and spoke with Mrs. Keys-Jones on Sept. 8th returned and said that when municipalities do not have a meter sealer & weight/balances person, then the jurisdiction on rates falls to the State of WA. and the city themselves cannot raise rates.
City Administrator Badger said the city's employees are qualified and what was cited is not so in the State of WA.
The lady said, "I differ with you." She said that when the City of Yelm starts to take away her income as a senior citizen, that's when she takes notice, gets educated and stands up to this.

Council member Don Miller suggested the city should investigate the purchase of the water meters (quality).
In audience was City Council candidate Tracey Wood.

Ed. Note: These people who dared to speak up were not Steve Klein Blog Host, RSE students or county residents - these were ALL City of Yelm residents and taxpayers. This Blogger predicted that when the water rate payers got their stomach-punch with the new rates back in early June, they would hopefully speak-up. I believe this is the tip of the iceberg and the city has finally shot themselves in the foot with their own constituents.
The 69% water rate increase is mostly to fund infrastructure needed to support an MPC (Master Planned Community) as stated in the Draft Water System Plan, namely the now-defunct Thurston Highlands. If the developers are gone [defaulted], why is infrastructure proposed to support a choice of three wells on that property still in the Draft Water System Plan? HMMM!

HOPEFULLY, MORE CITIZENS WILL DARE TO SPEAK UP AND TELL THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE 2ND & 4TH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7PM AT THE YELM PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING!

SEE THE FULL COMMENTS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE
click "Agenda/Notices", then click "Meeting Video", then 9/22/2009.

Playcting is Back!
Theater classes for young people age 7-12 taught by Nancy Hillman, former artistic director of the Drew Harvey Theater.
Is your child shy or bold? Tentative or outgoing? There is room for all.
Performance classes include basic training in acting, singing and theater movement.
Playacting's series of six week sessions will transform your youngster into a more confident and self-expressive person.
End of term presentation for friends and relatives make it fun for the entire family.

WHERE: At the Center for the Creative Arts in Rainier.
302 Binghampton St., Rainier
WHEN: Saturday Afternoons from 1-5pm
Sept. 26 through Nov. 7
HOW: Call Nancy Hillman (360-446-2188) or
Cari (360-458-1311) to Register
or e-mail Imnakomah@aol.com

COST: $150 FOR THE SIX WEEK SESSION

RE: Killion LID Bond 2, 2009

The Yelm City Council voted a continuance last night awaiting an answer from the USDA as outlined in this Staff Report:

"Ordinance 910, authorizing the issuance and sale of a local improvement district No. 2 bond in the principal amount of $10,139,000, providing the form, terms, conditions and covenants of said bond, providing for the sale thereof, and providing for the disposition of the proceeds of the sale.

The proposed Ordinance and staff recommendation assumes that USDA Rural Development Agency has approved a loan guarantee and Thurston First Bank is therefore willing to make the loan. If either of these conditions does not come about prior to the City Council meeting on September 22nd, the Council should not adopt Ordinance 910.

The City Council created Local Improvement District No. 2 (Killion Road LID) by Ordinance No. 847 on June 14, 2006. The Council confirmed the assessment roll for the District in the manner required by law in the amount of $10,487,000 on May 12, 2009, by Ordinance No. 903. Of the total assessment roll, $347,383 was prepaid by property owners within the LID boundaries.

It is now necessary that the City issue its Local Improvement District No. 2 Bond in the amount of $10,139,000, which is the amount of assessments unpaid.

The bond underwriter for the City has attempted to market standard LID bonds, but has failed to place these bonds due to current economic conditions and the foreclosure of the Thurston Highlands property coupled with the pending bankruptcy proceeds by the developer of Thurston Highlands.

Thurston First Bank has offered to purchase the 17 year bond at an interest rate of 8.52% with a maturity date of September 1, 2026. Conditions of the purchase of the bond include maintaining a guarantee fund of 10% of the outstanding principal. A condition of this offer is that the loan be guaranteed in the amount of 90% by the USDA Rural Development Agency. The application to USDA has been made and approved at the State level and has been submitted to Washington D.C. for final approval....

The adoption of Ordinance 910 effectively accepts a loan from Thurston First Bank in the amount of $10,139,000, which will be used to repay the Bond Anticipation Notes used to finance the construction of the Killion Road LID, along with financing costs."

UPDATE:
The City of Yelm has not heard from the USDA and has continued the September 22nd Council meeting until 4pm Friday, September 25th to record whether the USA will guarantee the Thurston First Bank loan, or not.

UPDATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
The USDA Rural Development Dept. approved the federal government guaranteeing the Thurston First Bank loan to fund this LID.
The unsaleable city bonds had only one bank show any desire to loan the city money for this, and that was Thurston First Bank. Thurston First will purchase the bond at 8.52% for 17-years to pay it off.
The City Council will approve Ordinance 910 at 4pm on September 25th in their continued Council session.

This writer submitted this letter to the City Council for the official record of the September 22, 2009 Yelm City Council Meeting:

Dear Mayor Harding, Yelm City Council members, City Administrator Badger & Community Development Dir. Beck,

Regarding: Ordinance 910 Local Improvement District No. 2 Bond, 2009
on the agenda for your vote Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The public has not been privy to your Executive Session discussions about real estate acquisitions,
so I am writing without full knowledge of all that you know and which is not known by the public.
However, were I in your shoes, I would want a 'due diligence' performed on the following questions
before I considered a vote on ordinance 910 this Tuesday:

1. Yelm Community and Government Relations Coordinator Teixeira wrote me the following last Friday [9/18/09] in response to my questions:

Ordinance 903, as stated in the staff report, is the ordinance which directly affected the property owners was the one that formed the Local Improvement District. The city has been in communication with the property owners throughout the LID process. Final assessments were mailed out several months ago.

Ordinance 910 is a financing mechanism and allows for assessment payments from the LID property owners to be made over time. So to answer your question, no, the property owners were not personally notified about Ordinance 910.

As of Thursday, September 17, the Thurston Highlands parcels (associated with the L. I. D., parcels that will provide tax funding will be over 50% of the LID) were in default and have shown no owner change as of yet.
- While City Ordinance 903 (which formed the Local Improvement District) was attached to the affected Highlands parcels in May, 2009 along with the other lien holders, wouldn't you want to know if the City of Yelm is entering into a conflict of interest in moving forward with this Bond, since the subsequent, new Highlands property owners were not involved in the Public Hearing on the LID held at the May 12, 2009 Council Meeting as recorded on the official Minutes?

- Wouldn't you want to ask if the city is not being considerate of new property owners in moving ahead with this Bond without their input, all while these properties fates remain unknown?
After all, the City's first obligation is to recoup the unpaid taxes & fees first in any transaction that resolves the properties default.

- To summarize:
Should the city be entering into & isn't this a conflict of interest for the City of Yelm to be moving forward with a Bond, when the unpaid taxes have not been recouped, the fate of the property still remains undetermined and the new owners not consulted about the Bond (which assesses their LID payments), except for attaching Ordinance 903 to the parcels involved in the L. I. D.?
- Is moving forward on this Bond improper without notifying those L. I. D property owners about their payment assessments?
- How would you feel if YOU were one of these property owners and the city did not notify you about your L. I. D. payment assessments?

2. Mike Edwards spoke on-the-record at the May 24, 2006 Yelm City Council Meeting in support of the creation of the L. I. D.
According to the city's official Minutes of that meeting, Mr. Edwards stated, "...he is part of a pioneer family in Yelm since 1852 and owner of 26 acres on the assessment list."
- Wouldn't you want to know if there is any conflict of interest on the part of Thurston First Bank in making the loan, since Edwards is on the Board of Directors of Thurston First and in particular, that would reflect poorly on the City of Yelm for not following through with proper due diligence in vetting this issue?
So, the key question would be:
- Is Mike Edwards still an investor, partner or owner of parcels/property in the Killion Rd. LID that would be a direct beneficiary of this Ordinance.
If so, Thurston First Bank should recuse themselves from making this loan?

UPDATE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
Slam dunk!
The vote passes & the federal taxpayer is now guarantor to a project that was supposed to be over 50% Thurston Highlands/Tahoma Terra developer financed. Congratulations to all of you taxpayers!

UPDATE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009
The 8 acre parcel fronting Yelm Ave West across and behind Rosemont in the LID is owned by Hallamer Investments, LLC. with an address of:
920 E BAY DR NE APT 3D301
OLYMPIA, WA, 98506
The phone number listed has been disconnected.

Care to take a guess at who owns the aforementioned Hallamer Investments, LLC. property for $64,000?
B-I-N-G-O!
Thurston County Assessors data says none other than MICHAEL DWAINE EDWARDS!
Johnny, what do we have for today's winner on who is benefiting from the Yelm LID?

"More than two years after right-of-way acquisition was completed, construction is underway on the connector to 103rd Avenue from Wal-Mart...

When the city approved the construction of Wal-Mart, the superstore was required to build the connector.

One of the stipulations was that the connector had to be built 18 months after right-of-way was purchased, Beck said.

Right-of-way acquisition was completed in July 2007.

The permit process to allow Wal-Mart to start construction on the connector was completed in December 2008.

Construction was originally slated to begin late March or early April.

Delays to the permit process were cited as reasons for the hold-up.
[Beck finally admitted contacting WSDOT on September 4, 2008 about the permit, which was to be issued by mid Sept., 2008, as reported in the NVN November 23rd, 2008, though the NVN omits telling you that in this story! Why did Beck wait to call WSDOT in September, 2008 and not earlier in the year; his call coming two months before the MDNS required the connector to be built by November 22, 2008? Why didn't the NVN ask this question for this story? HMMM!]

The city was going to negotiate the right-of-way purchase, but the Washington State Department of Transportation took the lead, Beck said.
[Ed. Note: Don't let THIS sentence fool you in this story! This is Mr. Beck mixing "apples with grapefruits" to keep the public & the NVN readers in the dark, as is his modus-operandi, IMHO! "Right-of-way acquisition was completed in July 2007" and had nothing to do with the construction delay.]...

The road will add to the mini loop project, connecting to 103rd Avenue...

Once the Yelm Bypass is constructed, the connector will be ripped out and replaced to become part of the bypass," quoting the NVN...

[Ed. Note: Don't expect a Phase 2 Bypass anytime soon that comes to Wal-Mart's door though. The city requested WSDOT divert engineering & right-of-way acquisition funding from the Wal-Mart end Phase 2 of the road to the Yelm High School Bypass 1.1 mile Phase 1, so construction there could begin. There is no funding now for Phase 2 and the Governor has postponed any funding in the budget for Phase 2 until the 2021-2023 biennium. With the state's shortfall of $238,000,000, I would not look for funding anytime soon for a Bypass at Wal-Mart's door, a Bypass that was required within 7 years of Wal-Mart's opening to give Wal-Mart approval for opening here.]

The RAINIER FOOD BANK can use your over-abundance of garden vegetables, fruits and other food donations.
The Food Bank serves approximately 100 families each week.

Open: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
207 Centre St., Rainier

For more information go to this website:
http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/FoodBank.html

You are invited to:

Yelm Veterinary Hospital's
PET FAIR & OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, September 20th
10am - 2pm
1120 Yelm Ave. W.

"Numerous Vendors for pet products and services. Exhibitions in canine obedience, field trails, flyball, herding and breed showcase. Per information booths, Door prizes and drawings! Come get behind the scenes of the veterinary hospital.
Facepainting for the kids!" quoting their flier.

UPDATE: September 21, 2009
The Olympian was here for the Pet Fair as reported in their September 21st editions:
"First Pet Fair kicks off in Yelm"
"animals: Organizers work to promote happy companions"

"Venture Financial Group’s board of directors say they will evaluate options for winding down the company and also plan to contact creditors about distributing remaining assets, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this week.
Venture Financial is the former bank-holding company for Venture Bank, the 30-year-old community bank that was closed by state and federal regulators and sold to First-Citizens Bank and Trust Co. of North Carolina last week. First Citizens bought only the bank and not the bank-holding company, but the bank apparently is not the only asset owned by Venture Financial, according to Thursday’s SEC filing.

The filing shows that Venture Financial has assets of $2.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and liabilities of nearly $30 million. The company liabilities are $22.7 million in junior subordinated debt, accrued and unpaid interest of $800,000 and “known contractual and other obligations of approximately $6 million,” according to the filing...

On Friday [Sept. 18], investor Jim Slopak of Yelm, said he lost at least $8,000. Slopak, 67, said he and his wife invested the money in 1997 into Prairie Security Bank, a bank later acquired by an early version of Venture Bank called First Community Bank. First Community changed its name to Venture Bank in 2003.

Slopak said he and his wife occasionally received dividend checks, but he didn’t have a clear idea of how his investment had changed in value over the years. Shares in Venture were traded through a transfer agent and were not available through a public stock exchange.

“I never received anything that said (the investment) is worth X amount of dollars,” Slopak said, although he does recall receiving letters that there was more stock available to buy. Ellen Munson of Lacey said she lost her investment in the bank and company, an investment that at one time was valued at about $42,000.

Since Venture Bank’s closure, Slopak has called Venture Financial’s investor relations telephone number three times without response, he said. First Citizens Bank spokeswoman Barbara Thompson also referred The Olympian to the same phone number to get questions answered about Venture Financial Group.

Slopak says his next step is to write off his investment loss on his income taxes. 'That’s all I can do,' he said. 'They go out of business and you’re left holding the bag,'” quoting The Olympian.

County property values fall $1.24 billion
Assessments: Many homeowners will get revaluation notices

"The total assessed value of real property in Thurston County dropped by more than $1 billion as the malaise afflicting the housing market took firm hold this year.

The Thurston County Assessor’s Office will mail out revaluation notices today to about 122,500 property owners who saw a change in the value of their property. The assessment is one factor used to determine the amount of taxes property owners must pay next year. The deadline for appeals is Oct. 20," quoting The Olympian.

Revenue forecast shows $238 million drop; special session unlikely

"Revenue forecaster Arun Raha of the Office of the Economic and Revenue Forecast repeated his view today that the recession appears over, but that state revenues will be lower than he expected in June...

His new September report says revenue collections through June 30 were $6.8 million less than expected in his June forecast. It goes on to make another $230.9 million downward adjustment in the expected level of revenue through June 2011, pegging that at $29.6 billion for the two-year budget period...

The new revenue numbers mean that the state will be $200 million in the red by June 2011, even with the state's Rainy Day fund money used to balance books. Moore said the state would need about $750 million to $1 billion in new revenue to bring the state out of red ink and to an appropriate level of finances, but he did not call for raising revenues," quoting The Olympian.

WITH THE STATE REVENUES DROPPING, WHEN WILL WE HEAR ABOUT MORE REVENUE DROPS FOR THE CITY OF YELM, TOO?

Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Candidate Karen Valenzuela

You’re invited to meet County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela
&
Thurston County District 3 Candidate for the countywide election
Join us Friday, Oct. 2nd
7-8:30pm
Blue Bottle Café
309 E Yelm Ave.

GOV. GREGOIRE APPOINTED VALENZUELA TO FILL VACANT SEAT
"Gregoire's appointment of Valenzuela marked the end of a two-month process to find the successor for former commissioner Bob Macleod that started with the Thurston County Democratic Party, passed briefly to the two county commissioners and ended at the governor's office," quoting The Olympian last January.

VALENZUELA WAS TOP VOTE-GETTER IN AUGUST PRIMARY
"Valenzuela polled 44.5 percent of the 10,219 votes counted election night," quoting The Olympian.

VALENZUELA'S ACTION PLAN
"I have a five-point action plan that I am already at work on:

1. Bring sanity to the budget

2. Return to the letter and spirit of the growth management act

3. Confront climate change

4. Re-engage in Human Services’ partnerships

5. Work on inter-jurisdictional cooperation

Please support me this November in the special election to fill the remainder of the term to which I was appointed."

Hosted by Blue Bottle Café
& the
Yelm Community Blog

For information,
karenvalenzuela.com

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

"Others want to know how stockholders will be affected.

Investor Tom Lloyd of Olympia, a banker for 44 years who worked for First Community Bank before it evolved into Venture Bank, wondered Tuesday [Sept. 15] what happened to his stock in Venture Financial Group. A spokesperson for Venture Financial could not be reached.

First Citizens did not acquire Venture Financial, the bank-holding company for Venture Bank, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. regulates only banks and not bank-holding companies. Bank-holding companies are regulated by the Federal Reserve.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, once a bank closes, the bank-holding company ceases to exist as a bank-holding company, although it does exist as a regular corporation. If the corporation has assets and liabilities to pay, it can voluntarily or involuntarily file for bankruptcy protection," quoting The Olympian.

"FATE OF VENTURE FINANCIAL REMAINS UNCLEAR"
From the Business Examiner

Dispatch reporter Bruce Smith
Photo courtesy of Guustaaf Damave

This story was filed by Bruce Smith of the South Pierce County Dispatch:

Embracing the notion that safety is the best medicine, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) is partnering with school districts county-wide to develop an immunization program against the swine flu virus for all students, teachers and staff. Contingency plans are also being developed for inoculating younger children and family members, and even expanding the program to include the general public.

"A world-wide flu pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization," Joby Winans, spokesperson for the Health Department announced last week. Winans said that this Level 6 alert reflected the novel, unpredictable nature of the H1N1 virus, and its demonstrated ability to easily infect millions of people worldwide.

"However, the H1N1 swine flu virus has not intensified in the Southern Hemisphere during their winter months," Winans stressed, "and it is certainly not comparable to the deadly 1919 world pandemic."

Winans said that the H1N1 swine flu virus visited the Puget Sound region last spring, with an impact no different than a regular, seasonal flu.

"Thirty-two people were hospitalized in Pierce County last spring with swine flu, and four of them died," Winans said. "That's compared to 36,000 deaths nation-wide from regular flu, annually."

In response, the TPCHD conducted summer planning sessions with school officials to prepare for the anticipated return of the swine flu.

Krista Carlson, Bethel's Communication Director, said the district is considering multiple options, such as sending students and staff to an authorized vaccination center, or allowing immunizations to be administered at school sites.

Evening and weekend hours are also being considered so that the program can include families and local communities.

In addition, Winans said that workplace vaccinations are another possibility.However, she said that all inoculations will be voluntary.

The swine flu vaccination will be given in a two-step process with a 21 to 28-day interim.

Carlson said, "Three flu shots are recommended this year. One vaccine is needed for the regular seasonal flu and two more are necessary to protect against the H1N1 virus."

Winans said that TPCHD will fund the vaccinations via a federal stimulus grant, but they have requested school districts provide at least a portion of their nursing staff to assist in administering the vaccinations.

Carlson said the inoculations will be delivered by injection, or inhalation of a "flu mist."

One of the novelties of the H1N1 swine flu virus is that it impacts younger people & children as young as 6 months and especially targets young adults up to 24 years.

Winans said she expects her department to launch its immunization program by the end of October."

Printed here in-full with permission.

Some great, FREE, workshops for businesses are coming up.
Two Upcoming Workshops Outline the Benefits of Sustainable Business Practices


1. “Energy and Transportation - Green Business Practices”

Wednesday, September 16
7:30-9:00am
Puget Sound Energy
2711 Pacific Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Representatives from Puget Sound Energy and Intercity Transit will focus on how and why your decisions about energy and transportation choices can further your sustainable business plans.

To register visit www.ThurstonChamber.com/green or call (360) 357-3362.

2. “The Benefits of Buying and Selling Green”
Wednesday, October 21
7:30-9:00am
Puget Sound Energy
2711 Pacific Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Representatives from Thurston County, Providence Health & Services, and The Artisans Group will outline the benefits of buying and selling sustainable products, including cost savings, environmental benefit, and new selling opportunities.

To register visit www.ThurstonChamber.com/green or call (360) 357-3362.

Thurston Green Business
Thurston Green Business is a Partnership Program Between the Thurston County Chamber, the City of Lacey, the City of Olympia and Thurston County. Program sponsors include LeMay, Inc., Puget Sound Energy, Olympia Federal Savings, LOTT Alliance, and Intercity Transit.

SEE THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG'S STORY ON THE VENTURE BANK FAILURE FROM LAST SATURDAY
including information from the FDIC and warnings earlier this year about Venture Bank's deterioration.
Click here

"As for the status of Venture Financial Group Inc., the company that owned Venture Bank, she [First Citizens, Venture Bank's new owners' spokeswoman Barbara Thompson]. She also said Arneson [Venture Bank President and Chief Executive Jim Arneson] no longer is with the bank. As for the status of Venture Financial Group Inc., the company that owned Venture Bank, she said said she couldn’t say because First Citizens acquired only Venture Bank. She also had no information about Venture Financial Chairman Ken Parsons Sr. or how Venture stockholders might be affected by the bank sale...

Parsons [Venture Financial Chairman Ken Parsons Sr] is the chairman of the board of trustees at Saint Martin’s University, Arneson is on the board at the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce, and Joseph Beaulieu, vice president of marketing at Venture, is the board president for the Thurston County Economic Development Council. It was not clear Sunday whether they would continue to serve in those roles...

"Yerrington [South Sound Bank President and CEO Dan Yerrington], a longtime South Sound banker, added that when Venture Bank closed, it felt like 'a death in the family,'" quoting today's Olympian.

ED. NOTE:
I have the same sentiments as Mr. Yerrington. I moved here 21 years ago this week from San Francisco and found two Washington State-based bank branches in Yelm; Prairie Security Bank and Puget Sound Bank. First Community Bank opened a branch here in the mid-1990's. Puget Sound Bank was subsequently purchased by Ohio-based Key Bank. First Community Bank [Venture's previous name] acquired Prairie Security Bank in 1997. Now, another Yelm bank branch [Venture] is owned by a national conglomerate, leaving Timberland Bank with the only Washington State-based bank branch left in Yelm.
My Letter to then-Venture Bank President in July, 2004

Then I wrote this on Kleiner's Korner March 7, 2005:
"OF LOCAL NOTE
This writer mentioned to KK readers last year that he was closing his Venture Bank (Yelm) account because of the bank president's stand on moving forward with a proposal to attract a NASCAR track to Yelm as a private venture yet including no public input, with the opening lines of the proposal saying they represented the community. The lack of regard for the public in this action was a travesty to the very taxpayers that would foot the price tag, in this writer's opinion. This was the only way I felt I could get this man's attention. Now comes word that the Venture Bank Board has fired Jon Jones for what was called a "lack of confidence in his (Jones') decision-making," which is consistent with his lack of judgment in his NASCAR proposal. I went in to reopen an account at Venture last week as I felt this issue was complete, where I was informed Mr. Jones had previously been released from his post [for having an affair against company policy with a management executive], as reported in The Olympian. Ah, timing!"
The Seattle Times link on Mr. Jones firing.

UPDATE
Venture acknowledges 'little hope'
"In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission today, Venture Financial Group Inc., the holding company for the former Venture Bank, reported that its board of directors will be discussing soon a winding down of the corporate affairs.

The holding company lost most of its assets when state regulators closed the bank last Friday [Sept. 11] and federal bank overseers sold it to First-Citizens Bank and Trust of North Carolina...

Shareholders this week received their own letter from Venture Financial, suggesting that they make plans with their personal investment advisors to realize a total loss of their investment in common stock issued by Venture Financial," quoting the Business Examiner.

UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 18TH
"'We believe all value in the shares of the parent company, Venture Financial Group, has been irretrievably lost,' said Venture Chairman Ken F. Parsons, Sr. in a Sept. 12 letter to its shareholders.

'The corporation is insolvent and is unable to file financial reports for the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.'

The Washington Department of Financial Institutions closed the bank, citing “inadequate capital and severe loan losses.”

'We recommend you consult your tax advisor to determine how this loss may impact you,' the Venture letter said, quoting the NVN.

Ed. Note: Had not even filed a financial report for fiscal 2008? HMMM!

UPDATE: JANUARY 9, 2010
"$50K average loss, says Venture suit"
"Courts: Unnecessarily risky investments alleged"
"About 250 Venture Financial Group employees who were invested in retirement plans that held company stock lost an average of nearly $50,000 each during a key period before Venture Financial's primary asset, Venture Bank, closed.

That’s according to Andrew Volk, an attorney at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, the Seattle-based law firm that filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court last month on behalf of employees against Venture Financial Group and its former directors...

Since the filing, some directors have acknowledged receiving the lawsuit, Volk said. They are A. Richard Panowicz, Catherine Mosby, Patricia Graves, Keith Brewe, Sandra Sager and Larry Schorno. Those pending are Ken Parsons Sr., Jim Arneson, Lowell Bridges, Linda Buckner, Patrick Martin and Jewell Manspeaker," quoting The Olympian.

Photos of Ms. Evans from the mid-80's TV hit series Dynasty & today courtesy of ABC News

"Linda Evans Reflects on Her 'Dynasty' Days"
"The Former Actress Traded in Beverly Hills for the Wilderness of Washington State"

Opens up about her life on ABC News Good Morning America program
CLICK HERE for that interview.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG BREAKS THIS LOCAL STORY!
The Yelm Food Co-op held their Annual Member Meeting on September 13th where Co-op Board President Tom Dewell shared with the members what the Co-op has been up to in the last 12 months, including and not limited to:
* The Co-op has been reaching new sales levels! Mr. Dewell detailed those numbers.
* Introduced the Yelm Food Co-op volunteers.
* How the Yelm Food Co-op got a ruling on some tax issues with the IRS and succeeded.
* The Co-op's plans for penetrating Cyberspace to bring customers around the world new and exciting products!
* The newly voted and installed Co-op Board of Directors:
Lesley Valentine
Dr. Suzan Seelye
Susan Meyer
all voted unanimously!
* Annual Co-op member Organic Turkey Raffle!

A brief history was presented: The Yelm Food-Co-op officially opened April 28, 2007. From zero to almost 1/2 million dollars in sales in 2 1/2 years is very encouraging! Mayor Harding cut the ribbon on their grand opening.

The Board, members, staff and volunteers brought their experience, people skills, creativity and business sense in discussion on these issues at their annual meeting at the Yelm Senior Multi-purpose Center.

The Yelm Food Co-op needs people who can help with:
- marketing and advertising
- the online store
- inventory and stock control
- staffing coordination
- receiving stock orders
- stocking
- cashiering
- department management
- and much, much more.....
Cooperatives only exist due to their Members!

CONGRATULATIONS to outgoing Yelm Food Co-op President Tom Dewell for his vision, persistence & passion in creating and seeing our Co-op go from a mere dream to what he announced as a 2009 $435,000 projected revenue producing entity (compared with $388,000 total revenue in 2008), 13% above 2008 figures if the Co-op just maintains 2008 sales in the last quarter of 2009. And, that is in a contracting economic environment!
Mr. Dewell dedicated the Co-op's success to:
- members
- volunteers
- inspired customers
- grand variety of products not obtainable anywhere else in Yelm

Mr. Dewell also acknowledged,
Gloria Winnick, Secretary

Florence Vincent, store manager & buyer

Ektara Jarecki, Member of the Board

Iris Moore, Member of the Board

Tom told this to the Yelm Community Blog of his experiecne:
"Having been part of a start-up business before, I had promised myself not to ever do it again. But somehow, the idea of the Co-op got under my skin and things just evolved to a major commitment. Both my wife Jutta and I had been shopping at the Olympia Co-op and the idea of having something similar here was very appealing which is why we both got involved.
What has made the last 3 years so interesting is how we have taken a very diverse group of people who were for the better part of that time, unpaid volunteers, and pulled together as a team all striving for the same goal. As I said at the meeting, our success is due to three groups: the founders who had the vision and the courage to pursue it; the volunteers whose hard work and dedication took it from vision to reality; and our wonderful customers who were willing to give us the chance to grow.
No one person is responsible for our success, but certainly an enormous amount of credit has to go to Florence Vincent, who has been the main person responsible for the product selection, and for the look and feel of the
store.
I'll probably not miss the intense involvement, but I will continue working on the online store project and remain a loyal customer."

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YELM FOOD CO-OP PARTICIPANTS & SHOPPERS.
TELL THE YELM FOOD CO-OP YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!
AND THANK YOU TOM DEWELL, FOR THE LEGACY YOU HAVE LEFT IN YELM!

UK version of Hell's Kitchen winner Linda Evans, Photo from UK's Mirror

ABC-TV - New York has completed filming for a story of Linda Evans' life in her Rainier home and is scheduled to air the segment this Monday on Good Morning America at some point in the 8-9am hour.

You can view the piece locally on Seattle's KOMO-TV 4.

Today's high temperature of 86 degrees broke the former record of 85 set in 1975 at Olympia Regional Airport.

"Fire consolidation loses recount of votes"
"Yelm: Tally shows ‘no’ still wins, but margin down to 12 ballots"
SEE FULL STORY IN THE OLYMPIAN

"Venture bank fails"
"SALE: First-Citizens takes over institution – all money safe"

"Regulators seized DuPont-based Venture Bank on Friday night [Sept. 11] and turned its assets over to Raleigh, N.C.-based First-Citizens Bank and Trust Co. – ending a 30-year history as a South Sound community bank."
SEE FULL STORY IN TODAY'S OLYMPIAN .

NOTICE ISSUED BY THE FDIC:
"Failed Bank Information"
"Information for Venture Bank, Lacey, WA"

PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL SAID THIS March 27, 2009:
"Venture was warned by the FDIC last November that it was undercapitalized and was told to submit a plan to correct that status within 45 days.

The bank submitted a plan to regulators at the end of December, but the FDIC called the plan “unacceptable,” according to the regulatory order made public Friday.

Venture also ran into trouble when it reported at the end of December in its regular condition report to regulators that it was “adequately capitalized.” The FDIC and the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, the state regulator, disagreed, calling the bank “undercapitalized due to significant concerns regarding the reliability of the bank’s financial statements,” according to the regulatory order."

FDIC ISSUES LETTER TO VENTURE BANK LAST FEBRUARY,
"In a letter dated Feb. 13 but disclosed on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Web site Friday [March 29], the FDIC notified the bank that it has 60 days to raise more money, find a buyer or find a merger partner. The 60-day period ends April 14. Among the FDIC's concerns were that:

• The bank's condition continues to deteriorate.

• The bank's management has not demonstrated the ability to return the bank to a safe and sound condition...

Mike Edwards, a former Federal Reserve adviser and founder of Thurston First Bank, took issue with the FDIC's approach to dealing with Venture.

'I'm disappointed to see the regulators have announced their concerns with the bank in a public fashion, dragging it through a prolonged public view,' he said, quoting The Olympian.

Ed. Note: I always took issue with the kind of attitude to which Mr. Edwards speaks. I am for full public-disclosure on banking problems, no matter how uncomfortable those might be. The public and Venture's customers had a right to know all of the information back then. Now, another Washington-based bank is on the scrap heap as the 92nd bank failure this year.
The FDIC said on February 13, 2009, "The bank's management has not demonstrated the ability to return the bank to a safe and sound condition."

Mr. Edwards is currently Board member & Past President of the Thurston County Economic Development Council (EDC) and Board member of Thurston First Bank, having "served as the Supervisor of Banking for the State of Washington and as an advisor (sic) to Chairman Alan Greenspan and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C.," quoting the Thurston First Bank's website.

According to Venture Bank's website, Larry Schorno "joined the Venture Bank Board of Directors in 1997 and the Venture Financial Group Board of Directors in 2002.... Mr. Schorno is currently a trustee of Washington State University and was named Yelm Citizen of the year for 2002 and 2004" and "has been active in the Thurston County Economic Development Council, the Association of Washington Business and was a recipient of the Washington State Governor’s Export Award."

Rainier-based award-winning author Bettye Johnson

ABOUT BETTYE JOHNSON
Bettye Johnson won the 2008 Independent Publishers Book Award for her book,
Mary Magdalene: Her Legacy (Living Free Press).

Ms. Johnson is also a two-time book award winner and an international author. Her latest book is Awakening the Genie Within. Bettye is also the founder and facilitator of Writers Night Out Forum, which meets the first Monday of each month at Yelm's Blue Bottle.

ABOUT LAST EVENING'S HONORS
Internationally acclaimed local author Bettye Johnson was honored last night in a Lifetime Achievement Evening celebrating Yelm-area citizens in a first-of-many such celebrations hosted by Blue Bottle owner Michelle Jones and Jean Isaacs.

Ms. Jones told the Yelm Community Blog, "Our objective is to honor into the future people who are alive - rather than doing farewell parties!"

The evening's program opened with the gratitude expressed to Ms. Johnson by Emcee Mary McCann, followed by a toast, accolades, and stories.
Harpist Mary Abrahmson played an interlude as the guests arrived, followed by Bettye's arrival in a chauffeured-driven limo, wearing her signature hat with a red rose.
Musical Tributes included Soprano Mayra Pena's outstanding solo of Mi Chiamane Mimi from Puccini's LaBoheme, which moved Ms. Johnson and the entire audience.
An encore duet of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with Ms. Pena and harpist Abrahmson was very touching.
The evening continued after a short break and a wonderful light feast with Cara Clare, Steve Bartlett and Stephan Abuan's rendition of You Are the Sunshine of My Life.

Blue Bottle owner Jones selected Ms. Johnson for this first evening of lifetime achievement because of her authors' nights being held at the Blue Bottle, bringing new people and recognition to this local business. Indeed, a lady who has just come to an authors' night and met Ms. Johnson for the first time last Monday was so moved to attend.

While our local newspaper and official dignitaries did not attend, this was truly a community event with a partial list of the audience that spoke to the Yelm Community Blog Host:
Elected Democratic Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) for the Lackamas area, precinct 31 Victoria Harper
Elected Democratic PCO precinct 130 & 1st Vice-Chair of Legislative District 2 Jackie Reid
Local author Renee Webb who was inspired by Ms. Johnson to write her book Journey to My Master Teacher
Newly-appointed Timberland Regional Library Yelm Librarian Mike Wessels
Local internet website MastersConnection.com owner Stephany Ray
Local internationally-recognized womens scarf designer Joelle LeScornec
Yelm-based web designer & documentary filmmaker Guustaaf Damave
Former Drew Harvey Theater Director Nancy Hillman photographed the participants

Ms. Webb summed up her experience about Ms. Johnson saying,
"Bettye Johnson is so for the advancement of women - she is a radiant example of a woman going down a path to living a dream."

Ms. Johnson responded, "Yes, I am 80 years young... Frankly, I've got plans for my future."

CONGRATULATIONS TO BETTYE JOHNSON!
AND, THANKS TO MICHELLE JONES FOR THINKING TO HONOR OUR AREA CITIZNES WHILE THEY CAN ENJOY THE ACCOLADES!

See the wonderful picture collage courtesy of Blue Bottle & Jean Isaacs.

Mayor Ron Harding

The Yelm City Council received an earful for almost an hour from local citizens' about the water rate increases on September 8th. Had he cut them off at 5 speakers at 3 minutes each as he forewarned, Mayor Harding would have had a major public faux-paux on his hands, what with the outcry, anguish and anger expressed. There hasn't been such passion exhibited by local Yelm residents since the NASCAR track proposal. Mayor Harding fielded the responses to these comments:

1. Shad Taylor
"Maybe this is an indication of poor planning for the City of Yelm. Had I known about this, I probably wouldn't have looked at this place to live... You have no contingency for low income folks. These rates (water) were not well thought-out and an incomplete solution...this is taking food off of my family's table."
Mayor Harding answered that the rates are based on the cost of providing infrastructure. The rates are based on a 6-year planning cycle and the water rates are based on the Water Plan, which is awaiting approval. The main increase is due to that infrastructure, not m & o [maintenance & operations].
[Ed. Note: The rates are based on a 20-year plan that includes capital improvements for a Master Planned Community after the 6th year.]
To quote Mayor Harding, "One of the objectives with the rates is a wake-up call...get people to watch their water usage."
Mr. Taylor responded, "I vote with my wallet...You do not address the constituents very well in answering this problem."

2. Mr Van Gorder (sp?)
This [water rate increase] is a poor tool to use as a wake-up call. I didn't know about your Plan [Draft water System Plan]. Economically, THANK YOU for the wake-up call. Maybe we shouldn't be living in Yelm...Mine [water bill] doubled...I''m speechless."
Mayor Harding responded, "We're mandated to put in the infrastructure and it has to be paid for." He said the council anguished over this decision, yet they had to do it.

3. Tanya Hall
"Non-residential customers get a flat rate, where residents do not....They [commercial payers] don't need a wake-up call, yet we do?! During a recession, you must not have a very good moral compass to put this on the backs of the people... I will come to every Town Hall meeting until this is fixed and post notices about this in my neighborhood."
Mayor Harding responded he will look into her bill.
"I want more than that. I am not going away until this is equitable for commercial and residential alike."

4. Jackie Keys-Jones
"Commercial buildings get a flat rate. I don't care what the building plan is - this is unconscionable.

5. Brooke Austin
I am in a low income family who moved here because I could afford to rent for less than anywhere else. I would not have lived anywhere where I would have been on city water. I can't pay the bill this month - or next.
Conservation? I've been doing that.
I bath my three children and then wash my own body in their dirty water to conserve.
I could understand if this was a 20% increase, but 60% and higher?
A 20% increase is about the high end of what would be reasonable. This is beyond absurd!

Mayor Harding closed the public comment session by saying this is unfortunate that water is coming back to being a contention in our State.

Ed. Note: These people who dared to speak up were not Steve Klein Blog Host, RSE students or county residents - these were ALL City of Yelm residents and taxpayers. This Blogger predicted that when the water rate payers got their stomach-punch with the new rates back in early June, they would hopefully speak-up. I believe this is the tip of the iceberg and the city has finally shot themselves in the foot with their own constituents.
Unfortunately, Mayor Harding left out a key fact in his answer that the rates had to be increased to support the infrastructure:
- the 69% water rate increase is mostly to fund infrastructure needed to support an MPC (Master Planned Community), namely the now-defunct Thurston Highlands. If the developers are gone [defaulted], why is infrastructure proposed to support a choice of three wells on that property still in the Draft Water System Plan? HMMM!

HOPEFULLY, MORE CITIZENS WILL DARE TO SPEAK UP AND TELL THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE 2ND & 4TH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7PM AT THE YELM PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING!

SEE THE FULL COMMENTS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE
click "Agenda/Notices", then click "Meeting Video", then 9/8/2009.

FOLKS - THIS IS A PRELUDE TO WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE CITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AS THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, EXCEPT ONE NEW COUNCILMEMBER TO REPLACE RETIRING COUNCIL WOMAN FETTERLY!

UPDATE:
My Letter to the Editor of the Nisqually Valley News [NVN] was published today about the city's lack of of taxpayer protection by the city to get reimbursed for what the city said will be the developer's requirement to pay for their pro-rata share of the Golder Water Study.

I asked,
"In managing a business, would you verbally agree (without contract) to be reimbursed at some future time for a job you would do for an undetermined, pro-rata amount? This begs the question: why did the city not require taxpayers get repaid, at the very least with a contract? Would you run your business that way? Of course not. Then why is the city running their citizens' business this way?
Where was the city’s responsibility to do the right thing on the taxpayers’ behalf? And, why is my questioning Yelm’s accountability any different from your outspokenness about the City of Roy & Rainier Schools acting in the public’s interest?"

NVN Publisher/Editor Graves responded in the print edition,
"Since you ask, the biggest difference is that the Rainier School Board and superintendent thumbed their noses at public record and open meetings laws. There's no indication that the City of Yelm violated any laws, a conclusion the State Auditor supported in its report. If you have solid, tangible proof of wrongdoing by the city, bring it on and we'll investigate."

No, no Mr. Graves, there has been no evidence of laws being broken. However, this whole thing with the water issue here just stinks and the public is finally starting to wake-up. Does a law have to be broken for your newspaper to do an investigative report into the City of Yelm not getting a contract to be repaid for what they said was the developer's share of the Water Study, for a 69% increase in water rates to mostly support an MPC clearly stated in the Draft Water System Plan public record, and millions on infrastructure to support wells out on the MPC developers' land a mile from the city core?

Mayor Harding's tepid responses to the public last Tuesday, the city's lack of candor on all of the water issues and the local newspaper's not reporting the Water Plan infrastructure costs to mostly support an MPC as the basis of the water rate increases are all pathetic.

Mrs. Hall summed it all up nicely to Mayor Harding,
"...you must not have a very good moral compass to put this on the backs of the people."

"Change is only going to come, when we stand together as one," as the song says.
The citizens, taxpayers, water rate payers AND voters of Yelm must come together to affect change here.
These 5 courageous citizens have alot to offer to change this place they all chose to move recently and their energies & passions should be enlisted as a catalyst for change.

The silence from the two City Council candidates 57 days before election and just a month from the ballots being mailed speaks volumes that we can expect no change from them!
If they were passionate about changing things here, we would be hearing their drumbeat, their stands, their knowledge & their commitment every week. Instead - silence! HMMM!

YELM HOME PERMITS WAY DOWN YEAR OVER YEAR
"As home sales have slowed, so has the number of new homes being built here, according to single-family residential building permits issued by the county and its four largest cities. Through July of this year compared with the same period in 2008, the single-family residential building permit data show:

Lacey: Permits fell 37 percent.

Tumwater: Permits fell 68 percent.

Yelm: Permits fell 47 percent.

Thurston County: Permits fell 26 percent.

Olympia: Permits rose 30 percent," quoting The Olympian.

Ed. Note: This means a large drop in permit fees and construction tax revenue for the city of Yelm. Of course, with the city's water issues discussed here previously in-depth, the city may be forced to stop issuing permits due to lack of allocated water allocations from Ecology!

"HOME SALES END LONG FALL"
"August was the best month for Thurston County home sales in more than two years: It was the first month since early 2007 that the number of homes sold increased from the year before.

Home sales here last month rose 10.8 percent to 336 units from 303 units in the same period last year, the first year-over-year increase in combined sales of single-family residences and condominiums since February 2007, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service data released Friday. That month 295 homes sold in the county compared to 280 in February 2006.

In June of this year, sales of single-family residences exceeded those in June 2008, although overall sales of residences and condos still were lower than the year-ago period...

July and August are typically the busiest months of the year for home sales, but the market gained an additional boost from an influx of military families from Fort Lewis and those buyers wanting to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit before it expires at the end of November, Kitabayashi said [Mark Kitabayashi, president-elect of the Thurston County Realtors Association].

The homebuyers tax credit expires Nov. 30, and with the typical home sale taking 45 to 60 days to complete, buyers are getting into the market now before it’s too late, he said," quoting The Olympian.

"A proposal to consolidate the city of Yelm’s fire district and two neighboring fire districts into a regional fire authority is headed for a recount.

The Thurston County Canvassing Board scheduled the recount during a meeting Tuesday morning. The Thurston County Auditor’s Office received the request for a recount Friday, two days after the board certified the results of the Aug. 18 election...

Supporters need at least seven votes to change from the “no” column to the “yes” column for the outcome to change.

Fire Chief Rita Hutcheson, who would lead the consolidated organization, acknowledged that the proposal’s passage is unlikely but said supporters want to exhaust all options.

“With that small a number, the feeling was we just needed to be sure,” said Hutcheson, one of six members of the RFA Recount Committee.

The others are Yelm Mayor Ron Harding, Yelm City Administrator Shelly Badger, fire commissioner Jonathan Sprouffske, fire district office manager Kris Kelly and firefighter Chad Halterman.

The committee paid a deposit of $835 for the recount, although Wyman said the cost will be less. The county will refund the money if the recount changes the election’s outcome.

Hutcheson defended using taxpayer money for the recount. She said that as a result, public agencies won’t have to spend thousands of dollars to return the proposal to the ballot next year if the recount is successful...

There was no organized opposition to the proposal," quoting The Olympian.

Ed. Note: While true, "There was no organized opposition to the proposal," there was alot of e-mail traffic in the rural areas about the city's using this as a vehicle for annexation in the future and those voters rejected the measure. Fire officials nor Mayor Harding failed to address this issue sufficiently for rural voters.

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

Rep. Tom Campbell Hosts Town Hall Meeting in Yelm
Time:1:00PM Saturday, September 12th
Location: Yelm Public Safety Building 206 McKenzie SE

"Together, we’ll discuss the state budget, which may still require more cuts to balance in the years ahead, as well as issues important to you, and to our community.

This is your chance to make your voice heard, talk about the issues, find answers, and help set your state government’s priorities," quoting Rep. Campbell's Press Release.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Saturday, September 12th
1-2:30 pm
Yelm Public Safety Building
206 McKenzie Ave. SE

Contact: Tom Campbell 360-786-7912
Campbell.tom@leg.wa.gov

"Democratic incumbent Karen Valenzuela and Republican challenger Patrick Beehler are headed to the November general election in the Thurston County Commissioner District No. 3 race.

Valenzuela polled 44.5 percent of the 10,219 votes counted election night, followed by Beehler at 36.5 percent...

The top two vote-getters earn a spot on the November general election ballot for a countywide race...

'I’m looking forward to the general election race,' Valenzuela, 59, said. 'We’re supported by completely different interest groups.'...

Valenzuela predicted her environmental and growth management priorities will play well in the countywide race.

The former Tumwater city council member was appointed to the commission post in January 2009 by Gov. Chris Gregoire, filling the unexpired term of fellow Democrat Bob Macleod, who resigned for medical reasons.

She has spent the first eight months helping manage a major county budget crisis, clashing with Sheriff Dan Kimball over the Sheriff’s Office budget, and promoting county policies to preserve prairie lands, return Capitol Lake to a Deschutes River estuary and combat climate change.

Beehler, a 40-year resident of Thurston County, is a professional surveyor with a history of civic and business-minded activities, including work as a former chairman of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and as a 10-year member of the Thurston County Historic Commission.

In his first run for political office, Beehler, 64, has strong backing from the Olympia Master Builders and has been critical of Valenzuela’s handling of the county budget and rural land preservation tactics. ," quoting The Olympian.

Meet the candidates:

District 3 County Commission Candidate Pat Beehler

"I have worked as a professional surveyor in Thurston County since 1978.

Thurston County currently has a severe budget crisis. As your county commissioner, I will examine every penny the county spends, cut all wasteful spending, and demand that we operate on a balanced and sustainable budget," quoting Pat Beehler's website.
Mr. Beehler will be having a meet & greet Tuesday, September 8th, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Bella Housa Club House, Yelm

Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Candidate Karen Valenzuela

"Managing growth, so that we can afford to provide quality public services, is also important. I want to preserve our best agricultural lands, because having nearby farms that sell food in our local Farmer’s Markets (Tumwater, Olympia, and Lacey) is a form of self-reliance I consider crucial.
I have a five-point action plan that I am already at work on:

1. Bring sanity to the budget
2. Return to the letter and spirit of the growth management act
3. Confront climate change
4. Re-engage in Human Services’ partnerships
5. Work on inter-jurisdictional cooperation,"
from Karen Valenzuela's website.
Ms. Valenzuela has informed the Yelm Community Blog she will be hosting a meet & greet session in Yelm soon.

“Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man". It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a national holiday by Act of Congress in 1894,” quoting Wikipedia.

"’Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country,’ said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. ‘All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation,” quoting the US Dept. of Labor website.

And this sobering view of what Labor Day commemorates today in the USA, from Truthout, first published in 2007.

The Yelm Community Blog pauses to acknowledge all laborers worldwide this day, for through our toils is the world a better place!


THIS ENTRY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2007.

Today's rainfall record of .76 inches set in 1970 was broken by 1pm today at Olympia Regional Airport when .79 inches was recorded. By 8:30pm, 1.14 inches was recorded. 1.54 was the official total for today, more than doubling the previous rainfall record.

JZ Knight

"The Municipality of Capilla del Monte together with the Tourism Department are pleased to give JZ Knight a certification of thanks for visiting their city and also as an acknowledgment for her career.

JZ Knight is traveling to Argentina in mid-September to bring Ramtha and his teachings for the first time ever to South America.

Capilla del Monte is honoring her in a brief ceremony to transmit their love and affection that the people of the area have for her, open to the public (no charge) and will be held on September 11 at 1PM at the “Enrique Muiño” theatre (the local cinema), with a capacity of 450 seats. The mayor of Capilla del Monte, Mrs. Rosanna Olmos, will present the honorary certificate. Secretary of Culture and Education Horacio Ruiz and Fernando Diz, Coordinator of the the Press and Tourist Office will also be in attendance.

Simultaneous language translation will be provided," quoting JZ Knight's website.

WOULD THE MAYOR OF YELM DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS -
FOR A SCHOOL THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THIS AREA FOR 21 YEARS,
REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER JUDGMENT THERE IS ABOUT A SCHOOL FEW CRITICS TRULY KNOW?

"Animal rescue volunteers have removed 22 horses from a home here after the sheriff's department received complaints that the animals were not being properly cared for.

'It's a lucky day for these horses, they were in bad shape,' said Teresa King of Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County.

The horses had shabby manes, possible parasite overloads, weak leg muscles and hooves in desperate need of care...

But the people who owned the home and were responsible for the horses said many of the animals were rescued from other homes and insisted they just needed a little more time to get them healthy...

Eight goats and two sheep were also removed from the property.

Charges have not been filed against the owners.

Veterinarians will examine and test the rescued animals before they will be considered for foster homes.

If you'd like to help with donations for feed supplies or offer to foster one of the animals, contact Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County," quoting KOMO TV News.

Ed. Note: First time I have ever heard of a Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County.

"The primary goal of this group is to provide a network of foster homes for animals that have been impounded by local law enforcement pending prosecution of the owners for neglect and/or abuse.

HAR-OTC is dependent on volunteers and donations for everything from veterinary expenses to feed. Please refer to the membership form for ideas on how you may help. The organization achieved tax-deductible donation status, 501 (c)(3), in March 2000."

Mailing Address:
Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston County
PO BOX 711
East Olympia, WA
98540
Phone: (360) 701-2007
Email:
harotc@live.com

The Nisqually Valley News Poll question out in their print & online editions today asks the wrong question,
"Do you think the Washington State Auditor was fair and thorough in its finding that the City of Yelm was justified in paying for the Golder Water Study?"

How about this question the NVN just never asks?
"Do you think the City of Yelm was fair and thorough in not having a contract to get repaid by the Thurston Highlands developers for their pro-rata share of the Golder Water Study?"

AS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WORTH 50,000 POINTS ON THIS SESSION OF
"FACTS OR TWISTING THE FACTS"
THE NVN COULD HAVE ASKED QUESTION NUMBER TWO:
"Why didn't the city get a contract with the developers for the city taxpayer to repaid for their pro-rata share of the Golder Water Study, a contract like Golder Associates obtained with the City of Yelm?

AND QUESTION NUMBER THREE WORTH 100,000 POINTS IS:
"Wasn't getting a contract with the developers for the city taxpayer to repaid for their pro-rata share of the Golder Water Study the ethical and right thing to do on behalf of the city's citizens, the very people they are supposed to protect and serve?

JOHNNY, WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR TODAY'S WINNER?

All jesting aside, though the continued NVN distractions are laughable:

I filed no comment with the Auditor’s Citizen Hotline, as I have no issue with the city’s right to enter into or validity of a contract for a Golder Associates Water Study. That some people filed Hotline comments (anonymous) about the Golder Water Study contract validity is their business.
My issue has always been about the public's interest not being protected by the city's interactions with Thurston Highlands' developers, as Yelm City Administrator Badger said in the NVN February 2, 2007,
“If a good water source is found on the Thurston Highlands site, developers will have to pay their fair share, which won't be determined until the Environmental Impact Statement is complete later this year."

Yet, City Administrator Badger informed me in early 2007 they had no contract with developers for repayment of their undetermined "pro-rata share" of the Golder Water Study, and the city received nothing at EIS release-time, coinciding with the developers' Fall, 2008 default, except hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt now on the backs of the city's taxpayers, almost 2 years after I first questioned how those taxpayers would be repaid.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Public Documents request also returned no documents, as well.

Even Councilmember Bob Isom expressed his concern for continued additional taxpayer funds requested from city staff for this water study at the December 12, 2006 Council meeting.
The January 14, 2007 Blog entry sums up the city's Water Study issue very well.

In managing a business, would you verbally agree (without contract) to be reimbursed at some future time for a job you would do and for an undetermined, pro-rata amount?
This begs the question:
If the city required "developers will have to pay their fair share [for the Water Study]",
why did the city not require taxpayers get repaid, at the very least with a contract?
Would you run your business that way?
Of course not.
Then why is the city running their citizens' business this way?

DID THE NVN INVESTIGATE THESE QUESTIONS WITH THE CITY OF YELM?

THIS IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER -- EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST FOR SHOW SO THE CITY CAN SAVE FACE & THE NVN CAN SELL MORE NEWSPAPERS!
GLAD TO SEE THE FRONT-PAGE STORY & OP-ED ABOUT ME MAY HAVE SUPPORTED THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH MORE NEWSPAPER SALES LAST WEEK, THOUGH THE NVN NEVER ARRIVED AT THE APPROPRIATE QUESTION!

Thurston County Elections certified the August 18th ballot as final on September 2nd.

The results showed Proposition No. 1, Creation of Regional Fire Protection Service Authority passed in the City of Yelm
by 56% and failed in Yelm Fire District by 54%.

This writer strongly supports our Fire & Rescue men & woman!

UPDATE: September 3, 2009
From The Olympian:
"Voters rejected by 13 votes a proposal to consolidate the city of Yelm and two neighboring fire districts into a regional fire authority, according to a final count of ballots from the August primary...

The proposal required a combined simple majority to pass.

Fire Chief Rita Hutcheson, chief of the two fire districts, which have operated jointly since last year, said the proposal could reappear on the February ballot. The deadline to get the proposal on the November ballot has passed.

Under the authority, property owners in all three districts would pay the same tax rate for fire and basic emergency medical response, $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. It would result in higher taxes for city residents but would not change the rate for those living in the rural fire districts.

In Yelm, the city’s regular levy would have been reduced because it would no longer be used to pay for fire and medical emergency services. But the fire authority would have levied a new tax in 2011, resulting in a net increase in property taxes...

Yelm’s contract for fire and basic emergency medical response expires at the end of 2010.

Forming a fire authority allows neighboring fire districts to consolidate and put more money toward front-line response by eliminating duplicative administrative jobs.

Two key features make an authority different from a merger or a contract for service: A planning committee has the flexibility to determine how an authority operates and is governed, and voters must approve it.

Yelm Mayor Ron Harding has said the difficulty in getting information about the proposal to rural voters had a hand in its defeat."

Ed. Note: Information was very clearly presented to the rural voters, the same as city voters. Rural Yelm-area voters have always been more vocal, educated and involved in Yelm-area affairs and they participate in Yelm issues. There are always more rural constituents in Yelm's City Council meetings than than handful of City of Yelm residents each quarter.
In my humble opinion, they do not trust the City of Yelm officials to present them the facts. Too many times in the last 10+ years, the School's levies and others have failed on the first ballot and other ocstly ballots have to go before the public later.

A new tax to be levied in 2011?
No one in Yelm much has the stomach for that, after getting socked between the nose with Yelm's August Water Bill, a 2% increase in B + O taxes and a Draft Water System Plan that will provide more water bill increases to be paid in the future!
YIKES!

Yelm Public Safety Building & City Council Chambers

On April 27, 2009, the blog entry I wrote was titled:
$400,000 FOR PARK TOILETS? IS THIS NECESSARY IN TODAY'S TIMES?

As I said then,
"Now, with the $400,000 authorized by the State Legislature for new Longmire Park toilets added to the $408,800 previously appropriated by the city [for a reclaimed water line to the Park], do you think this is a good time [with a major state & county budget deficit and people getting laid off] to be spending almost $1,000,000 in taxpayer money for water and toilets at a ballpark that might get major usage just 3 months out of a year?"

At the Yelm City Council Meeting of August 11, 2009, quoting the Minutes:

"Stephanie Ray provided Scope of Work from KPG [engineering] for the design work proposed for Longmire Park Enhancement Project...design for structure for restrooms. Funding is provided by Washington State Public Works Board direct appropriation from the 2009-2010 capital budget [$400,000].

Councilmember Baker expressed concern for the public perception of funding enhancements in the midst of layoffs and tax increases. Councilmember Miller asked about the extra work for Public Works with fewer staff, however it does provide and (sic) attraction for Yelm.
Councilmembers McGowan and Thompson responded that Longmire Park is the most used park in Yelm with baseball, soccer, football and playground facilities...

Motion by Joe Baker authorizing Mayor Harding to enter into a contract with KPG Engineering...for the Longmire Park enhancement."

Ed. Note: Whille I applaud Mr. Baker for being the ONLY Councilmember to bring up this issue, obviously Mr. Baker did NOT feel too much "concern for the public perception of funding enhancements in the midst of layoffs and tax increases" to have put forth this motion, which carried.

To compare the current city expenses of the portable toilet rentals to $400,000 in flush toilets at Longmire Park, I asked for the invoices for portable toilet rentals from the City of Yelm.
CLICK HERE:
Longmire Park toilet-rental invoice
[the "Twice a Week Service to ADA Rental" is the handicapped portable toilet.]

I spoke with Half Moon Sanitation's portable-toilet service owner and she told me that even during one of the heaviest usage weeks at Longmire the third week of August, 2009, their one handicapped & two other portable toilets were not even 1/2 used. She recommended only one handicapped toilet for 9 months of the year and adding a second portable toilet for the busy summer months. This would cut the $472 invoice by more than half.

With the cost of three portable toilets of $472 per month for the Summer of 2009, doing the math and compared to the $400,000 expense of the flush toilets, that's 848 months or 71 years required to pay for the flush toilets at the current, summer invoice portable toilet rate.

These are dollars that could go for jobs, a new Library or the Mayor's dream of a Recreation Center, don't you think?

What does the city tell those 6 workers who they recently announced will be laid off --
that $400,000 was received from the State Legislature and the city accepted the money to build flush toilets - money that perhaps could have been requested to be re-appropriated for other more pressing issues, including jobs?
Where is the public-interest served in spending these kind of funds for flush toilets at Longmire Park in this economic environment?

And the NVN editor/publisher's recent op-ed highlighted the public-interest not being served in a $10,000 severance to a Rainier High School principal.
Yet, where is he on Yelm's financial issues, namely $400,000+ being spent for flush toilets at a city park that will only get much use 3 months a year, amidst city layoffs, a massive county budget deficit and state debt?
HMMM!

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Rainier's CSE Auction guests Steve Klein, State Legislature Candidate Rep. Tom Campbell and his wife Lynn
Photo courtesy of the Children's School of Excellence (CSE)

Rep. Tom Campbell announced today [Aug. 31] he will run for re-election to the Washington State House of Representatives.

Quoting Rep. Campbell's Press Release,
“I have been asked by a number of my constituents to reconsider my candidacy for Congress so that I can continue my work in the State Legislature on behalf of the 2nd Legislative District. I have listened to these voices and have decided to once again ask the voters of the Second District to elect me to represent them in the Washington State Legislature.”
“I do not regret exploring the possibility that a Presidential appointment might have resulted in an open Congressional seat and a special election, but I cannot in good conscience ask my friends and supporters to contribute more than $2 million to run against a 6-term incumbent Congressman in a year that will undoubtedly be highly partisan and contentious. That’s not why I started my legislative and political career 20 years ago.”
Rep. Campbell further stated that much work yet has to be done in the Legislature on behalf of the Second District, especially to improve the State Highway network in the 2nd Legislative District. I’m particularly interested in working on the funding to complete the “Cross-Base Highway” (SR 704) and the Yelm Loop (SR 510).
Recalling his work in the 2009 Legislative Session on local infrastructure projects, Rep. Campbell said, “I was proud to be a spokesperson for transportation projects for the bi-partisan Pierce County Legislative Delegation during our last session. We produced a record $1.4 billion for Pierce County projects, and we put people to work in our community. Through hard bi-partisan work, the Pierce County legislators produced road and transportation projects in every region of our county.”
“As one of the more senior members in the State House, I work with my colleagues to make certain that Pierce County taxpayers benefit equitably from both federal and state transportation funds available in our state.”
“My priorities have remained the same throughout the years. I have achieved positive results and benefits to my constituents. I am proud to have accomplished the work in improving healthcare in our state, especially laws passed to reduce potentially lethal Hospital Acquired Infections and in particular reducing MRSA infections”.

Rep. Campbell cited his recent work as Chairman of the House Environmental Health Committee in the prior and present term. He is the only Republican Chairman in the State Legislature. “We have aggressively taken on difficult issues that have threatened the health our fellow citizens. We are making a difference now and for the future of all the people of our State,” said Rep. Campbell about his work on toxic materials in commerce and the environment.
“I want to thank the hundreds of my friends who have helped me since 1992, and I’m ready to return to Olympia next year and beyond to address the current problems in our economy, to improve the transportation network, and to continue to work on healthcare access, quality and affordability. I believe I am in the right place to represent the voters of my district now and into the foreseeable future.”

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WISHES REP. CAMPBELL & HIS WIFE LYNN WELL IN HIS RE-ELECTION HERE. LOCALLY, HE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS CHAMPION OF YELM BYPASS FUNDING !

UPDATE: The Olympian of September 4, 2009