LEARN TO LAUGH, LAUGH TO LEARN
Introducing The Fun Pro
"Healing benefits of laughter combined with encouraging neural plasticity by challenging the mind.
Learn out of the box thinking and have fun doing it!
With Jamie Honey's Improv classes."

"Improv is for absolutely everyone! There are so many benefits to stretching your own limits and giving Improv a try...

Science has come out with some great studies about the benefits of laughter. Laughter stimulates the mind to be in the moment, and when we are in the moment, we are more productive, creative, and healthier."

Everyone welcome. For more information,
CLICK HERE

Listen to Jamie's audio message: CLICK HERE

Jamie Honey is offering Improv again in 2010:
classes for ages 8-14, Juniors ages 4-7, & an Adult Improv Party once a month.

Improv (Improvisation)..., Lots of Laughs, Smiles and Joy while training Focus, Creativity, Memory and so much more..., LEARN TO LAUGH...LAUGH TO LEARN
Access the flyer with all the info, dates and age ranges for both Kids classes: CLICK HERE
Check out the calendar for up coming Improv classes and Adult Improv Parties: CLICK HERE

Laugh it up,

Jamie Honey

The Blue Bottle Cafe

"Blue Bottle Cafe is delighted . . . thrilled . . . tickled PINK to be hosting a brand new production of Thumbelina by Acorn & Rose Puppet Theater, this Sunday, February 7, at 2:00 PM. Adults $7.00, Children $5.00, free for tots two and under.

If you missed last week's fabulous NVN story on Jeannie Isaacs, owner of Acorn & Rose Puppet Theater,
CLICK HERE

Blue Bottle Cafe
309 Yelm Avenue East
Yelm, Washington
360-458-4611

TELL MICHELLE & STAFF AT THE BLUE BOTTLE YOU READ ABOUT THUMBELINA ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Yelm Town Hall
9:00 – 10:00 am
Rosemont Assisted Living Center
215 Killion Rd NW
Yelm, WA 98597

Senator Randi Becker
Photo from Senator Becker's Legislative website

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

This story about Rep. Campbell's Bill that would further track cold medicines was in yesterday's Olympian.


Representative Jim McCune
Photo from Representative McCune's Legislative website

"Two partners are wrestling for control of what is thought to be the largest property in Thurston County caught in the collapse of the housing market, court records show.

A hearing before a federal bankruptcy judge in March could be key to the fate of Thurston Highlands, a 1,250-acre property in Yelm...

According to court records associated with the bankruptcy case:

Thurston Highland Associates LLC (THA) owns the property and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 4, the eve of a foreclosure sale. Local developer Steve Chamberlain manages the limited liability company.

THE BEGINNING

Starting in 2005, Frontier Bank loaned $12 million to THA to develop the property. The bank began foreclosure proceedings after the property owner defaulted on the loan in September 2008.

The loan fell into default after THA was unable to secure refinancing. Frontier Bank, hit hard by the housing collapse, conditioned any further lending on an additional guarantee by THA’s minority owner, Dr. Paul Liao. He refused. Chamberlain had guaranteed the original loans.

With the auction approaching, DDD Washington LLC, formed by Liao and his son, Darwin Liao, purchased the loan from the bank. The bankruptcy filing stopped the auction.

Chamberlain indirectly owns 51 percent of THA through another limited liability company. Paul Liao holds a 29 percent interest in the limited liability company, and his son holds the rest.

Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Chamberlain continues to manage the property under court supervision as he works to settle debts and restructure the business to move the development project forward with creditors’ approval.

Meanwhile, DDD Washington is seeking to foreclose on the property and likely would take over its ownership. The limited liability company is owed nearly $13 million, including interest and late fees, on the purchased bank notes secured by the property. The property is THA’s sole asset.

A ruling by a federal bankruptcy judge in Tacoma on two motions last week did little to determine the outcome.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Snyder denied THA’s request to borrow $3 million to help realize its reorganization plan. He also continued a hearing until March 18 on DDD Washington’s request to allow the foreclosure sale to proceed...

In addition, Snyder wrote, he wasn’t persuaded that the loan proceeds would make the property more marketable, because no money would be used to secure water rights to serve the proposed development. THA purchased a golf course in part to secure those rights, but it needs to pay another $1 million to the seller to gain the authority to transfer them to the city of Yelm. The city would need approval by the state Department of Ecology to use them. ...

THA said in court records that it has secured preliminary approval of the conceptual master site plan, but Grant Beck, the city’s community development director, said that’s simply not true. He said his department is awaiting revisions to the plan based on an environmental impact statement finalized in November 2008. THA also owes the city $121,500 for staff time working on the environmental assessment.

'We won’t do anything until we get paid and until we see a revised conceptual plan,' Beck said.

Beck said the city was aware of the discrepancy in the court record, but didn’t seek to correct it because 'we don’t have a dog in the fight.'"

EXCUSE ME -- THE CITY DOESN'T "HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT???"
OH NO?
WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE UNPAID BACK TAXES, FEES, & PRO-RATA SHARE OF A WATER STUDY OWED TO THE CITY ON THE PROPERTY?
HELLO, ANYONE HOME OVER THERE AT CITY HALL?

THE CITY'S NUMBER ONE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S WELFARE & ASSETS!

WHERE IS THIS CITY LOOKING OUT FOR THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST IN NOT FILING LIENS TO GET IN LINE TO COLLECT THE BACK TAXES, FEES & PRO-RATA WATER STUDY SHARE FOR THEIR TAXPAYERS???

Doug McCrea of McCrea Cellars, Margaret and Stefan Elie, of Elie Jewelry, Merle Hom of Bella Housa, Giorda Elie of Giorda E., Kristi Duke and Lela Cross of Eclectic Toss and Kellie Petersen of Gordon’s Garden Center would like to invite you to join us for an evening of great joy as we raise funds to help with relief efforts in Haiti.
Auction Soiree
When: Friday, February 5, 2010
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Bella Housa Village Clubhouse
14950 – 91St. Ave SE in Yelm
(Between Mountain View and Burnett Rd SE)

Admission: $25 per person (we’ll trade you for a chance to win a door prize from Gordon’s Garden Center!)

Enjoy amazing wine from McCrea Cellars and delectable delights from Eclectic Toss as you bid on our marvelous silent auction items and raise your paddle during our live auction called by the Schorno auction team, Cindy Schorno and world champion auctioneer Daniel Schorno.
(We also have some other fun ways you can give to the cause!)

We have selected Doctors without Borders as our recipient organization. Charlie Kunzer, of Doctors without Borders reports, “The extent of immediate needs from the devastation in Haiti is still coming into focus, and the picture is bleak. There is a huge need for essential surgical care for the quake victims: open fractures, deep wounds, crush injuries, amputations. DWB and other groups are rushing to scale up capacity to bring as much assistance as needed.”

Please say you will come! You can R.S.V.P. to heartsforhaiti2010@gmail.com

If you cannot attend, but would still like to contribute, you can send a check payable to:
Doctors w/o Borders: Emergency Relief Fund
c/o Kellie Petersen
Gordon’s Garden Center
PO Box 447
Yelm, WA. 98597

Thank you for being the generous, caring individual we have always known you to be!

Sincerely,

Doug McCrea, McCrea Cellars Margaret & Stefan, Elie Jewelry

Kristi Duke & Lela Cross, Eclectic Toss Giorda Elie, Giorda E.

Kellie Petersen, Gordon’s Garden Center Merle Hom, Bella Housa

WON'T YOU SEND ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND?

Starry Lane Apiary's focus is on honeybee health. We have developed a nutritional supplement using plant extracts (patent pending) to enhance the immune system of the honeybee, so she is better equipped to deal with disease and pest infestations. Our product shows promising results and we plan to introduce it to the beekeeping world in Fall 2010.

We work with a variety of honeybee races and we plan this Spring to raise queens on the supplement because a nutritionally healthy queen means a healthy colony.

To fund our research, we sell our raw strained honey and have handcrafted creams and soaps. You can purchase our creams at the Yelm Food Coop or contact us directly at Legend732@Yahoo.com for our products. Starting in May, we will be selling our products at the Tumwater Farmer's Market.

Starry Lane Apiary,
Marisha & Judy

TELL STARRY LANE APIARY YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

District Fire Commissioner Jonathan Sprouffske will be hosting a Question and Answer Session due to some of the recent publications regarding the Regional Fire Authority ballot issue
Monday, February 1, 2010
6pm
Clarks Restaurant
@ Tahoma Valley Golf Course
15425 Mosman Ave SW
Yelm, WA, 98597.

Mr. Sprouffske sent me a very informative e-mail exchange to share about several misconceptions of the Regional Fire Authority issue.

Dear Friends and Acquaintances,

Many of you know me, some of you may not. My name is Kevin Rademacher, and I am a Firefighter/Paramedic with East Pierce Fire and Rescue. I have been a firefighter for 22 years, professionally for 18 years. I have been a member of 5 different departments in those years, and have had the opportunity to witness and be a part of several variations of the same job: City Fire, Fire District, County District, and Military Fire Dept.

I am usually the proverbial “fly on the wall” type, preferring to keep my opinions to myself, but rarely missing a detail. At times, however, one must speak out on one’s beliefs. This is one of those times.

My Brother in Fire, Steve Slater, recently sent an email [published in the Jan. 29th edition of the NVN] noting his reasons opposing the upcoming Yelm Fire RFA vote. I have much respect for Steve and his many contributions to the community, to his (our) church, and to two different Fire Districts. I feel obligated, however, to post an opposing view as to why the community MUST vote for Regional Fire Authority in the upcoming election. The simplest way to do this is to use Steve’s original email, and answer his concerns directly. Here goes…

- Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:02:05 -0500
Subject: Oppose the Regional Fire Authority

Friends and Neighbors,
I am sending this to let you know why I oppose the Regional Fire Authority (RFA). Please read the enclosed letter and forward if you agree with me. This election time typically has a small turn out so a small few will decide this issue. It is more important than ever that you vote.
Thank for your consideration.
The Rest of the Story: Why I Don’t Support the Regional Fire Authority

The Southeast Thurston Regional Fire Authority (RFA) is being proposed again in the February 2010 ballot. Not all the information is coming out and so I’m writing this that the public may be better informed. First, this is the same initiative that you, the citizens, voted down in August. No changes have been made. I respect the citizen’s choice to turn down this initiative, thus telling me as your elected representative to find
another way.
Another choice, the city could have raised their tax to meet the financial levels of the fire districts and at a cheaper cost to the citizens. The city residents are paying around 60-70 cents on the thousand of assessed property value compared to the $1.50 the fire district citizens pay.

Response:

It is important to remind everyone that the City of Yelm has no Fire Department. The City contracts with the District to provide services for its citizens. This is a critical point. The City collects funds from the City citizens to pay for this service. Those citizens in the Yelm City limits currently pay only $.68 cents per $1000 of assessed valuation, compared with everyone else in the district that pays $1.50. The City paid the District $459,370 or 12.2% of the District’s total budget for contract services. This, despite the fact that a full 40.7% of the 2942 emergency calls responded to last year by the District were located in the City Limits. This disproportionate funding creates the situation of a few paying for the many. This must be rectified. The $1.50 rate is a Washington standard for many, and possibly most fire districts in the state, including my Fire District....

- The proposal has the city reducing their tax by 30 cents (of the 60-70 cents) but then having an overall increase of $1.20 when they become part of the RFA. Why didn’t the city reduce their tax by the whole amount that they were paying for fire service?

Response:

From a City source: “By State Law, the City of Yelm can tax up to a maximum of $3.60 per $1,000 but is currently only collecting about $1.90. The maximum is reduced by $0.50 to $3.10 because of the current library measures that have previously been approved by the voters. If the Regional Fire Authority were to be approved the maximum the City of Yelm would be allowed to tax it's residents would be reduced again by $1.50 and leave the City of Yelm with receiving a maximum of $1.60 per $1,000. As a result the city would collect the maximum amount of $1.60 which is $0.30 less than it currently receives”.

In other words, the City has never given the full $.68 per $1000 it collected to the District in the first place. You read this correctly. The City has kept the difference since it began collecting the taxes, in order to pay for other city services. They will freely admit they cannot afford to loose this funding, or they will have a nasty budget shortfall. They have NEVER given the full $.68 to the District. The bottom line is City citizens pay other taxes for other city services, and the increase for this vote will be $1.20 per $1000 of assessed value for City Citizens ONLY, with the District getting $1.50 to fund its operations. It WILL NOT affect any current District Citizen...

- What are they going to do with the balance they are keeping? Proposing the most expensive plan is just wrong.

Response:

Again, the only beneficiary is the Fire District. This money is desperately needed to put “boots on the ground” or “butts in the (fire) seats”. I’ll explain this later...


- The mayor’s recent article states that each district/city must pass this initiative. That’s wrong. This ballot will be decided by the total collective vote. So even if two of the voting communities reject the initiative, if there are enough passing votes collectively the initiative will pass and your individual districts will be no more.
This almost happened last time.

Response:

Correct. Majority rules here, as it should. This is the opportunity for District residents to force the City residents to pay their fair share, the same amount District residents are currently paying, adding $500,000 to the budget for more firefighters. The last time this was voted on, City residents votes YES to pay their fair share, yet the current District residents voted no. Huh? District residents voted to allow the City residents to keep their (much) smaller $.68 per $1000? This makes no sense. It is tantamount to voting for a tax cut for all your neighbors and agreeing to pay their difference for them. Makes no sense. Oh, and $500,000 is more than enough to fully staff the 153 Ave Station...

- This initiative will also make government bigger, increasing the number of elected officials that the budget has to pay for.

Response:

This one is absolutely incorrect. By its very nature, a merged fire district, when properly executed, will reduce operating costs by combining operations, training, and “overhead” or administration costs. Rather than paying for two Chiefs, two Assistant Chiefs, two Secretaries, etc, you pay one of each, and the savings in administration can be used for more “boots on the ground” or training, equipment, etc. Additionally, with more firefighting personnel, engines, medics, and stations, you have the added potential of reducing your ISO rating, the rating your insurance company bases your insurance rates on. So potentially, your increase in initial costs could be partially offset by reduced insurance rates. This does not even take into consideration the increase response times for you and your loved ones in case of fire or medical response...

- These costs could have been kept down if the city leaders would have chosen to stay on the board. Instead the majority have chosen to add more government personnel to the payroll. I am not in favor of this.

Response:

Fire districts do NOT want city government officials to sit on its commissioner’s boards for the same reason Fire Districts don’t want to be part of city government… As soon as a city needs a new sidewalk, or overspends its budget, or wants to replace a street light, the city must obtain the money. From where? Either higher taxes, or through budget cuts. Fire Department and Police Department budgets are the first to go EVERY TIME since they are the largest budget expenses!!! Just ask Stockton, CA or Los Angeles, CA, or Lacey Fire Dept., or hundreds of others, who were forced to close stations and lay off Firefighters and Police. So NOT having city officials into your Fire District business is a MUST for good District monetary policy and proper decision making. The way this merge is structured, when fully operational 12/10, there will be 3 commissioner Reps elected from each of the 3 Districts/areas involved, for a total of 9. Coincidentally, there were 9 members on the planning commission for the Regional Fire Authority, 3 each from the two current Districts, and 3 City Council Members. Yes this will solidify the three additional volunteer commissioner spots, but it will also eliminate the need for the Fire District to ever conduct contract negotiations with the City.

- We have greater problems in our district that this plan won’t fix. We have a budget that spent approximately $300,000 in overtime for 18 personnel. Well above the $175,000 that was budgeted.

Response:

This occurred for one reason only. Too few firefighters. In order to ensure adequate Firefighters to staff engines and medics units, we have what is called in the business “minimum staffing”, which is the minimum number of personnel required to function before calling in Overtime. Firefighters are exposed continuously to patients infected withevery conceivable disease known, plus injuries due to the abusive nature of our business. They will occasionally call in sick, lest we (us) infect the very people we are trying to heal. Please keep in mind, this is not an 8 hour job. These are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so one sick day will create 24 hours of Overtime. In order to maintain operational readiness, we need to call in Overtime when someone calls in sick or takes vacation. Increased staffing will directly reduce overtime. A reason in itself to vote YES....

- We used to have a force of some 70 volunteers that built and sustained the department and there is some rebuilding of that but we have less than 20 volunteers now.

Response:

Yes, in 2000, there were around 70 Volunteers. When actually reviewed, Department training records showed that most volunteers were not attending any training functions and were unwilling to participate further. There are currently 12-14 active, trained, dedicated volunteers, with many more inactive. Here is the reason: NFPA (National Fire Protection Association… the Fire Dept’s Bible, so to speak) has minimum national requirements set to be a firefighter, whether volunteer or professional. We all fight the same fire, work the same vehicle accidents, and rescue the same victims. This requires several hundred hours to accomplish. Most people are no longer willing to put forth this effort to attain such certifications. Volunteerism is down nation wide...

- I’m sure there are some that want to build an empire to rival some of the other districts in the county.

Response:

No one wants an empire. However, we ALL want excellent Fire service to protect our families...

- I am committed to being responsible to the citizens and making the best use of the resources you provide for us. I don’t believe this will fix our problems but it will cost more. Remember you must vote or others will make their choice for you.
Respectfully,

Steven L. Slater
Fire Commissioner
Yelm Fire District
SE Thurston Fire & EMS

Response - Final Word:

Steve has the best of intentions, but the details speak for themselves. Please read the full Proposal here. http://setrfa.com/set_final_plan.pdf. Ask questions. Call Chief Hutchinson @ 458-2799. Talk to your neighbors. Call me. This is a necessary progression. THE INCREASE IN COSTS WILL ONLY AFFECT THE CITY CITIZENS, AND ONLY TO INCREASE SERVICE LEVELS!!! CURRENT DISTRICT CITIZENS ARE PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT ARE BEING UTILIZED BY THE CITY!!! Think about it. The District Citizens are paying $1.50/$1000 but have only one staffed staffed station in Rainier (think of 153rd Ave Station or Hannus Station) The City Citizens are paying $.68/$1000 and have a fully staffed station and new equipment. Makes no sense. We need your vote of YES.

Jonathan Sprouffske is a District Fire Commissioner and will be hosting a question and answer session regarding the RFA on Monday night(2/1/10) 6pm @ Clarks Restaurant, located at the Tahoma Valley Golf Course in Yelm, 15425 Mosman Ave SW, Yelm, WA, 98597. Please attend if you have any questions.

Serving my Community,

Kevin Rademacher

Through Thursday, the average temperature at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was 46.9 degrees. That would top the record of 46.6 degrees set in 2006. Records have been kept there since 1945.

In a typical January, the average temperature at the airport is 40.9 degrees. The average high temperature is 47 degrees. That means this January’s average temperature is close to the average high temperature for the month in previous years.

Many cities in Western Washington – including Olympia – are also close to records for January. The warmer-than-normal weather largely can be attributed to El Niño, a cyclical warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean," quoting The Olympian.

UPDATE, fEBRUARY 1, 2010:
"Warmest January on record for Seattle"
"2nd warmest in Olympia"
From The Olympian

The City of Yelm is accepting bids for the Longmire Park Enhancement Project, which is slated for a June completion date.

The $400,000 project includes bringing restrooms and a concession stand to the park.

Engineering figures estimate construction costs to range $280,000 to $330,000.

Costs include installing water and sewer lines out to the park located on Canal Road.

'This is a fun little project,' said project manager Stephanie Ray. 'And it’s a great addition to the park.'

Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Ray said the bids will be reviewed and taken to council...

The great thing about this project, Ray said, is that it’s not costing the city anything.

All the funding was received in a non-matching grant.

The city submitted a grant proposal to Representative Tom Campbell in 2009.

The restrooms will feature six standard and two ADA stalls.

Right now the park is equipped with portable bathrooms, which Ray said fill-up quickly during weekends.

A neat feature of the concessions stand, Ray said is that it will be set-up so people can plug their computers in for internet access," quoting the NVN.

Ed. Note: What are we building out there, a Taj Mahal?
$400,000 for "six standard and two ADA stalls" flushable toilets.

Just because the city thinks this is free because of a grant from the State, due to the tough economic conditions, shouldn't the city ask the State to do something else more productive with $400,000 - like a Community Center?

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NEW DYNAMIC TRANSPORT
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360-400-7433 (RIDE)
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Due to so many misunderstandings about the Fire Authority Consolidation Issue, I posed some issues to SE Thurston Fire/EMS Chief Rita Hutcheson to address for Yelm Community Blog readers. She addresses them all here in her own words:

"After careful consideration of the current service levels and impending budget crisis, SE Thurston Fire and EMS chose to ask voters to approve the formation of the SE Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

KEY FACTS FOR FORMING A REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY (RFA)

Why South East Thurston Fire Authority is being proposed & what the Fire Authority would accomplish?

1. Thurston County Fire District #4 (Rainier), Yelm Fire District #2, and the City of Yelm are seeking voter approval to form the South East Thurston Fire Authority (SETFA) on the February 9, 2010 ballot.

2. Citizens living outside the Yelm City limits are currently paying $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This proposition WILL NOT change the current tax collection for citizens outside the city limits of Yelm.

3. Citizens living within the city limits of Yelm will see the same tax collection as district residents for fire services beginning in 2011. This will be an increase in taxes for Yelm City property owners.

4. City of Yelm citizens will be able to vote on all fire district ballot issues and will be eligible to run for Fire District Commissioner positions. Unlike a merger, which is dependent on a lead agency, South East Thurston Fire Authority proposes equal representation and a local voice for the citizens of Thurston County Fire District #4 (Rainier), Yelm Fire District #2, and the citizens of the City of Yelm now and into the future.

5. The South East Thurston Fire Authority Operations Plan provides for improved service. Service improvements include the capability to provide 24 hour staffing at more than one station which will help to decrease response times and will make it possible to meet National Fire Protection Agency standards that require at least 4 firefighters on a structure fire before entering a burning building. There will also be a reduction in duplication of administrative personnel and services.

6. The improvements (more 24 hour staffing and additional fire apparatus) will allow the fire department to apply for a reduction in the insurance rating for the City of Yelm, City of Rainier, and the unincorporated area outside the cities.

7. If voters approve the RFA in February, the new South East Thurston Fire Authority (SETFA) will replace the two (2) participating fire districts on July 1, 2010 with voter approved funding to take effect January 1, 2011.

8. Proposition 1 will be on the February 9, 2010 ballot.

9. Questions, contact Chief Rita Hutcheson at 360-458-2799.

CLICK HERE for a link to the RFA website, from Citizens for Fire Protection. There is an interesting video from J.W. Foster (Yelm Planning Commissioner), a paramedic firefighter in Tumwater who has lived in Yelm for many years. He worked here as a paid employee 9-10 years ago. The entire RFA Plan is also posted there.

Mission Statement of S.E. Thurston Fire & EMS:
“S.E. Thurston Fire/EMS will provide professional, caring volunteer and full time responders for Public Education, Prevention Activities and all manner of emergencies. We will strive to effectively utilize all available resources provided by our community. We commit to the support, caring, and well-being of every member of this organization. We value compassion, integrity, respect, and support for citizens in their time of need.”

THIS FIRE CONSOLIDATION MEASURE IS NOT A LAND USE ISSUE
Although no citizens ever came forward to the planning committee and expressly opposed the formation of the SE Thurston Regional Fire Authority, a letter was sent to the Nisqually Valley News which insinuated that, due to the passage of ESSB 5808, the formation of the Regional Fire Authority would allow the Cities of Yelm & Rainier to annex any property. These thoughts are fundamentally flawed. What follows is a list of Facts related to those concerns:
FACT: ESSB 5808 did pass the legislature and did include language relating to how a city may annex property.

FACT: Any statutory language enacted by the state legislature under ESSB 5808 will be binding upon cities and towns whether or not a Regional Fire Authority exists.

FACT: A portion of the annexation process described in ESSB 5808 calls for an agreement between the annexing city and the fire department currently providing services to the citizens in the property to be annexed. An approval such as this would currently require approval by either 2 of the 3, or 4 of the 6 fire commissioners currently serving SE Thurston Fire and EMS. If the Regional Fire Authority were to be approved by the voters, such an agreement would need to be approved by 5 of the 9 members of the board.

FACT: The proposed SE Thurston Regional Fire Authority will require everyone who is currently served by SE Thurston Fire & EMS to pay the same rate for fire service and to have a vote on bonds and levies. If you live outside the city limits of Yelm (Unincorporated Thurston County and the City of Rainier), you are already paying the $1.50 rate and will not be required to pay anything additional.

FACT: The creation of the SE Thurston Regional Fire Authority does not simply create a larger government. Instead, it would eliminate the need for the fire department to contract with the City of Yelm and it would eliminate the need to have some administrative functions duplicated.

FACT: By no longer contracting with the City of Yelm, citizens would be assured that every dollar that was collected for the needs of their fire department was going directly to the fire department.

Note: The Regional Fire Authority (RFA) ensures the Yelm City Council will no longer determine how fire department tax dollars are allocated for the citizens of the City of Yelm through the contract process. The RFA enables City of Yelm citizens to determine how fire department tax dollars are allocated by enabling the citizens to vote.

Specific quotes from the article:
1. "...with the regional fire authority [RFA] in place and SB 5808 in effect, then the City of Yelm and the Fire Commissioners could decide to annex areas into the city limits without a vote of the people affected."
FACT: If the RFA is in effect there is no annexation issue. The RFA pertains only to fire and emergency service provision. The RFA will ensure emergency services are provided to all citizens residing within the RFA boundaries regardless of location within or outside either the Rainier or Yelm city limits.

2. "...think long and hard about turning over the power to decide who has jurisdiction over your rural property."
FACT: The RFA has jurisdiction over fire and emergency medical services only. The RFA has NO jurisdiction over land use issues whether inside or outside city limits.
The RFA provides equal representation to all citizens within the RFA boundaries.

If anyone needs to register to vote, an application can be picked up at the fire station
SE Thurston/Fire EMS
709 Mill Road
Yelm.

The last day to register is February 1, 2010. All updates to voter registrations must be done by January 11,
2010. Again thank you for your continued support of this department. It is indeed an honor for me to be the Fire Chief for this wonderful community."

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG ENDORSES THE REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY MEASURE!

Yelm really has some very nice offerings of great food & local talent with the Blue Bottle, Liquid Soul cafe and others.

Now, the Yelm Community Blog is pleased to announce that Clark's Bar & Grill on the Tahoma Valley Golf Course is offering a very unique program on the 3rd Saturday of every month - a price-fix wine-tasting dinner with music!

"We are pleased to present a special evening of Great Wines, Delicious Food and beautiful Music."

Saturday, January 23rd
Tasting starts @ 6PM
Tickets are $30 per person

Ticket price includes-
Dinner,
White Wine tasting (last month was Red Wines Month)
and
the amazing guitar playing of Marcelo Portaro.

Clark's is proud to feature Yelm's own Stewart's Meats.

Clark's Bar & Grill Restaurant
15425 Mosman St.
Located in the Tahoma Valley Golf & County Club
Phone: 458-2799

Steve Clark is already a coach for Yelm’s varsity football defensive line.
He chatted with my wife & I earlier this week as we enjoyed his sirloin dinner special, which was fantastic & a great value.

TELL CLARK'S YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

The NVN reports,
"A couple is seeking damages of more than $460,000 from the City of Yelm because they are being prevented from moving into a home they purchased in the Palisades West Subdivision.

Andy and Cynthia Smith claim the city wrongfully issued a building permit for their home in the 24-lot subdivision.

The house was finished in April 2009; however, the city won’t issue a certificate of occupancy citing public safety regulations...

The family filed a tort claim for damages in the amount of $469,660.32, plus additional and continuing costs to be determined with interest.

Damages include costs the family incurred having to pay rent on an additional house because they could not move into their home, as well as legal fees and interest-only payments on the Palisades home.

'The Smiths have incurred and are obligated to continue making mortage (sic) payments on a house they cannot live in, and on a lot on which they cannot reside, due to the city’s errors ...' the claim states.

In the claim, the Smiths allege the city was negligent in its supervision of Community Development Director Grant Beck, saying it enabled Beck to use city legal services for his personal biases and benefit.

They claim Beck used his power to delay and oppose the family’s occupancy and plat amendment including burdening the family with tasks and conditions that are not required by other citizens.

Stipulations were placed on the final subdivision that a booster pump station and sewer roll seal must be installed before any building permits are issued.

A building permit for the booster pump station was approved.

About a month later, a building permit was issued, with a reminder that no certificate of occupancy would be issued without the completion of both conditions.

However, the developer could not secure financing to construct the requirements.

The Smiths and the city have been working on trying to come to a solution.

The family offered to waive any liability if the city issues a certificate of occupancy. A plat amendment was also brought to the table, to exclude the Smith’s property from the requirement...

The plat amendment has been tabled indefinitely, Beck said, and the city has not responded to claim as of Wednesday [Jan. 13]."

Ed. Note: The Smith's home builder told this writer after the November 10, 2009 Council meeting that SE Thurston Fire/EMS Chief Rita Hutcheson issued a letter saying their Mill Pond Fire Station could respond to any issue in Pacific Palisades West within 3 minutes, due to the close proximity.

IF THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD TRULY FOCUS ON THE COSTS & DAMAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BECK HAS CAUSED, THEY WOULD FIRE HIM IN A HEARTBEAT.
HOWEVER, SINCE MOST OF THEM DO NOT KNOW THE MECHANICS OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE COUNCIL RELIES TOTALLY ON BECK'S REPORTS WITH LITTLE QUESTION.
BECK HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING FROM THE THURSTON HIGHLANDS DEBACLE & LACK OF CONTRACTS OR LIENS FOR COSTS OF CITY SERVICES RENDERED, THE MDNS FILING & WITHDRAWAL, THE WATER ISSUE HERE, THE MCMONIGLE WATER RIGHTS ISSUE & ON & ON & ON.
THE CITY COULD ISSUE AN EXEMPTION FOR OCCUPANCY OF THE SMITH'S HOME IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO!
THIS WRITER & SEVERAL OTHERS WARNED THIS VERY COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON THE RECORD THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF CITY OFFICIALS WILL BRING LAWSUITS,& THEY ARE COMING SWIFT AND SURE. THAT THIS COUNCIL APPROVES OF MR. BECK'S DECISIONS MEANS THEY ARE COMPLICIT WITH THESE ACTIONS THAT ARE COSTING YELM TAXPAYERS DEARLY.

AS I WARNED THE COUNCIL LATE LAST YEAR, THEY HAD BETTER TRIM THE SAILS OF THEIR BUDGET. WITH HEFTY LAWSUITS & LEGAL FEES, EXPECT MORE TO COME!

This picture was submitted with the comment below:

The January 15th NVN story on the future of library really demonstrates City of Yelm officials are just continuing to use a "band-aid" approach for a Timberland Regional Library facility to operate here beyond 2012.

Let's examine Megan Hanson's & Susan Louis's report, in-depth. My comments are in CAPS:

"Future of Yelm library unknown"
By Megan Hansen and Susan Louis
Nisqually Valley News
Published: Friday, January 15, 2010 4:22 PM PST

As the lease nears an end for the Yelm Timberland Library, city officials think they have a solution.

“We’re having a conversation with the property owner (of Prairie Park) to renegotiate a reduced price and extend the current lease,” Mayor Ron Harding said.

Harding submitted a proposal to TRL [TIMBERLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY] suggesting the two entities extend the lease three to five years, at a new negotiated rate, and split the cost.

WHY WOULD THE CITY DO THAT?
PRAIRIE PARK IS A IN A PRIVATE, RENTED FACILITY.
THE TIME HAS COME TO BITE THE BULLET AND HAVE OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY IN A PUBLIC FACILITY!
THE CITY HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY WARNED BY THE STATE TO STOP USING PUBLICLY COLLECTED TAXES TO PAY FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES HOUSED IN A RENTED BUILDING, AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY RENTING SPACE FOR THEIR MUSEUM IN THE SAME PRAIRIE PARK FACILITY, COVERED HERE DECEMBER 1, 2007.
WILL MAYOR HARDING GET AS PASSIONATE ABOUT A PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITY AS HE WAS IN GETTING A PUBLIC FACILITY FOR OUR HISTORICAL MUSEUM?

“TRL is not in the facilities business. Yelm is an anomaly,” said acting Executive Director Michael Crose. “Normally we require our libraries to be in public buildings.”

“We agreed to make a 10-year exemption for Yelm, and that is not one that other libraries are happy with.”

As it stands now, the city will be required to cover building costs after 2011.

“Until instructed otherwise by the TRL Board, the district will make no further payments to Yelm after the lease expires,” Crose said. “However, the mayor has proposed a couple of options that I will share with my board at its next meeting.”

MR. CROSE & TRL HAVE BEEN VERY UP-FRONT FOR YEARS NOW WITH THE CITY OF YELM, THE YELM LIBRARY BOARD, AREA PROPERTY TAXPAYERS AND PATRONS THAT YELM'S EXEMPTION TO OPERATE IN A NON-PUBLIC FACILITY WAS FOR 10 YEARS & YELM WOULD BEAR THE FULL COST OF RENT IN A NON-PUBLIC FACILITY AFTER 2012!
WHY WOULD THE TRL BOARD CHANGE THAT NOW, WHEN THEY ARE UNDER SUCH FINANCIAL PRESSURE WITH THEIR BUDGET & DOING SO VIOLATES THEIR OWN RULES? NO OTHER TRL LIBRARY IS ALLOWED TO DO THIS.

Harding believes that a three- to five-year extension will give them enough time to develop a plan that can be sustained.

“The city is committed to providing a space for a community library,” Harding said. “What is unknown is how large a space and the location.”

“It has to fit within our current city budget.”

Harding said when Tahoma Terra was designed, there was supposed to be a site for a library, but when that folded, they were back to square one.

“We looked at all kinds of things: finding an existing facility, extending the lease or building a new facility somewhere,” Harding said. “With the economy the way it is now, those options are changing,” he added.

ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS COMMENT FROM MR HARDING: “It has to fit within our current city budget.”
THE YELM TIMBERLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY (TRL) IS A REGIONAL LIBRARY FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXPAYERS FROM ALL OVER THIS LIBRARY'S TAXING DISTRICT & DOES NOT DERIVE FUNDING JUST FROM TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF YELM! ANY LIBRARY FACILITY'S SOLUTION REQUIRES A REGIONAL APPROACH. THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON A FACILITY THAT WOULD SERVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS IN THE AREA. THE CITY HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED THEY WOULD LIKE THAT STRUCTURE HOUSED IN WITHIN THE YELM CITY LIMITS.

WHY WOULD AN EXTENDED LEASE OF 3-5 YEARS GIVE THE CITY OF YELM ENOUGH TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN?
THE CITY OF YELM & MOST CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE DONE LITTLE TO NOTHING FOR THE 10 YEARS THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS EXEMPTION, AND THAT WAS DURING YEARS OF AN ECONOMIC BOON IN THEIR BUDGET, WITHOUT THE BUDGET CHALLENGES THE CITY FACES TODAY. LET'S BE CLEAR HERE, TAHOMA TERRA WITHDREW THEIR OFFER TO PROVIDE LAND AT A REDUCED PRICE TO THE CITY FOR A LIBRARY FACILITY LONG BEFORE THEY FOLDED. THE CITY NEVER GOT OFF SQUARE ONE WITH THE TAHOMA TERRA OFFER BECAUSE NO AGREEMENT ON THE REDUCED-PRICED LAND OFFER WAS REACHED NOR MOVED BEYOND THE COUNCIL'S CLOSED-DOOR SESSIONS FOR PUBLIC CONSIDERATION.

Comments were made by several in attendance at the Friends of the Library meeting about how the city seems to have no idea of the importance and the value of the library in the community.

Former library manager Kristen Blalack agrees.

“I have long been disappointed and frustrated by the lack of interest and support expressed by the City of Yelm for its library – and I believe that it’s up to the citizens of the city to generate that political will,” Blalack said. “A strongly vocal advocate for the library has been singularly lacking, largely, I think, because people take the library’s existence for granted.”

I ABSOLUTELY CONCUR WITH MS. BLALACK!
I MET WITH MR. CROSE, TRL FOUNDATION & SEVERAL OTHER TRL OFFICIALS WHEN I WAS ON THE YELM LIBRARY BOARD WAY BACK IN 2007 ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE YELM LIBRARY BEYOND 2012. THE STORY WAS ALWAYS THE SAME -- THERE WAS NO VISION OR DIRECTION AS REQUIRED BY TRL OF THE CITY OF YELM TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC FACILITY BEYOND 2012. IN 2006, MY WIFE & I COMMITTED TO WORK TO RAISE FUNDS & UNITE THE COMMUNITY TO GET A PUBLIC FACILITY OFF THE GROUND HERE, BY PLEDGING UP TO $25,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS FOR EACH DOLLAR RAISED. WE RECEIVED SILENCE FROM THE CITY.

John Thompson, Prairie Park property manager and Yelm council member, was not able to divulge any of the details of the negotiations.

“Everybody will be pleased,” he said.

MR THOMPSON SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE LIBRARY ISSUE, AS THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH HIS BEING PRAIRIE PARK'S PROPERTY MANAGER AND ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WILL VOTE ON RENTING IN HIS FACILITY. MR. MCGOWAN SHOULD ALSO RECUSE HIMSELF, SINCE HE IS EMPLOYED IN THE YELM LIBRARY BY TRL.

THE YELM LIBRARY BOARD'S REPORT TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, TAXPAYERS & PATRONS OF MARCH 25, 2008 HAS BEEN AND REMAINS THE SINGLE MOST COMPLETE DOCUMENT OUTLINING THE ISSUES HERE FOR THE PUBLIC.
CLICK HERE to read for yourself.

MR. MAYOR, MAY GOD BLESS YOU DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, HOWEVER, CONTINUING TO RENT IN A PRIVATE FACILITY FOR A FEW MORE YEARS ONLY "KICKS THE FOOTBALL DOWN THE ROAD" AGAIN, LIKE THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE FOR NIGH A DECADE.

ANYTHING LESS NOT INVOLVING ALL OF THESE INTERESTED PARTIES WILL JUST FIZZLE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A LACK OF UNITY, VISION, INDECISIVENESS, INACTION & DOUBT, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTES THAT HAVE US IN THE PICKLE WE'RE IN 2+ YEARS BEFORE THE CURRENT YELM LIBRARY LEASE ENDS!

The NVN published my Letter to the Editor on this issue in their January 22, 2010 print edition.
CLICK HERE