January 2009 Archives

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Guustaaf Damave

This writer knows that you share my love of reading and an appreciation for our great public libraries throughout the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) system. TRL needs our help!

On February 3rd, voters will be given an opportunity to show their support of public libraries. The Timberland Regional Library system is asking voters to approve a ballot proposition to restore funding to TRL, so the quality library services they provide can be continued. Ballots went into the mail on Friday, January 16th.

Won't you join me in voting to support our public libraries and this valuable public resource for our area. Throughout the country, public libraries are closing. Let’s not let that happen in here.

PLEASE VOTE "APPROVED" ON YOUR BALLOT.
Then postmark by February 3rd or drop in the secure Voter's Drop Box in the parking lot directly across from the Yelm Community Schools district office on First St. in Yelm by 5pm February 3rd.

FROM YES! LIBRARY:
"Residents in the Timberland Regional Library’ District’s five-county service area will vote next February 3 on a proposal to restore the system’s property tax levy from the projected 2009 rate of 34.5 cents per $1000 of assessed valuation to the constitutionally-allowed level of 50 cents. It marks the first time in its 40-year history that Timberland has sought voter approval for a tax increase to maintain current levels of service to residents within Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific Counties.

A combination of steadily-reducing rates of property tax collection and sharply-declining timber tax revenues has caused the Timberland system to spend down its cash reserves to avoid cutting back library services to rural areas and cities within the district. Property tax assessments are limited by voter-approved Washington State law, while timber revenues have fallen due to both economic conditions and mandated harvest restrictions.

Timberland Trustees this year made major reductions in the 2008 and 2009 budgets by instituting a hiring freeze, eliminating Sunday operating hours, reducing other personnel costs and slashing funds for the acquisition of new library materials. Despite these actions, the district will consume its cash reserves by the end of 2009.

Without authority to lift the lid on property tax assessments, service levels will need to be drastically cut either late that year or beginning in 2010. Budget reductions could impact staffing, hours of operation, core programs, reference services, collection development, and the ability to respond to changes in technology."

"Library use jumps in Seattle area; economy likely reason"
This Seattle Times headline says it all on why supporting TRL is so critical now!

"Voters should OK more funds for libraries"
This January 15th Olympian Op-Ed piece is well-researched and echoes this writer's views.

Mayor Harding finally speaks to Yelm Library's future
This front page story from the January 16th edition of the NVN quotes Mayor Harding about the future of Yelm's Library beyond the current facility's 2012 lease expiration:
"'As we look toward the future we may need to sacrifice some of the current library facility amenities to continue to provide library services to our citizenry.'

Last year, the most promising option was to move the library into the current City Hall building.

Harding said that appears to be the most viable option given the location and cost.

'There would be no additional monetary cost to the taxpayers.'”

[Ed. Note: We finally have the Mayor giving us citizenry a direction in the future for a greatly reduced-in-size Yelm Library.
That is probably wise in this economic environment and given this city's officials have done little to nothing in almost a decade about a securing a public facility beyond the generous TRL exemption to operate in a privately rented building until 2012. Mayor Harding has barely said anything about the Yelm Library's future the last three years he has been in-office and little to nothing since the 10 year lease in a private building began in 2002, just after he joined the City Council.
I would guess going back into a City Hall set-up is consistent with TRL's leaner budgeting, too.]

This writer asked TRL Administrative Services Manage Michael Crose,
"While a vote in favor of a levy will maintain the current level of services throughout the 5-county system we would hope (at least through 2012 in Yelm), what can I tell Yelm Community Blog readers who say we'll be getting alot less and paying alot more here, now that the Mayor is prepping the public for a much smaller facility sacrificing some "amenities"?"

Mr. Crose responded,"
"Thanks for asking the question. As you probably are aware, we are continuing to discuss options for the City of Yelm. The City Hall building was viewed as a possible location. I believe that from TRL's perspective that City Hall would be OK as a temporary fix. We will continue to explore other possibilities. Our preference, of course, would be for a more substantial facility.

You are correct that we are all swamped with details relative to the Feb. 3 levy. The outcome of that ballot measure will determine in some part how flexible the District can be regarding the development of new, or remodeled facilities. Once we get past that date, "Yelm 2012" will hit my front burner. Regardless of the eventual location, size or shape of the building, we are committed to providing the best possible service to Yelm and the rest of the District."

VOTE "APPROVED" ON THE LIBRARY LEVY BALLOT DUE FEB. 3RD!

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King
in Montgomery, Alabama, April 29, 1966.
(Photo: JRT / AP)

1. "'The dream': One generation imagines, another never doubts"
"Coming a day after the nation celebrated Martin Luther King's 80th birthday, Barack Obama's inauguration as the nation's 44th president is historically significant not just for those who came of age during the civil rights era and never thought they'd see a black U.S. president, but for a younger generation of Americans, some of whom never doubted they could," quoting this very nice Seattle Times story.

2. "MLK's Dream Also Included Economic Justice"
"More than four decades later, King scholars say he would take the same approach at this historic moment - the inauguration of the first black president at a time when the nation is facing its greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The crisis could widen the already large financial gaps between whites and blacks and make it more difficult to attain King's dream of economic equality in America...

Although King is best known for his civil rights work, he was a staunch advocate for economic justice. In the months before he was killed, he had been working on the Poor People's Campaign and calling for an economic bill of rights. When he was assassinated in 1968, he was in Memphis supporting a sanitation workers' strike," quoting the AP in Truthout.

3. "Dedicated to the Proposition: Beyond Civil Rights"
"One woman named on the program of the 1963 March on Washington never got to speak.

Gloria Richardson was a well-known confrontational activist from Cambridge, Md. She successfully fought there for equal economic and social rights for all African-Americans citizens. But when she stood at the podium at the march, she says the microphone was taken away: she was seen as too radical," quoting NPR's The Story. [Ed. Note: I loved this interview and Ms. Richardson's frank truth!].

4. "King to be honored in assemblies"
"Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored in local schools in the coming days," quoting the NVN.

Yelm Community Blog readers knew this decision was coming down the pike covered here on January 9th, 2009.

The Tacoma News Tribune reported in their January 16th editions that the SR 510 Yelm Bypass is in the "Puget Sound region’s ... losers in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s six-year transportation plan (2009-15). Any project delayed beyond 2015 probably won’t get built unless the state gets more money – from higher taxes, tolls or a huge federal bailout.

LOSERS
4. Yelm bypass: Gregoire cut short the work the Legislature wanted to do on Highway 510 this biennium, and pushes the remaining $23 million of work beyond 2015."
The WSDOT site on the Bypass is updated monthly.

This writer attended the Yelm City Council meeting on January 13th and was the only non-staff/commissioner in-audience except a lady and her daughter and an NVN reporter (Ed. Note: Where was the NVN's story in their January 16th edition on this important conversation in Council?).

At the close of the City Council session, Mayor Harding asked for any last comments from each of the members.
Mayor Pro-tem Bob Isom said that if funding for the Bypass comes through, construction could start by this May for phase 1 (near Southworth Elementary thru to Cullen).

Mayor Harding interrupted and said, "or sooner."
Isom said the Bypass deserves a more thorough look from the Legislature for 2 reasons:

1. the gas tax funded this road and if people knew the Governor was pulling gas-tax funding for the Bypass that they voted to implement this road, they would be up in arms.
He said the Gov. has decided to bump Bypass funding to the 2021-2023 biennium, as the Tacoma News Tribune reported) .
2. The Bypass is engineered and is a shovel-ready project, therefore construction could start as soon as funds are released, deserving priority.

Isom did add funding looked distant and only the proposed stimulus package would give the Bypass a chance.
He said the legislature will have a challenge on this.

NEXT QUESTION:
THE 2009 CITY OF YELM BUDGET HAS MONEY ALLOCATED FOR A LOBBYIST IN OLYMPIA TO KEEP THE BYPASS PROJECT ALIVE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. WITH ALL OF THE PRESSURES ON THE BUDGET, WILL THE CITY COUNCIL NOW ELIMINATE THIS POSITION OR LEAVE IT IN, THROWING MORE TAXPAYER MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN?

SO, IF A YELM BYPASS IS NOT FUNDED BY THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR WAL-MART? AFTER ALL, WAL-MART'S TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN WAS APPROVED BECAUSE THE BYPASS WOULD BE BUILT TO RELIEVE THEIR TRAFFIC.

AS DISCUSSED ON THIS BLOG SEVERAL TIMES, UNFUNDED ROADS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO BE CONSIDERED TO HANDLE TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLANS FROM DEVELOPMENTS, BIG-BOX STORES OR STRIP MALLS. I FIRST REPORTED THIS VERY ISSUE HERE ON JULY 11, 2006.

THE PUBLIC WAS DUPED ON THIS ONE!

EXCLUSIVE TO THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

Due to so many unanswered questions and conflicting information, I called Mr. Perez to get his take about not being reappointed to the Yelm Planning Commission. Here are the questions posed from the January 14th blog entry.

1. Mr. Perez sent in an application and the city did not receive it in time?
YES, THAT IS CORRECT. ALTHOUGH MR. PEREZ RECEIVED THE NOTICE THAT HIS APPLICATION WAS DUE NOVEMBER 26, 2008, HE REGISTERED IN HIS MIND A DECEMBER 26TH DEADLINE, SINCE HIS THEN-CURRENT COMMISSION POST WAS THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.

2. Did anyone from the City give Mr. Perez a courtesy call or send him an e-mail asking if he was going to re-apply? After all, this man has served with distinguished service on the Commission for 2 1/2 years and has been the Commission's Chair the last year, nominated and voted the Chair by his Commission peers.
YES, MR. PEREZ SAYS HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE PLANNER TAMI MERRIMAN PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 26TH ASKING IF HE RECEIVED THE NOVEMBER 11TH COMMISSION APPLICATION NOTICE PLUS AN E-MAIL AFTER THE DEADLINE DATED DECEMBER 1ST.

3. Did Mr. Perez use snail-mail and have his envelope stuck in some mailbag, snowbound somewhere between Yelm & Olympia for days? Did he send via an e-mail that went awry?
NO, MR PEREZ HAND-DELIVERED HIS APPLICATION DECEMBER 16TH TO CITY HALL, WELL AFTER THE NOVEMBER 26TH DEADLINE AND 10 DAYS BEFORE THE DUE-DATE IN HIS MIND OF DECEMBER 26TH.

4. Was not one person from the Mayor to the Community Development Dept. to the Community and Government Relations Coordinator curious enough to contact Mr. Perez to find out why he had not re-applied, if they knew an application from him was not received in time?
NO, MR. PEREZ RECEIVED NO CONTACT OF ANY KIND FROM ANYONE IN CITY HALL AFTER THE DECEMBER 1ST E-MAIL REQUESTING HIS APPLICATION, UNTIL THIS WRITER CALLED HIM PRIOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 13TH. HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED HIS APPLICATION WAS DISQUALIFIED, NOR TOLD HE WAS OFF THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNTIL JANUARY 14TH, 2009, THE DAY AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS FOR NEW COMMISSIONERS.

5. Why was there not one question from any City Council member about who the un-appointed incumbent was when the Mayor opened questions to the Council last night on this issue?
GOOD QUESTION.

6. Why did the Mayor not acknowledge Mr. Perez for his years of fine service to the public at the City Council Meeting last night after the Council voted to appoint someone in his place, especially the then-current, sitting Commission Chair?
GOOD QUESTION.

7. Was Mr. Perez dumped by Mayor Harding and Community Development Director Grant Beck for speaking out in the NVN and the Yelm Community Blog on issues he felt passionate about? [Click the NVN & Yelm Community Blog hotlinks for those issues.]
GOOD QUESTION.
MR. PEREZ ACKNOWLEDGED HE DID NOT GET HIS APPLICATION IN ON-TIME AND THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH HIM. HIS DELAY IN TURNING IN HIS APPLICATION WAS BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT SERVING ANOTHER TERM. MR. PEREZ DESCRIBED HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PLANNING POST BECAME STILLED IN 2008 AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ESSENTIALLY SIDELINED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. MEETING ONLY 6 TIMES IN 2008 AND ONLY ONCE SINCE LAST SUMMER CERTAINLY ECHOES MR. PEREZ'S VIEW.

8. Are City officials squelching anyone speaking up that serves who does not tout the City's "Party Line", which previously earned this City Council the 2006 Jefferson Muzzle Award?
MR. PEREZ SPOKE OUT IN THE COMMISSION AND IN A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES AT ODDS WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DURING HIS POST AS CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. YELM'S CITY HALL HAS A HISTORY OF MUTING THOSE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THEIR DECISIONS, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE DECISIONS FOLLOW THE WASHINGTON ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, SEPA, DEPT. OF ECOLOGY DETERMINATIONS OR EVEN A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.
CITY OFFICIALS CERTAINLY DID NOTHING MORE THAN THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM REQUIRED IN CONTACTING MR. PEREZ AND DID NOT EXTEND THEMSELVES BEYOND THAT REGARDING MR. PEREZ'S INTENT TO RE-APPLY; FOR THEIR OWN COMMISSION'S CHAIRMAN. YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE THIS FOR YOURSELF.

THIS WRITER WROTE CITY HALL TO ASK WHY SO MANY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS WERE CANCELED. THERE WERE ONLY 6 OF THE MONTHLY MEETINGS IN 2008 UNDER MR. PEREZ'S CHAIRMANSHIP. SOME WERE CANCELED DUE TO LACK OF A QUORUM. HOWEVER, THIS WRITER WAS TOLD CITY STAFF WERE UNAVAILABLE AFTER SUMMER DUE TO PENDING LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY, REQUIRING THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION.

9. Was Mr. Perez ever told by the City or the Mayor he did not make the cut by Mayor Harding?
NO.

THE NISQUALLY VALLEY NEWS STORY WAS AT ODDS WITH WHAT MR. PEREZ TOLD ME WHEN THEY REPORTED IN THEIR JANUARY 16TH EDITION, "Perez was contacted by mail and phone about reapplying. He was also given an additional week to submit an application."
MR. PEREZ SAYS HE KNOWS NOTHING NOR WAS INFORMED ABOUT BEING GIVEN AN EXTRA WEEK. IF HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT BEING GIVEN AN EXTRA WEEK, HE WOULD HAVE ASKED WHY, SINCE HE STILL THOUGHT DECEMBER 26TH WAS THE DEADLINE.

SO, THIS WRITER ASKED FROM CITY HALL FOR ALL OF THE E-MAILS AND APPLICATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA). IN RECEIVING THE DOCUMENTS, I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM CITY HALL THAT SAYS NO E-MAILS WERE SENT TO MR. PEREZ. "CONTACT WAS MADE BY TELEPHONE."

THAT IS NOT TRUE!
MR. PEREZ HAS FORWARDED AN E-MAIL TO ME DATED DECEMBER 1ST, 2008 FROM MS. MERRIMAN TO THEN-INCUMBENT COMMISSIONERS PEREZ & THOMSON SAYING THE CITY HAD NOT RECEIVED THEIR APPLICATIONS.

THAT IS VERY INTERESTING, AS THE DOCUMENTS I RECEIVED SHOW MR. THOMSON'S APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED IN CITY HALL ON NOVEMBER 18TH, TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO MS. MERRIMAN'S E-MAIL.

HMMM! WHAT GOES ON IN THIS CITY HALL?
- THE CITY SAYS THERE WAS NO E-MAIL CONTACT TO MR. PEREZ WHEN THERE WAS.
- THE CITY SENT AN E-MAIL TO MR. THOMSON REQUESTING HIS APPLICATION TWO WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING IT.

SINCE THE CITY THOUGHT THEY HAD ONLY ONE APPLICATION (THIS FROM THE NVN ABOUT NEW COMMISSIONER ANNE WAHRMUND) FOR THE TWO POSITIONS ON DECEMBER 1ST, THEY SOLICITED THE TWO INCUMBENTS VIA E-MAIL TO RE-APPLY AFTER THE NOVEMBER 26TH DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS.

I KNOW THESE ARE GOOD PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY KNOW HOW TO DO. I KNOW ALL OF THEM REALLY DO CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES.

HOWEVER, WHAT GOES ON IN THIS CITY HALL?

MOST MANAGERS WOULD BE REPRIMANDED OR FIRED IF THEY RAN THEIR CORPORATE DIVISIONS LIKE YELM'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT...

Copyright © 2009 Stephen R. Klein. All Rights Reserved

UPDATE:
On Thursday, January 22, this writer received an unsolicited e-mail from Cindy Teixeira, Community and Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Yelm saying about my records request of Jan. 15, 2009, "We regret the oversight and subsequent delay in providing this information to you" regarding an attachment from Community Development Dept. Associate Planner Tami Merriman who said she found the e-mail she sent to Mr. Perez on December 1st -- and does not know how it was overlooked.

On Saturday, January 24, this writer received a call from Mr. Perez saying he received a letter today from Mayor Harding thanking him for his service to the City. The letter was dated January 15th. HMMM!
Mr. Harding has been away and will be gone until tomorrow (Jan. 26), as his daughter represents Miss Washington in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas tonight (Jan. 24).

Sandra Romero

COME MEET YOUR NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONER SANDRA ROMERO

Do you care about Thurston County?
Have an issue that is important to you?
Want to find out more about the county?

Join us Monday, January 19th
10am - 11am
Blue Bottle Cafe
309 E. Yelm Ave.

Please join Sandra Romero, newly elected Thurston County Commissioner, as she hosts an informal coffee hour. The purpose of the coffee hour is to introduce herself as a newly elected County Commissioner and to hear from Yelm and vicinity residents.

"I hope this will be the beginning of monthly informal meetings that will help me better serve Thurston County citizens."
Commissioner Romero

COFFEE PROVIDED!

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

From Mrs. Romero's flier.

Thurston County commissioners ask governor to appoint replacement,
quoting The Olympian.

One question surely on everyone's minds is this comment from Commissioner Wolfe in the Jan. 17th Olympian:

Wolfe warns of county cutbacks
"Thurston County Commission Chairwoman Cathy Wolfe left a lunchtime crowd abuzz Wednesday after she warned she was prepared to cut the county's budget by an additional $3 million this year in light of the slower economy.
Wolfe made those remarks at the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce's State of the Community forum at the Worthington Center in Lacey."

www.thefuelfilm.com

Fuel is a vitally important film - an award winning documentary that is gaining national interest & has been extended in Olympia until January 22nd at the Capital Theater.
If ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ showed us the problems, ‘FUEL’ provides us with the solutions. ‘FUEL’ is a film about national security and sustainability that is having an enormous impact on audiences, inspiring environmental activism for a renewable energy economy. FUEL offers viable, practical solutions that lead us from here to there. FUEL is now leading the environmental charge, and comes at a time when every one of us feels the imperative to rebuild our economy and when our newly elected administration is at hand with the political will to make the true shift to green -deciding where to focus its priorities and resources at what President Elect Obama believes to be the biggest economic recovery plan since ‘The New Deal’.

Directed by environmentalist Josh Tickell, FUEL has now been short-listed for an Academy Award nomination in the Documentary Feature category, and is set to open in New York and Los Angeles in February of 2009. We are on the verge of creating a groundswell of support for a film that can galvanize the population and send a message to our leaders that it's time for a change...

With your help, FUEL will help focus the nation, but it won’t happen unless people see the film.

The FUEL FILM
Best Documentary Audience Award Winner at Sundance Film Festival, 2008
www.thefuelfilm.com
Distributed by: Intention Media, Inc.

The Yelm City Council received a presentation on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from General Manager Mike Harbour on the Intercity Transit's Six Year Strategic Plan.

Intercity Transit highlights heard by this writer in Council Chambers:
- The next level of increasing service now requires large investment
- Current facilities are maxed out
- Demand from 2002-2008 doubled (total ridership in 5 years)
- There was an 18% increase in ridership in 2008 over 2007
- Most routes at capacity in peak periods
- If Intercity had any available equipment (buses), the would add additional service to Yelm Route # 94, due to the demand out here.
- The effects of the economy have been noticeable in ridership increases and bike racks being filled.
- Van Pool Growth continues with 200 active groups now; 230 expected by June, 2009.
- October, 2008 was a record month for the most riders ever @ 460,000 passengers, which was only the second month ever with a tally over 400,000 passengers
- Tremendous growth in Yelm ridership, especially in dial-up services due to elderly out here and in retirement homes that need rides to Olympia medical facilities and offices
- On-Board cameras have quieted the buses alot
Martin Way & I-5 Park & Ride lot to be expanded from 135 parking spaces to 320, this lot has 135 spaces and daily parks 175 cars.
- A second Park & Ride Lot will be added at Marvin Rd.
- There will be a request for an increase from a .6% sales tax for funding additional facilities & equipment to .8%. The State has a maximum cap of .9 of 1%.

Yelm City Council member Joe Baker is Yelm's representative to Intercity Transit and reports regularly on their work.

The Olympian ran an excellent Op-ed piece on Intercity Transit's plans December 21, 2008.

In reading the agenda for the City Council Meeting of Tuesday, January 13th, this writer noticed New Business appointing John H. Thomson & Anne Wahrmund to the Planning Commission.
["Appointment to the Planning Commission, John H. Thomson
Appointment to the Planning Commission, Ann Wahrmund
Presenter; Mayor Harding"]

The Staff Report from Mayor Harding to the Council says, "In December 2008, the Planning Commission had two term expirations... The Department [Community Development] received three applications, including applications from the two incumbents. It is my recommendation to reappoint incumbent Jon Thomson and appoint Ann Wahrmund to fill the vacant position."

Who was the other incumbent?
And, why were they not selected?
I wrote to Cindy Teixeira, Community and Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Yelm and received this response:
"My understanding is that Carlos Perez is the incumbent not reappointed.
His application was received too far past the deadline."

HMMM!
Now this does beg many questions, does it not?

1. Mr. Perez sent in an application and the city did not receive it in time?

2. Did anyone from the City give Mr. Perez a courtesy call or send him an e-mail asking if he was going to re-apply? After all, this man has served with distinguished service on the Commission for 2 1/2 years and has been the Commission's Chair the last year, nominated and voted the Chair by his Commission peers.

3. Did Mr. Perez use snail-mail and have his envelope stuck in some mailbag, snowbound somewhere between Yelm & Olympia for days? Did he send via an e-mail that went awry?

4. Was not one person from the Mayor to the Community Development Dept. to the Community and Government Relations Coordinator curious enough to contact Mr. Perez to find out why he had not re-applied, if they knew an application from him was not received in time?

5. Why was there not one question from any City Council member about who the un-appointed incumbent was when the Mayor opened questions to the Council last night on this issue?

6. Why did the Mayor not acknowledge Mr. Perez for his years of fine service to the public at the City Council Meeting last night after the Council voted to appoint someone in his place, especially the then-current, sitting Commission Chair?

7. Was Mr. Perez dumped by Mayor Harding and Community Development Director Grant Beck for speaking out in the NVN and the Yelm Community Blog on issues he felt passionate about? [Click the NVN & Yelm Community Blog hotlinks for those issues.]

8. Are City officials squelching anyone speaking up that serves who does not tout the City's "Party Line", which previously earned this City Council the 2006 Jefferson Muzzle Award?

9. Was Mr. Perez ever told by the City or the Mayor he did not make the cut by Mayor Harding?

The best government is one where there are divergent views and those that serve can raise their voices in an honest discourse, not just "rubber-stampers." While I commend Mr. Thomson and Mrs. Wahrmund for stepping up to the plate, what seems to be the apparent dumping of Yelm Planning Commission Chair Perez would be another "black-eye" on how City Hall handles its affairs!

Though Mr. Perez & I have not seen eye to eye on several issues, I have found him to be fair, honest, honorable, and always available to listen. I applaud him for daring to speak his truth in public forums. Yelm Blog readers wish you well in your future endeavors, Carlos!
THANK YOU...

IS THIS "BUSINESS AS USUAL" AS THE MAYOR CALLS IT;
YELM'S CITY HALL MUZZLING ANY DISSENTERS TO THEIR POLICIES?
YELM BLOG READERS WANT TO KNOW!

THIS WRITER INVITES MR. PEREZ, MRS. TEIXEIRA, MR. BECK & MAYOR HARDING TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS WITH YELM COMMUNITY BLOG READERS ON THIS MATTER!

UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2009, 6PM:
Carlos Perez wrote this to the Yelm Community Blog in answer to the questions above:
"I must tell you that for the most part I am the one at fault.
Since my term expired at the end of December, I had it in my mind that December 26th was the cut off date.

I did receive a courtesy call from Tami Merriman advising me that I had not yet submitted my application.
I advised her that I was having second thoughts but that I would make my decision by the following week. She
acknowledged.

I personally delivered my application to the Community Development Group the week before Christmas. November 26th was the official cut off date.

I was notified of the change today [Jan. 14] by Tami. Notification came after the Council made their decision official."

This writer stands by what I wrote -- all-in-all, very poorly handled by the City.
Mr. Perez told me he did not hear from the City at any time AFTER they received his application.

Nor was there one Thank You for the record from the Mayor for his service on the Commission and as the Commission Chair for 2008.

Further, there was not one call saying he was disqualified due to the tardiness of his application prior to the Council's appointments of others last night.
As Mr. Perez stated, he did receive a courtesy email from Tami Merriman [Community Development Dept.] advising he had not yet submitted an application.

If his application was tardy, then the Mayor's Staff Report should have stated that three applications were received, and one was disqualified.

These stories in recent days show the trend - the recession is creeping into our area:

Foreclosures hit Northwest homes, business
More than 50 percent increase over 2007
"Today's foreclosures are a combination of some lingering subprime problems, combined with a slower economy, said Mark Steves, president-elect of the Thurston County Realtors Association. Other factors include the inability to refinance because the home has dropped in value or is worth less than the mortgage itself, he said.

Median home values in Thurston County have not dropped sharply but they were 5 percent lower in November 2008 compared with November 2007, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service data.

Steves, who has worked in real estate for 30 years, is an agent in the Yelm area. In the past few months, he said 40 percent to 50 percent of his business has been fueled by distressed properties — properties already owned by a bank, or in which lender has agreed to sell the house for less than the value of the mortgage, also known as a 'short sale,'" quoting The Olympian.

Business owners should brace for local recession
"Economists from the University of Puget Sound recently told a host of Pierce County business leaders to expect a local recession to begin during the second quarter of 2009...

Meanwhile, Thurston County’s Economic Development Council recently released the first-ever Thurston Economic Vitality Index at its annual Forecast Conference. This index uses a five-year time frame from 2002 to 2007 to capture what the economy has been like and will possibly be like in the future.

'While we have not been completely insulated from recent downturns in the national economy, local and external observers alike suggest we won’t be hit as hard or impacted as long as other areas due to our diverse and relatively-stable employment base and ability to attract investment,' read the report," quoting the Pierce County Business Examiner.

Winter weather affects December home sales
"The Thurston County housing market felt the seasonal effect of winter weather last month as sales dropped 33 percent between December 2008 and December 2007, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported today...

For single-family sales, the data show:

• Sales fell 31 percent to 170 units from 247 units

• Median prices fell 3.65 percent to $249,975 from $259,439

• Listings fell 4.44 percent to 1,591 units from 1,665 units

For condos, the data show:

• Sales fell to four units from 16 units

• Median prices rose 11.65 percent to $206,466 from $184,927

• Listings fell 17.6 percent to 61 units from 74 units," quoting The Olympian.

Rentals make solid investment
"Amid the rubble left behind by last year’s subprime storm are thousands of former homeowners who lost their residences to foreclosure. More, still, either no longer qualify for a mortgage or are wary of signing on the dotted line during such an pronounced economic downturn.

Though Washington has escaped – at least, so far – the dramatic economic fate of the Sun Belt and Rust Belt states, the South Sound has tallied its share of foreclosures. And the local homebuyers market is continuing its recovery – good news for those who own rental property in the area," quoting the Pierce County Business Examiner.

KeyBank national call center in Tacoma to close
"KeyBank's call center in Tacoma is being closed, and bank officials say 200 workers face layoffs this year.
The Cleveland-based bank's regional president, Tom Spilman, tells The News Tribune hr spoke with the affected employees Tuesday. Spillman says other call center jobs will be available to them in Cleveland or Buffalo, N.Y., and other kinds of jobs may be available in the Puget Sound area," quoting McClatchy Newspapers.

Shane Co. seeks bankruptcy protection

Underhill's Furniture to close all four stores
End of the line for family-owned, third-generation furniture business in the Seattle area.

2009 Legislature under way
"Chopp [Seattle Democrat Frank Chopp, Speaker] has made clear House Democrats won’t accept some of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget cuts," quoting The Olympian.

Ed. Note: What surprises are in-store from Olympia?!

The imminent demise of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer announced last week is sending shock waves through Seattle & King County, as this venerable paper has been in circulation since 1863 and if not sold in 60 days, will either continue only in electronic form or shutter altogether, leaving Seattle as a one daily print-newspaper town. That is truly sad.

As stated by Phil Talmadge, Committee For A Two-Newspaper Town co-chairman, former state senator and former Washington Supreme Court justice,
"If the P-I is lost, many of our government, business and other institutions will be monitored with less vigor. The harm to all of us will be immeasurable."

[Ed. Note: This writer agrees whole-heartedly with Mr. Talmadge. I have arisen daily in the cities I have lived to great newspapers like the Louisville Courier-Journal, Miami Herald & Miami News, San Francisco Chronicle & S. F. Examiner, Houston Chronicle, New York Times, NY Daily News, NY Post and the San Diego Union-Tribune. To hear any newspaper's demise is truly sad, for the public is best-served by a plethora of media choices. That most news sources are in the hands of a few conglomerates tells the story. Our locally, owned/operated newspapers, blogs and video media are our best sources in these days of the demise of the dailies.]

The Yelm-based Nisqually Valley News weekly newspaper Editor-Publisher Kevin Graves printed an editorial in the January 10th edition talking about the status of his newspaper in the current environment, saying the NVN has had challenges, yet is holding its own. He took aim at bloggers and attempted to differentiate them from journalists saying,
"Bloggers, for example, are big on lifting information from other sources, including from credible newspaper Web sites. The attribution given to the original source is often meager, and the bloggist's personal agenda and angst are frequently woven into lifted articles in such a way that the original piece becomes less an objective news story and more a biased tirade.
Tada! Just add hot air and you have instant Rush Limbaugh.
Having studied journalism - things such as journalism ethics, reporting and news style - I take great care to keep this newspaper's coverage fair and objective.
I believe it's up to readers to interpret the facts of a story, not to have some egomaniac bloviate and twist information to serve his or her own ends."

This blogger decided to take to the blogosphere in 2006 after being requested by so many to provide an alternate and/or supplemental view of issues facing our local community than just the Nisqually Valley News. This blogger thoroughly checks all sources and provides the link to a story for all to read the complete context for themselves, never having published anything skimping on details for a print deadline.
Now, this writer is contacted regularly by other South Sound media for information about stories of the Yelm area posted here.

Mr Graves touts his studies that instilled journalism ethics and the like, yet where is that practiced when he decides to purposefully withhold news from the public, as was the case in 2005 when he never told the public then-Yelm-Mayoral candidate Harding declined to participate in his newspaper's sponsored Town Hall Forum and why? This writer wrote to a leading South Sound daily newspaper editor and asked if withholding facts from readers was a practice in the newspaper business. He replied his newspaper does not do that and he has not heard of that being done elsewhere, and in particular, on a local story as big as that.

Where is the style and ethics in running a story on the front page without due diligence in getting the facts from both sides before printing an accusation, as was the case in 2008 with developers Bloom & Chamberlain's assertions about JZ Knight's property, just to make a print deadline with some sensationalistic headline to sell newspapers, then having to print the full story 2 weeks later after they did more follow-up.

What about totally omitting to inform his readers of the major part of the ruling by Judge Wickham in a lawsuit against the City?

What about Mr. Graves "personal agenda and angst" woven into his editorials spanning almost three years about bloggers in general, and this writer in particular?

These are just a few examples of reporting and news styles Mr. Graves employs to "take great care to keep this newspaper's coverage fair and objective," as he calls it. HMMM!

Mr. Graves, I would like to propose an alliance. Most newspapers have several blogs. The Olympian has almost a dozen blogs alone. Wouldn't you like to have the continually-growing Yelm Community Blog join together with the Nisqually Valley News to bring more readers to your website. After all, the numbers and participation on your forum show there is little activity there.
A blog would bring more traffic to your website and garner more advertising dollars.
Another view divergent from your own would give some depth to your newspaper's coverage of the area.
I know working with someone that has differing views expands both immensely.
Put aside your dislikes about bloggers and anything personal you have about me as an individual for something greater. I think working together for the betterment of the community would be mutually beneficial for our area's citizens.

As Phil Talmadge stated, "..many of our government, business and other institutions will be monitored with less vigor" with only one daily newspaper. I started the Yelm Community Blog to vigorously monitor and report on local government, business and other institutions.

It's a new day, a new generation. Newspapers must think "out-of-the-box" to survive in this era, including a local weekly. Mr. Graves, if the economy continues this course and more retailers cut spending on advertising, where would your newspaper be if/when Fred Meyer & Rite-Aid decide to pull their NVN inserts?

WHAT DO YOU SAY, KEVEN?

"YELM TRAVEL is a full service travel-agency that has been serving the needs of the Yelm community since 1983. We are a hometown business that prides itself on treating people on a personal level. We offer first class service at competitive prices. We are experienced Travel Professionals and have traveled extensively. Let an expert do ALL your travel leg work for you.

To reach Elizabeth,Cary or Robbi stop by or call today."

COMPARE PRICES WITH US, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED !

Prairie Plaza [next to post office]
10501 Creek St SE
P.O. Box 730
Yelm, Wa 98597
Tel: (360) 458-2333
Fax: (360) 458-4483

TELL THE FINE FOLKS AT YELM TRAVEL YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!
THIS WRITER HAS USED THEIR SERVICES SINCE 1988 & IS A SATISFIED CUSTOMER...

"Bets are off: Indian casinos suffer in bad economy"

"While Indian casinos don't have to report their revenue, gamblers say they are visiting less frequently—and wagering less.
Some gamblers who would have traveled to Nevada are wagering closer to home, casino operators say, but not enough to offset the smaller amounts of money they are spending. Fresnans Donna and Chuck Henderson, who used to gamble every other day, say they now visit twice a month and stick to penny slots.

Gaming analysts say California tribal casino revenues are likely either flat or suffering single-digit declines. Gambling revenues in Nevada are down 22 percent from last year," quoting the AP in the San Jose, CA. Mercury News...

"Casinos rolling snake eyes in bad economy"
"Lotteries, horse racing also suffering as gamblers sit on their wallets"

"Scratch one axiom.

It appears that weathering the tough economy is enough of a gamble for most Americans. Casinos, lottery agencies and racetracks are losing tons of money as gamblers play it safe, laying to rest once and for all the old nostrum that gambling is a recession-proof industry.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported last week that revenue at the state’s casinos fell by 22 percent in October, compared with the same month last year. It was the 10th straight monthly decline — and the biggest ever. The story was even worse on the Las Vegas Strip, where the October take was down by 26 percent. The steep downturn has sparked a movement to lower the legal gambling age to 18...

Washington state casinos, meanwhile, reported a 30 percent drop in revenues so far this year, thanks to gamblers who aren’t willing to bet it all these days.

'They come in less often and spend less money,' said Scott Taylor, manager of the Classic Island Casino in Kennewick, Wash...

'As people have tightened their belts, in some instances across the country, they haven’t chosen to wager at the tracks,' said T. Kevin Flanery, senior vice president of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., home of the Kentucky Derby.

'The gaming industry as a whole has at times been described as recession-proof, but I think that’s not always true,' Flanery said," quoting MSNBC.

WITH INDIAN CASINO REVENUES SHARPLY LOWER, DID THE CITY OF YELM TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ON THEIR 2009 BUDGET POTENTIALLY LOWER INCOME RECEIVED FROM THE NISQUALLY TRIBE & RED WIND CASINO?

Governor Gregoire is again recommending to the State Legislature to NOT spend construction money on the Yelm Bypass. Same as last year. The battle for transportation funds promises to be intense in 2009.

This Seattle Blog link mentions the Yelm Loop project briefly:
CLICK HERE

Note: In the aforementioned Seattle Blog, this is called "good news," which likely represents interests in Seattle, based on the context of the blog's stories.

Looking at this blog's comments another way, "less money to Yelm= more money for Seattle=good".
The lobbyists will fight for every last dollar.
And, Yelm's budget continues to employ a lobbyist to keep Bypass funding alive in the Legislature.

Rep. Tom Campbell obviously sees the writing on the wall about getting nay State monies in 2009 and has added to his focus requesting funds from the Obama stimulus package for the Bypass, covered here recently.

You can rest-assured that Yelm Bypass funding will be dealt a huge blow from I-5 being closed again in Lewis County, the 2nd time in 13 months. This writer sees the State Legislature acting this year to fund fixing I-5 in this area, which will put a further challenge on any possibility to appropriate State money for a Yelm Bypass.

UPDATE:
Quoting the NVN of Januarry 9th:
"Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said he hopes the stimulus package will include the loop project, but that he isn’t counting solely on the funding.

'We’re really just pushing the loop,' Harding said. 'We’ll still be pressing for it on the general budget.'

'We don’t want to give up any of that funding.'

Currently, the city has lobbyists at the capital vying for funding.

The project has funding in the state budget through 2009, and Harding is fighting to keep the project in the budget.

Harding also meets with local representatives to discuss the importance of the project.

'It’s a constant back and forth,' Harding said. 'We’re constantly having to justify.'

'I’m optimistic we can get the project included (in the budget) again.'

The $10.5 million left over from right-of-way acquisition, which was set aside for future project costs, was lost due to state budget cuts.

Harding said if they could get that funding back, the project could start construction on the first phase.

'Phase one could be completed this year.'”

Here are this morning's significant stories relating to conditions around Yelm:

"South Sound faces deluge
Meteorologist: 'We're looking at one of the most significant flood events of this century.'"
From The Olympian.

Two day rainfall totals ending 8:15am today:
Olympia 6.10 inches
From King-5 TV.

Lackamas School is closed today & all other Yelm Schools start late.

Comments left by the public on KING-5 TV at 2:30am
say:
"Bald Hills Road nearer to Clearwood than Yelm, is closed due to river flowing over road.
Maybe passable with suv's.
I got through in my 4 runner, going very slow and watching the depth, about 12" and fast flowing.
Also getting flooded, about 6" on Bald Hills Rd near Fairpoint [telephone yard, across from Stieber Farms]
in Yelm. Reported at 2.30am Thursday morning."

The Thurston County Emergency Command Center reports these other area road closures due to high water:
Neat Rd SE At Fennel Rd SE (the alternate route to get to Clearwood Area via Smith Prairie is closed)

Vail Rd SE At Bridge of Deschutes


Stream flow data for Washington streams.

Nisqually River flooding history at McKenna.

"The Thurston County Emergency Operations Center is working with local fire districts to make sand bags available for people who need them. To obtain sand bags, call the center at 360-754-3360 or go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/em," quoting The olympian.

Official rainfall at Olympia Regional Airport:
January 6 = 1.32 inches nearing the 1.35 inches set in 2002
January 7 = 4.82 inches breaking the previous 2002 record of 1.95 inches

The single-day January rainfall record is 3.82 inches set in September, 1990.

Olympia (nearest official National Weather Service station) was .04 of an inch shy of the all-time 24 hour rainfall
for Jan 6
clocking up 1.32 inches in 24 hours midnight to midnight.
The record for the day was set in 2002 at 1.35 inches

As of 6am, we're alreaDy at 1.27 inches enroute to breaking today's record of 1.95 inches also set in 2002.

UPDATE
2.65 inches OF RAIN was recorded through 5pm on the 7th.

CLICK HERE for several pictures of Bald Hill Rd. flooding in The Olympian.

3.37 inches of rain was recorded through 8pm on the 7th.

The single-day January rainfall record is 3.82 inches set in September, 1990.

Please join us for a public Q&A forum on Jan the 10th, 2009 following the showing of the film Fuel at The Capital Theater in Olympia.
www.thefuelfilm.com
This special event following the showing of Fuel at 6:30 p.m. on the 10th and will include a public Q&A forum with panelists starting at 8:30 p.m.

Fuel is a vitally important film - an award winning documentary that is gaining national interest.
If ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ showed us the problems, ‘FUEL’ provides us with the solutions. ‘FUEL’ is a film about national security and sustainability that is having an enormous impact on audiences, inspiring environmental activism for a renewable energy economy. FUEL offers viable, practical solutions that lead us from here to there. FUEL is now leading the environmental charge, and comes at a time when every one of us feels the imperative to rebuild our economy and when our newly elected administration is at hand with the political will to make the true shift to green -deciding where to focus its priorities and resources at what President Elect Obama believes to be the biggest economic recovery plan since ‘The New Deal’.

Directed by environmentalist Josh Tickell, FUEL has now been short-listed for an Academy Award nomination in the Documentary Feature category, and is set to open in New York and Los Angeles in February of 2009. We are on the verge of creating a groundswell of support for a film that can galvanize the population and send a message to our leaders that it's time for a change.

The success of ‘FUEL’ will certainly help to guide the economic recovery towards real sustainable businesses rather than green-washed technologies such as “clean-coal” or Fords new 30 MPG dinosaur. In addition THiNK GREEN has been invited by Secretary General of the United Nations Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO), to host a screening of FUEL at the United Nations, UN headquarters Building in New York City with leading delegates.

We have received an official stamp of approval from Greenpeace, The Dove seal and The EMA Green Seal who currently view this film as one that their constituencies will find of national importance.

With your help, FUEL will help focus the nation, but it won’t happen unless people see the film.

As President Elect Obama says: "This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were”. NOW is our opportunity for our voices to be heard and here is how you can be a part of this incredible movement that is about to begin – by making this film a resounding success!

We are thrilled to have The Warren Report http://www.thewarrenreport.com/ along with Congressman Jay Inslee moderating distinguished guests and local Olympia activists, who will be on the panel.

We are counting on your support to for full public representation and we will be inviting questions from the audience during this discussion.

Please send this e-mail to all your trusted contacts that you feel might be interested in joining us for this event and help us garner national support.

We at the FUEL film wish everyone a sustainable future.

Rhonah Harvey
Community Outreach Environmental Advocacy
The FUEL FILM
Best Documentary Audience Award Winner at Sundance Film Festival, 2008
www.thefuelfilm.com
Intention Media, Inc.

Please join the Thurston and Lewis County Democrats at a benefit concert for flood victims in Thurston and Lewis Counties featuring outstanding international artists Hye Kyeong Cho (piano), YoonHye Eunice Park (piano) and InnJu Mykyung Kim (soprano).

These fine artists will brilliantly perform works by: Faure', Handel, Tchaikovsky, Piazolla, Milhaud and Korean Folk Songs.

This is a rare opportunity to embrace a world class display of four-hand piano and vocal virtuosity.

WHEN: Saturday, January 10, 2009
TIME: 7:00pm
WHERE: South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, WA
TICKETS: $22
RESERVATIONS: (360) 596-5501 or http://www.spscc.edu/cfa
From the website of the Thurston County Democrats.

Akel Hashim and Charlotte Seidel were co-Valedictorians in the 2008 Yelm High School graduating class, both achieving a 4.0 GPA. Mr. Hashim gave a moving graduation speech to his fellow classmates challenging them to take the education and experiences they acquired here in Yelm out into the world and soar to new heights.

CLICK HERE to see and hear this inspirational and moving talk from one of Yelm's own!

Akel also represented Yelm High in Soccer, garnering several write-ups in the Nisqually Valley News. He was 3 year captain, Second Team All League his Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years, and First Team All League his Senior Year.

Akel is also a student of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.

Akel was the recipient of several scholarships and chose his undergraduate work in Seattle at UW, where he just completed his first semester. He has decided to major in Physics and minor in both Mechanical Engineering and Spanish. He intends to get a PhD in physics, specifically quantum mechanics.

Akel recently told the Yelm Community Blog, "Simply put, I decided it comes down to what I want to do, not based on the job market, because I can always create wealth."

Akel is the son of Yelm residents
Rosalie Saeker
and
Bill & Suzanne Hashim

South Sound Seed Stewards Mission Statement
"Knowing that in our present geopolitical state, many seed companies, which have provided the non-hybrid and open-pollinated varieties, are no longer in business and/or are producing hybrid varieties mainly for the commercial growers, South Sound Seed Stewards has organized for the purpose of:

* Encouraging community independence and self-reliance through producing and sharing locally-adapted, open-pollinated seeds.
* Providing for the home gardener an educational resource in sustainable gardening.
* Protecting and collecting the seed from our non-hybrid, open- pollinated varieties
* Creating a Seed Bank of non-hybrid, open-pollinated seeds which have been acclimated to our region.

Safe Seed Pledge
We shall never knowingly buy, sell or distribute genetically engineered seeds or plants.

South Sound Seed Stewards 2009 Program
South Sound Seed Stewards begins the New Year with new programs and classes for the seasoned gardener and the new gardener. This year there will be special classes for those who have never gardened before. A Healthy Garden List of vegetables grown specifically in the South Sound area will allow you to become sustainable in providing your own organic food source. Learn to produce your own seeds from your garden. Program and class begins Monday, January 12th. CLICK HERE for more information.

CLICK HERE for South Sound Seed Stewards History.

TELL SOUTH SOUND SEED STEWARDS YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

The Yelm Community Blog received this letter in follow-up to the story last week titled "NVN REPORT ON THURSTON HIGHLANDS EIS IS CURIOUS - IN WHAT WAS OMMITTED!"

"Yelm’s community oriented citizens are in a pickle.
The very tenet of the community concept requires participation.
Those who wish to participate in Yelm’s growth are locked out of the process.
There is much lip service from Yelm’s government, but actually service is achingly lacking.

For example, the City of Yelm Community Development Department requested public comment on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community. It was long, technical, and tedious to get through. I’ve spent the last 30 years of my life as an environmental professional, and I had difficulty wading through it. One of the comments I had, among others, was that the community needed more than an extra 15 days to read this document. In addition, I pointed out a number of areas that needed work in order for the environmental impact be used as a decision making document. In typical fashion, comments were received by the City of Yelm, but not heard. I’m not sure the city made any changes to their EIS based on public comment.
Was the EIS perfectly written?
No.
Were there errors in both fact and substance, errors pointed out in comment?
Yes.
Was there a need for additional information before the document could truly be used as a decision making document?
Yes.

The City of Yelm does the absolute minimum required by law to incorporate public participation. I’ve worked all over Washington State with small communities and have even worked with small international communities; the worst local government I’ve ever dealt with is Yelm’s—my home. That is the pickle I experience living here. I want to have a voice in the way my community grows, but at every turn it is denied or nor heard.

If the city were to truly open up themselves to public participation and to give voice to the community that calls itself Yelm, people would come out of the woodwork and participate in a way that would make Yelm a garden spot of Washington. But that won’t happen until our city government gives up their pride and prejudice."

Bill Hashim
Yelm, WA.

Mr Hashim has been an environmental professional for over 30 years and currently works for Washington State's Dept of Ecology. He has lived in Yelm for the past 14 years.

Photo from the Miss America website for Miss Washington

About the Miss America Show Pageant, quoting Wikipedia.

The Countdown to the crowning of Miss America will premier tonight on TLC/Discovery Channel, with the live pageant on Jan. 24th.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Quoting the Miss America website about Miss Washington:
Janet Harding
Yelm, Washington
Age: 21

Education:
Yelm High School
Western Washington University

Platform Issue: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Scholastic Ambition: Elementary Education; Double Major in Social Studies

Talent: Piano

Scholastic Honors: Twin Star Credit Union Scholarship; Presidential Freedom Scholarship; Top Ten of Yelm High School 2005

Career Ambition: To become an elementary school teacher

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Tahoma (Washington State Sweeper Pageant)

From the NVN:
"Before Harding leaves for two weeks in Las Vegas, Nev., she will host a fashion show and brunch.

Guests will get a sneak peak at Harding’s entire Miss America wardrobe.

Harding will also perform her talent.

'It’s really a send-off celebration,' Harding said. 'It’s for those people who offer support and encouragement.'

The event is noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Liberty Theater in Puyallup.

Tickets are $35. Guests must RSVP by Dec. 28.

For tickets call Ron Harding at 360-458-9679 or e-mail rnmharding@aol.com"

More from the Jan. 2nd NVN
and the Jan, 2nd Seattle P-I.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WISHES MISS HARDING WELL IN HER COMPETITION REPRESENTING WASHINGTON STATE IN THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT.

May your 2009 be wonderful in every way;
filled with health, laughter and grand adventures!

Thank you so much for your interest in the Yelm Community Blog.
To be able to have a forum of community discussion with all stories archived unabridged, that can be easily located through a Search function is very important to me.

Look for stories more stories that are might fine to come your way in 2009!

To quote the North Little Rock, AR Community Blog:
"Happy New Year to all our friends, neighbors and even our foes. 2009 promises to be interesting and challenging in light of recent events happening in our city. Our job as citizens is to continue to push forward to improve the livability of our communities and to hold everyone with decision making powers accountable to us who bear the burden."

Steve Klein
Yelm Community Blog Host