Yelm’s Mayor Ron Harding answered questions on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 before senators in the State Legislature about State Bill 5867 stemming from the case of JZ Knight vs. City of Yelm et al.
CLICK HERE for information on the bill.

The Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee asked about why the lawsuit against the city came forward.
Mayor Harding said the litigation is a land use issue.
He opened his remarks by saying funding for city improvements to roads could not have been accomplished without the growth here, and to limit growth because of this water case would hurt the city in the long term.
That is NOT exactly true, as many of the existing street and sidewalk improvements were completed with federal or state grants. Most of the miles of new roads and sidewalks added to the city’s grid were in new developments, for which the developers paid.
Harding was asked if the case is in appeal and answered that was so.

Harding went on to say, “The opponent (JZ Knight) used water and water timing as a mechanism to stop growth in the area.”

“What came out of the Superior Court was a vague ruling…
the opponent may feel they won,
yet we feel we won?”

Ed. Note:
Knight wants to stop growth?
She has made very clear this not about stopping growth, rather requiring the city to provide water resources prior to final plat approval for a development and following state law on the city’s water appropriations from the State Dept. of Ecology. The court agreed with Ms. Knight.

Vague ruling?
There was nothing vague in the ruling by Superior Court Judge Wickham. The Court was VERY specific in the final judgment.

The city may feel it won, however, even The Olympian reported last November the city lost the case:
Judge says Yelm must prove it has water
Condition placed by city on subdivisions ruled illegal

“The city has lost the latest round in an apparent precedent-setting case that will determine when and to what level a city must prove it has the water to serve a planned development….”

IF THE CITY WON, MR. MAYOR, THEN WHY DID YOU APPEAL THE CASE?

Harding has not been so credible or truthful in his previous statements about this case.

Now, the Mayor has taken his spin to the State Legislature. One can only hope they do their homework on this case and find out Mayor Harding was not totally factual with them.
CLICK HERE to see Mayor Harding’s comments before the Senators:
Beginning of SB 5867 Hearing: 32:40
Ron Harding Testimony: 40:55
End of SB 5867 Hearing: 56:00

Would Mayor Harding have said the same thing to the senators if under oath?
HMMM!

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT MAYOR HARDING’S CONTINUED WHITEWASHING OF THE FACTS ON THIS ISSUE?

UPDATE:
JZ Knight issues official statement on this issue February 26, 2009
CLICK HERE

The NVN story of Friday, Feb. 27
CLICK HERE