With a Nisqually Valley News story and much fanfare in October, 2008 when this locally-owned establishment opened, the Yelm Community Blog is sadly reporting that Joy Burger in the Yelm Shell Station across 103rd from Prairie Park is closing at the end of business today at 7pm.

This is especially sad not only because they have the best burger this side of California’s In-N-Out Burger, yet because they are the ONLY fast-food type burger “joint” around here known to this blogger that still uses & advertises all of their burgers as being made with locally-owned Stewart’s Meats.

Joy Burger ranked as follows in the Best of the Nisqually Valley 2010:
– # 2 Best Burger

WON’T YOU PLEASE STOP BY TODAY & THANK JOY BURGER FOR THEIR SERVICE TO YELM & ORDER ONE OF THE BEST BURGERS AROUND!
TELL JOY BURGER YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

SEE TOMORROW’S BLOG ENTRY FOR MORE ON THE THREAT TO LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

Sure seems Yelm citizens are duped by City Hall’s spin & subterfuge.

Take the recent online comment to a story in the Nisqually Valley News where a writer wrote,

“… the City of Yelm appears to be making progress in the direction of wise spending and fiscal responsibility. To see the city holding back spending and looking at ways to keep budget levels under control, makes me proud to live in a Community where our elected leaders are trying to serve the taxpaying citizens instead of themselves and are mindful of the idea that government works for the people not the other way around.”

PEOPLE SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE, DON’T THEY?

I wrote in response:
Amazing the city has people so duped here. While people think the city is doing so well with the budget, the City Council will vote a 1% Property tax increase for 2011 on Yelm Property owners Tuesday, Nov. 23rd, just like they have been for the last few years. Didn’t see that, did you? Surprise, surprise!
If the city was doing so well in their budgeting, they would not have to invoke what has become an annual tax increase.

YELM PROPERTY OWNERS GET KICKED IN THE GUT – AGAIN
The writer who wrote the newspaper blog must not be a City of Yelm property owner experiencing how the property taxes, water & sewer rates & other city expenses are on the up and up in city property owners’ bills.

Yelm property owners get kicked in the gut again – and will not comment Tuesday, Nov. 23rd at the Council’s Public Hearing on another annual property tax increase of 1%, because most don’t know.
When they find out, it will be too late. Awwwww.

I don’t attend Council meetings anymore because no one around here cares to get involved and the property owners are in a slow boil in the pot of ever
increasing fees & taxes, happy with their city government.
So be it, then.

LET’S TALLY CITY OF YELM ACTIONS AGAINST THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS YOU WON’T SEE PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER IN ONE STORY:
– 50% mandatory water irrigation cutback on Yelm businesses so the city could get a credit with Health for more connections to their water system (meaning more home permit approvals).
– Sewer connection fee of $6,050 plus a $145 site inspection *
– Water connection fee of $5.035 *
– water meter fee of $300 *
– fire impact fee of $32 per square foot *
– traffic Impact of $1,335 *
– plumbing permit of $20 plus $7 per fixture *
* from the November Nisqually Building Guide
– 69% water rate increase from 2009-2015
– 1% property tax increases in 2008 & 2009 and now in 2010 (3% since 2008)
– B & O tax increase in 2009
– Utility tax increase in 2009

As I asked on December 3, 2009:
Think there won’t be more tax increases & service cuts in 2010?

And Mayor Harding says he & the Council are business-friendly?
And, Mr. Harding is President of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce.
If the city was doing so well in their budgeting, they would not have to invoke what has become an annual tax increase.
HMMMM!

There may be some relief in Yelm in the future:
KING-5 TV reported on Nov. 12th:
“Initiative consultant Tim Eyman…is thinking about expanding his I-1053, requiring a two-thirds vote for tax increases for all local government, not just the state.”

ARE YELM CITIZENS & BUSINESSES DUPED?
SURE SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS THE CASE!
YELM PROPERTY OWNERS ARE IN THE CITY’S POT BEING SLOW-BOILED ON TAXES & FEES!

Quoting JZ Knight’s website:

****** OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ******
** SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011 **

YELM CINEMAS WILL PRESENT
A SPECIAL SHOWING OF THE LANDMARK MOVIE:
INSIDE JOB

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011
9AM
ALL SEATS $6.25

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

CLICK HERE FOR THE TRAILER.

Jack & Mops Magical Adventures
Pumpkins and Particle Widgets
By Yelm author Pam Paizs

“As a child, first time author P.A. Paizs was captivated by the magic of the classic “A Little Princess”, and it would become the inspiration for her to write an equally exciting tale for today’s children of all ages: Jack & Mops Magical Adventures, Pumpkins and Particle Widgets.

The story unfolds in a rare and precious setting – an ‘agreeable place’ of hourses with grand covered porches that sit amidst large trees, gardens with flowers blooming throughout the seasons, and fountains that burble while children play in complete abandon. The rich detail is so inviting that once the author begins to introduce concepts about quantum physics and ‘particle widgets, the reader is already captured by the comfort and peace, and willingly allows their imagination to unfold into the science.

Jack & Mops’ Magical Adventures is also filled with references from well known children’s stories like Cinderella, and Paizs effectively weaves those familiar portrayals with fresh and enticing interpretation. Within this delightful book, the adventure is realized both within the printed story as well as within the reader’s mind, and its reading should be savored like a fine brandy,” quoting the current issue of SuperConsciousness Magazine.

Yelm-area author Pam Paizs told the Yelm Community Blog about writing this book:

“This book was inspired by our teacher [Ramtha, the Enlightened One] and is what started the writing of this book a few years ago. It was completed this year. It is delightfully written and is a book for all ages and allows the reader to join the characters with vivid imagination.”

To quote Ramtha School of Enlightenment archivist Jaime Leal-Anaya:
“A fantastic story of the magical possibilities locked inside everyone, a story of hope and great adventure.

You can go on to the website http://newthoughtspublishing.com and read a sample of a chapter.

The book is available in Yelm at JZ Rose or directly through the website.

Mayor Ron Harding

THE STORY:
This week’s Nisqually Valley News (NVN) report by Megan Hansen titled HIGH COURT REVIEWING JZ KNIGHT PETITION demonstrates once again Mayor Harding’s response is not in the public’s interest:

“In response to the approval for review, Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said he believes the case will only be reviewed on whether or not Knight must repay attorney fees.

‘It (sic) going to be hard to argue the merits of the case,’ Harding said.

‘Unfortunately at the point it’s kind of redundant.’

‘Most of the developers are out of business.'”

THE FACTS:
Mr. Harding & the City of Yelm received JZ Knight’s Petition for Review on July 19, 2010 & the Supreme Court’s decision in granting that petition for review on November 2, 2010.

Knight’s website states,
“Knights petition for review asks Washington Supreme Court to reverse the Court of Appeals decision on both the legal standing and award of attorney fees issues. Knights petition asserts that the award of attorney fees is contrary to a state law that prohibits an award of fees against a party such as Knight who prevailed on all issues litigated in superior court and did not file an appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Knights petition states that the Court of Appeals decision is contrary to well-established Washington law. Knight contends that the Court of Appeals decision must be reversed because it undermines important requirements regarding available water supplies that state law requires cities and developers to address prior to approval of development projects.”

THE ASSESSMENT:
Mr. Harding’s belief is incorrect that “the case will only be reviewed on whether or not Knight must repay attorney fees.”

Either Mr. Harding
A. was purposefully deceptive by his response
or
B. is incompetent to understand Ms. Knight’s petition the WA. Supreme Court accepted for review.

Either option shows Mayor Harding does not protect the public’s interests by making such comments, his number one responsibility as a public servant.

BOTTOM LINE:
“Knights petition for review asks Washington Supreme Court to reverse the Court of Appeals decision on both the legal standing and award of attorney fees issues.”
The Wa. Supreme Court granted Ms. Knight’s petition for review.

UNFORTUNATELY, MR. HARDING CONTINUES TO KEEP KEY FACTS ABOUT THE CITY’S BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC!

Photo courtesy Victoria Harper Parsonson,
taken November 24, 2010 from the Bald Hill Rd area

We have so much in our midst for which to be thankful.

THANKSGIVING DAY has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863 & became a federal holiday in 1941.
President Lincoln issued this proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving on October 3rd, 1863:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

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 2011 Program
South Sound Seed Stewards begins the New Year with new programs and classes for the seasoned gardener and the new gardener. 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 10th, 2011.
Meetings are held at the
Yelm Adult Community Center – Senior Center
16530 SE 103 Avenue
Yelm.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with classes starting at 7 p.m.

CLICK HERE for the 2011 schedule.

CLICK HERE for South Sound Seed Stewards History.

CLICK HERE to contact the South Sound Seed Stewards for more info, then click the envelope in the upper right corner.

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

“The National Weather Service reports a record 2.5 inches of snow fell at Sea-Tac Airport on Monday. The old record for the date was 1.5 inches set in 1977,” quoting The Olympian.

Five inches in Yelm reported. The 17 degrees at Olympia Regional Airport was not a record low. 0 degrees was recorded in 1985.

KOMO-TV 4 in Seattle reports,
“You also have to go back to 1985 to find the last time we were this cold — and this snowy — before Thanksgiving.”
KOMO reported last night that there has never been two November days recording a high temperature that did not get above freezing at Sea-Tac, in recorded history. Yesterday & today will break that record.

“The City is proposing a 1% increase in the property tax levy to raise revenues for essential expenditures for the fiscal year 2011.”
This will be a slam-dunk tonight as no one will show up for the Public Hearing and even if they did, the City Council has already made up their minds – this will be done!
This WILL happen & is a slam-dunk unless the city postpones the meeting due to weather. Doesn’t matter whether now or at the next meeting, this will be approved.

Now, what does this NVN commenter think of the city’s benevolence?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE CITY OF YELM!

YELM ISSUES IN RECENT DAYS

1. BYPASS
None other than
Don Shields
Claims examiner, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
echoed my views about the Bypass in his Letter to the Editor in the Nisqually Valley News Nov. 12th:

Low speed limit a safety issue or just a cash cow?

By Don Shields
Claims examiner, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Cindy Teixeria said on the NVN Facebook page:
“If you don’t like the limit, don’t blame the City of Yelm. It is a state highway and the limit is set by DOT. Just so you know.”

Ed. Note:
That’s correct, as I wrote her, however why is Teixeira so defensive for Yelm? No one is blaming the city, though the state sets the speed limit in conjunction with city guidance. I already wrote Rep. Campbell about raising the speed limit on a road designed by the state for 50 mph speed limits.

2. CREATING JOBS
Mayor Ron Harding’s statement in the Friday, November 12, 2010 edition of the Nisqually Valley News seems to underscore our community’s lack of leadership when he says,
“Another bonus [about the Les Schwab Tire Store opening], Harding said, is chain businesses such as Les Schwab, Walmart and Safeway draw other businesses into the community,” quoting Megan Hansen’s report.

Yes, Harding is correct; more “chain businesses” are drawing-in more “chain businesses”. Yelm’s main street has been likened to becoming Spanaway’s Pacific Ave, what with all of the worldwide names of chain stores here.
With the Les Schwab opening, Yelm has finally arrived at that description.
“Chain busineses” as Harding calls them, are mulit-national corporations that pay the highest price for road-frontage land, as local property owners cash-out along Yelm Ave. before the values drop further.

Dave Johnson wrote for Institute for America’s Future:
“Businesses do not create jobs. In fact, the way our economy is structured the incentive is for businesses to get rid of as many jobs as they can.”

3. YELM’S BUDGET
Megan Hanson reported in last Friday’s Nisqually Valley News:

Yelm 11 budget down 30 percent

“With revenue and expenditures down about 30 percent from two years prior, Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said, the city is maintaining and proceeding conservatively….

[Ed. Note:
That’s an average decrease of 15% a year and may not be enough!]

“The sewer fund is losing a little bit, partly because rates havent increased in a couple years, Harding said. One thing the city will be looking at is increasing sewer rates in the next year.

Though, it shouldnt be more than a few dollars on a bill, he said.”

[Ed. Note:
The NVN Building Guide insert states the Yelm Sewer Connection fee is already $6,050, water connection fee is $5,035. How much more annual additions to the water bill can city folks handle?]

“Also maintained within the budget is the citys contracts with the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce, Yelm Adult Community Center and USBO.”

[Ed. Note:
Ahhhh, yes, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, where the Mayor is President and yet presides over a city council providing public funds for the Chamber.
Appearance of conflict of interest? HMMM!]

“The library budget was also increased to $53,000.

The city budgets money every year to help cover facility costs for the Yelm Timberland Library. This year the library budget increased about $6,000.”

[Ed. note:
Of course, as covered here, current library locale & Prairie Park building owner Margaret Clapp will probably offer the city a sweetheart deal to remain a few years, collecting a low rent from the city rather than having her building mostly empty. You watch!
So, the city is preparing to pay her rent request.
This is a slam dunk…
City Hall just cannot be up-front & truthful with area tax-payers on this subject.
Notice the continued silence on the issue of the future of the Yelm Library.]

4. STATE BUDGET IN CRISIS
And last, the NVN reports:
Gov. Gregoires statement on latest revenue forecast

Published: Friday, November 19, 2010 3:16 PM PST
“Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on todays revenue forecast, which projects a loss of $385 million for the current biennium:

For the past two years we have been squarely focused on navigating the effects of the great recession. Our revenues have been closely tracking to the September forecast which is why today’s news comes as such a great surprise. Further across the board cuts, which would add 4.6 percent to the 6.3 percent reductions I ordered last month, are not feasible.”

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES – MORE BUDGET CUTS WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO YELM!