This writer sent an official letter for consideration at tonight’s City Council session, that while City Administrator Badger referenced prior to the vote, the entire City Council ignored, except for a joke by Council member Don Miller:

“I am writing to request that you again reconsider Agenda item 8C (Mayor Harding to authorize a 2012 contract on behalf of the City of Yelm and the Yelm Chamber of Commerce) Tuesday, December 27, 2011, which presents an appearance of a conflict of interest with the fact that Mayor Harding also serves as the Yelm Chamber of Commerce President.
I suggest you intervene and instead of Mayor Harding being involved on this item, that you should direct Mayor Pro-tem Isom to authorize.

Mayor Harding’s signing the previous provider agreements with the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and his involvement in getting the Chamber’s electronic sign approved while serving as their Treasurer and then President after Glenn Cunningham’s departure, were also appearances of a conflict of interest, as the city’s of newspaper of record then reported, as well.”

Ed. Note:
I have always been amazed that this city’s leaders will do nothing to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest.

THIS IS THE KIND OF COUNCIL THAT YELM CITIZENS HAVE AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, ALL IGNORING AN APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST!