Mayor Ron Harding

Editor’s Note – An Investigative Report:
One of the nation’s leading legal experts, Jeffrey Toobin, CNN’s legal analyst since 2002, wrote a thoughtful piece published in The New Yorker calling for a presidential pardon of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, “about a case that has become perhaps the most notorious political prosecution in American history.”

Toobin’s story “Why Obama Should Pardon Don Siegelman?” asked this key question:
“Why do local contractors support mayoral candidates?
Why do real-estate developers give to prospective (and incumbent) governors?
Because they want something.”
Read more

This question reminded me of Mayor Harding’s Achilles heel –
lack of transparency in the the public process
– From the Nisqually Valley News, January 12, 2007:
“With one whole year as Yelm’s mayor under his belt, Ron Harding has performed many official duties, including attending new business openings and community events… When he attends the special ground breaking for Yelm’s new golf clubhouse next week, instead of scooping up a handful of dirt with a symbolic golden shovel, he’ll get to sit in a big machine and scoop dirt with a real bucket. Harding was invited by the developing duo of Doug Bloom and Steve Chamberlain, who bought the golf course and dilapidated country club. They are now creating a first-class space for regional golfers to enjoy. Tahoma Terra Country Club’s ground breaking ceremony is 1 p.m., next Thursday, Jan. 18, at the site of the former building on Mosman Street, two blocks off First Street and State Highway 507.”

– From the following two Nisqually Valley News editions.
The NVN reported in its January 19 and 26, 2007 editions about Yelm Mayor Ron Harding turning over the first blade of dirt in the new Tahoma Valley Golf Clubhouse owned by Thurston Highlands Associates Steve Chamberlain and Doug Bloom and who were also featured in the February Yelm Chamber Prairie Viewpoint. Yet in the January 19, 2007 NVN, the owners of the golf course, also the developers of Tahoma Terra and Thurston Highlands, offered to give the city water rights if half of the available water could be used for the Tahoma Terra development.

– Mayor Harding made no effort to avoid an appearance of a conflict-of-interest.
The city funded the developers’ private water study without a contract for repayment.
The developers defaulted, left the city with over $100,000 in debt, unpaid taxes and fees and with the capped golf course well unusable, due to the expense to bring it online.
Additionally, when Senior Water Rights holder JZ Knight brought a lawsuit against the City of Yelm for approval of development plats without proof of water availability, the developers and Mr. Harding blamed Knight for the hundreds of thousands of dollars the city expended to defend their case, while doing all they could to intimidate Knight in the media. Knight took her cause all the way to the WA. Supreme Court and won – the result was that Yelm had to follow the law and not toss aside rules in favor of developers.

– Now, the City of Yelm is at it again, blaming a property owner for the city’s legal bills.
Sara Foster’s case is against the Dept. of Ecology granting a more-than-doubling of Yelm’s water rights to continue growth with developments. Recently, the WA. Supreme Court accepted to hear this case as well, a rarity with two cases from the same town accepted by the state’s highest court.
Read more

– Further, the WA State Auditor has told the City of Yelm that in a city of Yelm’s size,
they must publicly post bids for proposed contracts over $10,000 so everyone can have equal opportunity to have the information to participate in bidding for city projects. There is supposed to be no favoritism nor lack of transparency in the public process.
Read more

– Bottom Line:
While Mr. Harding does not like me speaking out on these issues and says I have something against him (I genuinely find Ron likeable, I do not appreciate his politics/avoidance of the public process),
Toobin’s question is pertinent to be asked here, in a city bent on again doubling growth within 10 years:
“Why do local contractors support mayoral candidates?”

Let me state on-the-record I have no issue with developers, for they bring value to towns and cities.
However, I draw the line when there is a quid pro quo as the mayor and his staff make commitments and promises to developers that they may not be able to deliver. I also take issue with developers who are too dollar hungry for their plats to be approved by the city and turn a blind eye to all reason, becoming naive or ignorant to deliberately cross a line in their coziness with city officials. All of this is done without transparency behind closed doors and when the facts emerge, the messenger is badgered, verbally attacked and belittled (as in the Knight case).

– UPDATE: May 1, 2015
“Department of Health Approves New Water Connections for Yelm”
“The Washington State Department of Health has approved new water connections for the city of Yelm.

The city now has 594 new water connections available for residential and commercial growth, up from less than 100,” quoting the NVN.
Read more

Mr. Harding can no longer deny my assertions of his single-mindedness about growing this city. Yelm’s population has almost doubled during his tenure and could top the 10,000 population mark during his current term [ends in 2017].

Preparedness Updates in Yelm conclude tonight with this OPEN TO THE PUBLIC seminar,
especially pertinent following the devastating Nepal earthquake!

National Preparedness Month is in September.

“Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates is currently seeking vendors that are interested in participating in our annual Health and Wellness Fair located at the Yelm Medical Plaza.

This event will be an opportunity for you to introduce your services to the local community and connect with them on an individual basis. We expect individuals from every facet of the community and others seeking to gain knowledge as to what is available locally.

The deadline to submit a vendor registration is June 1st. Vendors are encouraged to register as soon as possible so we can begin advertising and finalization for the event. Applicants will be confirmed in July and will receive additional information on parking, set up and clean up.

We will also be doing several raffles throughout the day for Health Fair Participants. This will give your business an opportunity to talk about the services you offer and draw the winner for your raffle item. Please let us know on the registration form if you are able to donate an item. Thank you in advance – your generosity is appreciated.

In the meantime, please reserve August 6, 2015, 9am- 3pm on your calendar.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to working with you!

Shelby Carter
Marketing Coordinator
Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates
Phone: 360-754-3338
Read more and vendor registration form.

Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates – Yelm
201 Tahoma Blvd, Suite 208
Yelm, WA 98597
360-400-3338

Yelm AFLAC agent June Hershey

– Introducing AFLAC agent June Hershey.
AFLAC Yelm
American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus
Agent: June Hershey
305D Creek St.
Yelm, WA 98597
Phone: 360-561-6688

Hershey is on the Board of the Yelm Chamber.

– About AFLAC:
More than 50 million people worldwide have chosen Aflac insurance because of the confidence they get from knowing they will have financial assistance when an illness or serious accident occurs. Now that’s something to quack about!

QUACK FACTS

Aflac is a Fortune 500 company.
Aflac’s assets at year-end 2012 totaled more than $118 billion with annual revenues of more than $25.4 billion.
Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, insuring approximately one out of every four Japanese households.
Aflac has a presence in all 50 United States, and in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Aflac Incorporated, its employees, and its independent sales associates have contributed more than $79 million to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Aflac is committed to a healthy environment and sustainable business practices.
Read more

Drawing courtesy: City of Yelm
Editor’s Note:
I have been getting so many questions from the public about the small footprint of the foundation now noticeable at the site of the Yelm Community Center at Yelm City Park. I have told everyone this is a much smaller version of what the city approved to do an end-run around two failed public ballot measures to build a community center here.

UPDATE: April 28, 2015
“Port Invests in Thurston County’s Small Cities”
“For the sixth year, projects in Thurston County’s small, incorporated cities will receive a boost from Port of Olympia. On April 13, the Commission approved funding matches for economic development projects in Bucoda, Rainier, Tenino and Yelm, at $10,000 each.”

“Yelm will continue construction work on its new community center (pictured above) in Yelm City Park, which is the heart of the Central Business District and historic downtown and within easy access of visitors and residents alike,” quoting Thurston Talk.
Read more

From the City of Yelm:
“In 2013, the City Council approved a Master Plan for Yelm City Park that included a complete update of the park as well as a spray park, a new skate park, and a 10,000 square foot community center. The total cost for all improvements was expected to be around $6.7 million. City voters rejected a bond to pay for the entire park upgrade.

The City Council had previously budgeted $1 million for a community center, and the Washington State Legislature included another $1 million in the 2013 capital projects budget. Additionally, the City received a Community Development Block Grant for $439,000 to construct a new Skate Park.

The Mayor and City Council, after reviewing options with key stakeholders, chose to phase the Master Park Plan and complete Phase I, the Community Center project to fit within existing funds. [Note: Not going to the public taxpayers for a vote.]

The City hired the design firm BCRA to complete the design of a 5,000 square foot community center.
[Note: half the size of the 10,000 sq. ft. community center the public voted down twice.]

The design includes 3,300 square feet of multi-purpose space which will accommodate events of up to 250 people.
[Note: not even the half-sized 5,000 sq. ft. community center.]
The space can be divided in half to host smaller events. Roll up doors will allow the interior space to be used in conjunction with Yelm City Park for community events such as Prairie Days and Christmas in the Park. [Note: the costs of the design changes have been staggering!]”
Read more

– $1 MILLION ADDED TO LIBRARY DEBT WITHOUT PUBLIC OK
The Yelm City Council approved adding an additional $1,000,000 to the $1,000,000 Library Bond for a 4,950 square feet community center, without public input. Yet the Nisqually Valley News reported October 30, “The new community center design includes a 3,300-square-foot multipurpose space.”

– How do THE voters feel that voted this down on 2 ballots?