Public Safety Building housing Council Chambers, Yelm

– Tonight’s Yelm City Council Agenda requests temporary fixes at the Public Works Dept.
Mayor Harding has crafted a City Council Agenda requesting of the Council:
A. “Authorize Mayor Harding to add and fill two seasonal worker positions that will provide support for the Public Works Parks Department.”
B. “Authorize Mayor Harding to approve the purchase of one 2016 Ford F150 for use by the City of Yelm Sewer Utility in the amount of $23,077.50 [replaces a “totaled” vehicle involved in an accident.].”
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Editor’s note:
These are only stop-gap measures that do nothing to address the
1. lack of additional, permanent staffing needed at the Public Works Dept. and
2. funding to handle an overworked sewer utility that needs to be upgraded immediately to handle Yelm’s explosive growth. While there are plans to talk about funding this, such discussions need to be top priority no matter how challenging and difficult the funding options may be. A Czar should be appointed to discuss the issues and options with residents, as they will not be happy to hear more rate increases are ahead if the city chooses to not bond improvements.

Has EVERY City Councilor sat down with Public Works Director Ryan Johsntone for a complete overview AND taken a tour of the facilities to get updated from his years of experience, before he leaves his post for Bonney Lake on June 22nd?
Certainly not!