• Editor’s note: To-date and two months later, there has been no motion on the council’s agenda for the Splash Park and equipment cost overruns. ONLY the city council can authorize budget expenditures and the mayor’s ignoring a counselor’s request for a cost overrun motion is a very serious issue, perhaps requiring the State Auditor’s attention.

Councilor Carmody requested at the August 13th council session an answer “regarding the over-budgeted Splash Park and playground equipment.”

“I wonder when we’re going to be seeing a request for a budget amendment for council to vote on?” Carmody requested of Mayor Foster. Mayor Foster’s uncommitted response was, “We’ll get the answer to you as soon as we know.”

Councilor Carmody brought this issue forward again at the September 3, 2019, Study Session. “Quoting the Minutes, “When [will] the Budget Amendment will be presented to reflect the Splash Pad/Playground overruns?”

• Story highlights
• Final Splash Park cost of upgrades and the splash pad was $1,005,359, yet the 2019-2020 budget for the project had been $641,984, or $363,375 over budget.
• Splash Park overruns were underwritten by re-allocating $363,375 in city street, water and sewer capital project funds.
• Councilors Carmody and DePinto noted the council was not consulted on the overruns nor the re-allocating of capital projects to cover the overruns, lacking transparency.
• Council has sole responsibility for funding the budget and capital expenditures.
• Where is Mayor Foster’s oversight to ensure the council IS the singular funding authority for city of Yelm capital projects? Sorely lacking at best!
• Did Public Works Dir. Bedlington’s superiors direct him to enact the cost overruns?
• The Yelm Municipal Code clearly states oversight of city regulations being followed falls first with the mayor and then his city administrator.
• Even the NVN did not give the city a “bye” on this one. Read more

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