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Town
Council Regular Meeting Sept. 9, 2002 by
Dixie A. Walter
There was no study session preceding the
regular Eatonville Town Council meeting Sept. 9. The
financial situation at the Community Center is in
the critical stage. The town had to rob Peter to pay
Paul in order to keep the facility from sliding into
red ink. Budget woes, the hunt for grant money and matching funds, painted curbs and power to the new Mormon Church were discussed as well. Sparks flew over a perceived conflict between historical preservation and the Alder St. Park site. The meeting also tolled the final bell on the always-controversial “Skateboard Park.”
Public Works Director Jamieson Van Eaton
informed the council he would be gone from “Sept.
20 through Oct. 13.”
He reported that a warranty had expired on a
$3,800 switch at the “treatment plant” which
needed replacing. Van Eaton told the council,
“Mike Tiller was persistent although it was beyond
warranty we still got the part for free. It seemed
like it should have lasted just a little bit longer
than one year. So, good job, Mike.”
He also reported that, “Airport manager Hal
Burlingame requested a meeting to discuss some
problems they’ve been having at the airport. We
had…a good meeting. It was just a matter of
pointing out some of the ordinances already on the
books. No vehicles, pedestrians or animals on the
runway, unless you’re loading an airplane.”
Van Eaton said there were 44 permits and 84
inspections, “Both of these were up from last
month, and I’m certain August is going to be our
busiest month.” There were no funerals in
Eatonville during Aug.
Regarding the town parks the director of
public works explained, “Matching grant funds for
Smallwood Park are being discussed with the grant
folks. We have an active two-way communication
between which of our expenses are eligible and
we’re working our way through that now.
The Alder Street Park Committee meeting was
held August 29 at the town hall. Some highlights of
that meeting were that the committee has asked Mart
Kask [town planning consultant] to provide a cost
estimate to produce a master plan.” Van Eaton added, “I have contacted Mr. Brian Bowden with the Mount Rainier Park services to join the project, to provide no-cost planning efforts/expertise to the rivers and trails portion of the project. The plan is to have both Mr. Kask and Mr. Bowden at the September 24 committee meeting at town hall.”
Continuing his department report, Van Eaton
said the “sidewalk project should begin toward the
middle or end of this week.” Public works replaced
two more “Buckle-Up” [Click it or ticket] signs,
completed painting all the town curbs and, “We
placed two tons of cold patch and seal on town
streets…on our concrete streets on Mashell and on
Center Streets. We trimmed and fertilized the town
trees.”
Regarding the power and light department, Van
Eaton explained, “We’re continuing the phase on
Dow Ridge to extend three-phase power to LDS Church
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints].
We’re still about 30 days from that. If they
wanted to pay us overtime to get there quicker we
could do that. But they haven’t expressed that
interest.
“We continue to have indications that Eagle Glen subdivision
could have a significant power outage and we’re
planning to make that repair based upon $8,000
trenching across Center Street that AT&T is
going to provide the town at no cost. With inventory
material that we have it won’t cost us anything.
So that’s our number one priority after the LDS
Church.”
Van Eaton stated, “Negotiations are under
way with the property owners for the town to buy the
land for new well field sites. I’m gathering
information to bring to council after I get back
from my obligation, approximately late October. We
are still pursuing developer contributions and
sorting out a feasible plan [for the Hilltop
reservoir].
“I attended the August 14 Nisqually Watershed planning group
meeting. It’s interesting to note that the towns
of Lacy and Yelm are requesting additional water
rights. But those rights will not be considered by
Ecology until the Nisqually Watershed Plan is
completed.” He further stated, “Part of my role in assisting to complete that planning is, I’m one of five reviewing the proposals for a phase-three report that will be done by the consultant. After the consultant does this report, there’s one more report. Everybody is trying to get this whole project wrapped up this year or early next spring.” “I reviewed a draft ordinance report for drainage plan,” Van Eaton said regarding the sewer system, and added, “It was returned to the consultant for final report.” He also pointed out that Eatonville is at the “top of the list” for preparedness in the event of a disaster. And thanked Police Chief Jim Lewis for putting the Disaster Mitigation Plan together. Van Eaton explained, “Our plan is approved all the way up to through the federal level which is the top level. At the next meeting [Disaster Mitigation Plan] there will be a workshop on how to prepare the plan. That’s how far we are.” Regarding future grants Van Eaton again told the council, “We applied for approximately 2.4 million dollars worth of street pavement improvements. I’m hoping to get one or maybe two of those which means we’ll have to have as much as $60,000 in next year’s street budget in order to afford our grant participation.”
Eatonville Police Chief Jim Lewis passed
out copies of the Town of Eatonville Emergency
Operations Plan to council members and stressed some
of the contents were confidential, “There are
phone numbers to every organization involved in the
Emergency Operations Plan; therefore, you can’t
let them lay around where somebody can grab them.”
Lewis asked the council to read the plan. The chief noted, “I’ve been the Emergency Operations Coordinator for Eatonville since I was appointed chief going on five years. Our book is tried and true. During the earthquake we were the only ones who actually had a book, had a plan and it went somewhat smoothly, but at least we had a plan and we were on top of it with the EOC for Pierce County and the feds, right from the get-go…This book will be good as a plan up to 2005.”
Lewis also drew attention to the free
gunlocks project. “On September 28, between 10
a.m. and 4 p.m., the lieutenant governor is going to
send a big motor home out to give away free gunlocks
to anybody and everybody in the Eatonville area.
It’s going to be parked right at the flashing
light at Center and Washington Avenue…So anybody
who needs gunlocks please come on out there.”
Town Treasurer Melode Akervick gave the
council a dismal report concerning the Community
Center; “I do want to draw the council’s
attention again to the Community Center. We are
within less than a month of being in the red and we
cannot be there. I don’t believe we can do an
inter-fund loan because they have absolutely no way
of paying anybody back.” Akervick detailed the money crunch, “The $631 of receipts you see is, the $600 current expense paid for PSIA rent…The other little amount is…just what they charge the seniors for participating activities.”
Akervick asked Town Clerk Carrielynn
Loffelmacher, “What did you find out?”
Loffelmacher answered, “First of all we can do an
inter-fund transfer if the council would approve
that. It has to be by resolution and we can take it
from the general fund…The Community Center
averages spending about $1,800 to $2,000 a month. So
we need to transfer $7,500 to finish out the
year.”
Loffelmacher explained that she would be gone
when the next council meeting takes place. But said
she would “send” a resolution to the council for
the Oct. 7 meeting if that is what the council
desired.
The treasurer also pointed out,
“Everybody’s [facility renters] paid.
We’re just absolutely not generating any funds.”
Van Eaton said, “I ran a spread sheet on
this based upon what our expenses were through
August. We have budgeted an allocation of $17,400.
If we project our rents based upon the eight months
of the year, that projects out to $10,000. So
there’s a $7,000 shortfall in rent right there.
Loffemacher introduced Kim Grossguth, the new
Community Center and Parks Events Coordinator,
saying, “Maybe she can tell the council what
she’s doing. And maybe you have some ideas for her
about what she can do to get this building
rented.”
This is a new position for Grossguth who has
worked at the center for two years. She explained,
“I have been at this for two weeks now. I’ve
been looking at avenues for ads…I’ve tried to
get people to rent the place. There’s a lot of
issues here. But what I need to understand is how
much more revenue I need to bring in?”
Akervick responded, “You need to bring in
enough to cover $1,800 a month.” She said the town
pays $600 monthly for PSIA rent and “everything
else is really small,” and added, “There is no
more money coming in. Everything has been accounted
for.”
Grossguth told the council, “I’ve
talked to you about the Skateboard Park problem
one other time. I’d like to know who is
accountable in this town for what goes on in that
back parking lot 24 hours a day. It needs to be
moved. I’m sorry, I like all the kids and I get
along with them, I’m out there everyday talking to
them. But something needs to be done.” Eatonville Mayor Harold Parnell stated, “It was almost moved, and I was talked out of it.” Parnell asked the council if he should move the skateboard ramps “tomorrow.” He said, “I think what she’s saying is, the reason we’re not getting money in is because of the park.”
Grossguth answered, “A lot of it is the
park. I’m doing my best to put out ads. I’ve
drafted a flyer. I’ve called all the churches.
I’ve called everybody around town to see if our
prices are comparable.”
Council member Pat Hamilton asked if the
prices were comparable. Grossguth answered in the
affirmative but added, “I have one problem and
that’s the kitchen. I think the kitchen is a
little too high.”
Lengthy discussion followed regarding
utilities, transfer of funds, where the funds would
come from and improperly installed toilets.
John Blomberg spoke from the audience.
“…I don’t think the council can take care of
the problems during a council meeting. I would like
to see Kim and maybe some senior citizens and the
youth people get together, and find out what the
facts are on the finances. Find out how much money
is coming in from where, and what the expenses are
for the building. Then we could come to council with
a plan…this is the way the building can be used.
If we could get a good plan by the next
meeting…then the whole community would start
saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got to use that
building.’”
The public works director pointed out,
“…We’re down $7,000 in rent income this
year. That really throws the budget into a tailspin.
If we’re going to take a new look at having $7,000
less revenues every year, then either we’re going
to have to make those cuts at the senior center
[Community Center] or find the money elsewhere.”
Mayor Parnell noted, “We’re also going to
lose the rent from the district court. So we’re
going to have to take a good look at the budget.”
Council member Chelan Jarrett asked Parnell
if he wanted to form a Community Center Committee,
and he said that should be done. And council member
Bob Schaub asked Grossguth if she had any
suggestions concerning programs that would bring in
rent money. Grossguth answered, “Yes - birthday parties, graduation parties, baby showers. We don’t have anything like that because people think this is a Senior Center, not a Community Center…”
Council member Ray Harper stated, “I’ve
heard people say it’s too expensive, and
obviously, if we’re not renting it, maybe we need
to lower the prices.” Grossguth explained the fees
are comparable. However, she noted fees were
different, “If you’re a member of the Eagles you
get one price. If you’re a member of the Legion or
the Lions you get different prices. For example, to
rent the Eagles it’s $175 for a member and $225
for a non-member, and you get no kitchen with
that.” She added, “Our kitchen is way high. If
you rent the whole room and the kitchen, it’s like
$700. It’s $220 to rent the kitchen for the
day.”
Schaub suggested benefactors, “When you
come in the door, you see that board where people
make donations. Every time you make your donation
it’s added to the board.”
Hamilton and Blomberg volunteered to be on
the Community Center Committee. Grossguth
assured the council, “There’s a lot of
solutions. And I do have a lot of plans.”
Resolution 2002-Z asked “The Town of
Eatonville Council authorization to hire a planner
to provide a master plan for Alder Street Family
Recreation Facility.” Eatonville is positioned to
possibly receive a $150,000 REET [Real Estate Excise
Tax] from Pierce County provided the town can match
funds.
Van Eaton explained, “The skateboard
committee recommended to council that the best site
for a skateboard facility is the Alder Street area.
The historic society also has plans for development
of the Alder Street property where the historic
cabin [is located], and for additional museum
related activities.”
Continuing, he gave a summary of the meeting,
“…The committee recommends the following. Begin
the process of rezoning Alder Street to C-2, general
commercial, to accommodate the historic cabin and
the family recreational facility. And to seek
council authorization to hire a master planner with
funds identified in the budget.”
“The committee believes that hiring a
professional planner to receive public input, and to
additionally receive input from the historic society
and committee members, that an objective and
workable plan will emerge.”
Van Eaton said, “With a plan and a
conceptual rendering, and map of the project, the
committee believes that additional grant funding
will become available for the project and for future
expansion of the project, possibly including a river
crossing to Smallwood [Park] and trails to Pack
Forest.”
Council member Mike Gallagher stated, “I
think it’s wonderful that we have the opportunity
to accept this $150,000 grant. But five minutes ago
we were talking about a $2000-a-month deficit.”
According to Harper, “This money comes out of the excise tax
specifically stating that we use it for parks. I
think we have $8,000 to get the plan in that
account. Gallagher remarked, “So that leaves us
$142,000 short, to match the $150,000?”
“If we use that land it will be part of it.
Plus, Mr. Lachney’s got different money he’s
going to go after,” Harper noted.
Gallagher asked the council if they
understood his position. “We’re in a budget
crunch. We’re losing funds.” Again he said the
funding was a wonderful opportunity and was for the
project, but thought if it couldn’t be done the
council “shouldn’t be wasting our time.”
Harper reassured Gallagher if the land is
used for matching funds, “It will be quite a bit
of money. I don’t think we’ll have any problem
finding funds.” To which Gallagher replied, “I
just hate to be in this spot again twelve months
from now. I think we should be very cautious.”
According to Van Eaton the “general fund
would not be impacted by this particular project.”
Explaining, “The senior community center is
dependent upon the general fund.” Jarrett commented, “We’re saying we’re going to ask Mart [Kask] to draw up the plan, and we’re saying there’s $8,000 available. If I was Mart, I’d be smart and say it was going to cost $8,000.”
Van Eaton spoke to the “capabilities of Mr.
Brian Bowden, who is a master planner himself, who
works at Mount Rainier. When I indicated to him that
we had a project down here, and described it, he
reprioritized his schedule to become part of this
project.
“It’s in his scope of work to come to
towns and communities around Mount Shasta, to assist
in projects like this that enhance the local flavor
of the town.” Adding, “You know I’m not
certain Mart is going to weigh in for the $8,000,
because he’s going to have somebody here that’s
free, who is really capable of doing as much as
himself.”
“However, “ Van Eaton noted, “I think we need to be
mindful of the fact we have a professional
that’s being paid to deliver something at a
certain time, rather than a volunteer that may, or
may not, meet the time schedule.”
At this point Mayor Parnell said, “Mr. Van
Eaton, I think you mean Mount Rainier instead of
Mount Shasta.” Laughing, Van Eaton apologized and
explained, “I used to live at the 4000-foot level
of Mount Shasta; sorry.”
Jarrett suggested authorizing “Up to $2,500
for a preliminary. Then if we feel like it’s going
the way we want, we could spend more money if we
wanted to.” Van Eaton answered, “If the council would grant some authority for the committee to advance this project, even $2,500 would do for a phase. Then phase-two could be identified at a future time.”
A motion was made by Jarrett, to “accept
Resolution 2002-Z amended to say the council hereby
authorizes the town to hire a master park planner
for up to $2,500 for phase one of the park plan.
Schaub seconded the motion.
Hamilton, who is also president of the
historical society, told the council, “For
quite a number of years, I’ve had a dream. I
dreamed that I would be able to be part of, or at
least instrumental, in doing something really good
for the town I love. Being that I love history, I
thought this [museum] would be the ideal way to do
something for this town.”
He emphasized, “Every time you make one of
these motions you’re putting another nail in the
coffin, in the coffin of ever having an historical
museum.”
Continuing, Hamilton said, “You started out
by having a meeting. I was supposed to be a member,
and the meeting was held without my knowledge. You
had three different choices for a skateboard park,
all of which have been rejected by someone.
“Not one of you tried to come up with new
solutions, or even tried to find another piece of
property. I personally went around and found one I
think would be much better than any of these
three.”
Making his point even clearer, Hamilton
stated, “Now you’re having these meetings of
which I’m not allowed to attend, because it would
make a quorum. I don’t feel I have a voice in
these meetings your having.” Hamilton warned, “But I’ll tell you one thing. I think I’ve got a little bit of power. Maybe I’m wrong, but every time you do some of this, I’m going to be rejecting it. Because I think, personally, that half a museum is far worse than none. And that’s exactly what you’ve got in mind, putting in a picnic area and a park area and a skateboard area, and the rest a little area for the historical museum. I’m going to oppose it all the way. I think that I will have a little bit of say, because any lease agreement, I will be the one signing it.”
Harper declared, “We are hiring a
professional planner. We’ve invited the
historical society to put their input into it. You
[historical society] may get most of that land. We
are trying to compromise here; you’re not giving
the opportunity. It’s either your way or the
highway!”
Hamilton responded, “I don’t know if you
all realize all the hours, time and effort I put
into getting that land prepared [for the cabin]. I
put several hundred hours in, between myself and
friends of mine, who brought machinery to do the
clearing. And the cleaning and adding top soil to
that property to stabilize it. All for what? All for
naught!” Continuing in the same vein, Hamilton emphatically stated, “I’m pretty upset about that. And I’ll tell you what. I’m opposed to anything but the historical society on that site. That’s what we had planned in the first place and that’s what we need. This town needs it very badly. This town has history galore that’s buried right now. It will remain buried and if we don’t have a museum this council will answer to the public. I’ll make sure of that.” Mayor Parnell reminded Hamilton, “I have been a very staunch supporter of the historical society. I saved the cabin by coming to the council when they were going to sell it. I was the only one at the council. I spoke up and they didn’t sell the cabin.”
Parnell asked Hamilton, “Is two acres big
enough for you? You want six acres or two miles?
What do you want? I stepped it [the property] off,
and there’s two acres. Mr. Hamilton, I know you
put in a lot of time, because you did not let
anybody else put it in…you had to be in
charge…”
Hamilton
interrupted, “Bull----.”
Parnell finished his thought, “…you had
to be in charge of everything. That’s all I have
to say.” The
meeting closed after the mayor asked for a vote on
the amended resolution. The motion carried with one
opposed. The next scheduled council study session and meeting is Sept. 23, starting at 6 p.m. for the study session and 7 p.m. for the regular meeting. Council meetings are held in the Community Center.
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"Pity
the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that
made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful." |
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