My View:

Some Notes About the Recent Safety Committee Meeting
Some Very Interesting Discussions...

    by Dixie A. Walter
         March 8, 2008

         I didn't attend the last safety committee meeting. There are so many meetings in this town lately that I completely forgot there was yet another safety meeting last week. However, I have heard there were very few people attending who weren't either fire department volunteers or law enforcement.
        The leaders of this town don't seem to understand that when people stop showing up at meetings, they are burned out, busy and somewhat confused about the amount of meetings each week. And, if computers are used, every word spoken at many meetings can be heard on Steve Lind's Web site. I know Chief Vellias, of District 15, and others chiefs/firefighters are listening to the audio of these public meetings. And good for them.
        I listened to the audio and transcribed some of the meeting. Some of what I heard made me embarrassed as a citizen. I was very taken aback when Bud Lucas asked Dispatch Publisher Mike Jeffries not to publish what was going to be talked about. Making the meeting public could "scuttlebutt" the deal. I would like to know what would be skuttlebutted. Especially since toward the end of the meeting Lucas said nothing was secret.
       That simply isn't done to members of the media when attending a public meeting. It doesn't look good, because there is a perception that something needs to be kept hidden.
       There are times when media types will hold back on a story if telling it will destroy a court case or something equally important. But those are ethical choices each publisher and editor must make. When a member of the media, such as Mike Jeffries, is asked to play along and keep quiet about the most vitally, important issue at the moment something is definitely not transparent.
       Jeffries has also been keeping a keen eye on the town and has spoken up many times, publicly, about the way this town is being run.
       Since the request to keep the public meeting private came early in a long meeting, it's very difficult to understand what could have been scuttlebutted by citizens knowing what their leaders are deciding, or talking about.

Is There Animosity?

       Even though I'm not sure about the scuttlebutt thing, I'm pretty sure parts of the conversations are something some would not like known. It's not hard to see there is a certain amount of animosity on this committee toward District 15. I don't know if the animosity exists on the other end. But when a council man, former mayor, safety committee co-chair sits during a meeting and, by name, speaks against a member of District 15's board of commissioners, something is definitely wrong.
      Apparently, Rath doesn't care if the commissioner knows what he said as, by now, he should know there are recorders going. It's very interesting and very sad that some of these people who hold our lives in their hands have to be so territorial and just plain bitchy. The audio of this public meeting has been on the Internet for many days. What was said, decided, etc. isn't a secret to people who have heard the comments.
      Bud Lucas, who is a former medic, retired after 28 years with the Tacoma Fire Department, and a safety committee member for nearly two years, called the mayor Sunday, March 2. The mayor states he was "thrilled,"  Lucas called him. Lucas has a proposal. He will work for the town at $1,000 per month (minimum of 40 hours per month).
      Lucas says,  "If you get a chief that's a medic, then go at it, but it's still gonna be an eight hour a day job, five days a week. Pay, I just picked a thousand dollars for nine months.
      "Here's what my proposal is. I'm willing to come on board whether it's an aide to the chief, as the chief, whatever, I don't care. I wish I could tell you I'll do this for nothing. I will administer, and get this thing up and running. I will be glad to do it for the rest of the year."  
       He pointed out that his idea was based on Interim Fire Chief Josh Wikander wanting to leave the position by the end of this month, March 31. Although the mayor said he was going to try and talk him into staying longer.

Rent Medics, Bring in a Trailer to
 House Them?

      Another idea was to hire medics, bring a trailer in and park it next to the fire hall. I'm almost positive this is against town code. Oh, that's right. People who use the town code appear to pick and choose which parts of the code they use. Case in point, the Baublits' property. The town planner, administrator, mayor, and some council members ignored the code which said the project should go to the planning commission before going to the council.
      Toward the end of the safety committee meeting Rath said something about possibly renting a small house or apartment "across the street." There are duplexes across from the fire hall.
      Everyone seems to think lifting the lid on the levy will pass and they will have more money. I'm not too sure this isn't another place where they count the chicks before they hatch. I'm surprised by the number of people who tell me they want to see Eatonville consolidate with District 15. That it will save them money. And there have been people saying this for years. I can't see how this move helps us with advanced life support response times, however.
     The mayor was advised, during the last council meeting, that the town will come up with $150,000 so he can hire a fire chief and paramedic/firefighter. At the safety committee meeting he gave a slightly veiled threat. "...I've been through the budget fifty times and to find another fifty, sixty, seventy thousand dollars I would have to lay off a policeman. That's about the only place we could get it [money] from."
     Immediately Adams said, "We already told you, we're not doing that." Smallwood answered, "I know." Then went on to say, "If we lay off a financial person that money has to go back to utilities where it's paid for."
     Mayor Smallwood eventually informed those in attendance, "I say we do this. Go to council, find a position hire for Bud at $1,000 a month."
     Need proof of what some of our "leaders" are saying? Go to Steve Lind's site http://www.s-lind.com/index_files/packetspage.html, click on "Audio of Public Safety Meeting of 3/5/08," and listen for yourself.
     Yes, meetings are getting longer, and longer, and it's sometimes painful to listen to every word. But you can forward through some of the monotony on the audio. Another plus, you can listen while doing other tasks. And, something we who attend meetings cannot do, you can pause, or stop, the audio.
 

 Below Are Transcribed Excerpts of the Meeting Pertaining to "My View"

Safety Committee Meeting - March 5, 2008