RICH TOWN POOR TOWN

Ruston town council meeting Monday Nov.3, 2008 @ 7pm:

It started pretty orderly with agenda items 6 and 7 moved to 2 and 3 with Fire Chief Don Torbet's presentation on HAZMAT and INFECTIOUS WASTE interlocal agreement and discussion. Without these agreements the Town Hall could, possibly, be shut down for an indefinite period of time.

Agenda item 2 An ordinance relating to dogs in public areas and designated off-leash areas (second reading) was move to agenda item one for Steve Taylor but was then cancelled.

Agenda item 4 - Ordinance No. 1269 - An ordinance adding a chapter 1.18 "General Penalty (second reading) was passed 5-0. Got the skinny this time. This ordinance was required because of "illegal dumping" on 49th street where the culprits thumbed their nose at the Town as the applicable ordinance had no teeth, no enforcement provision.

Agenda item 5 - Ordinance No. 1271 An ordinance authorizing an emergency expenditure for settlement of legal claims (second reading) passed 5-0. This ordinance settled the claim by former Police Chief of Ruston for $125,000 cost to the Town with legal fees to be paid by AWC, Association of Washington Cities. Mayor Bradley Huson allowed for public comments and there was only one inquiring of any other cost to the Town and the response from the Town Attorney was brief and to the point: that this being a SETTLEMENT the amount stipulated was the total and final amount.

Agenda item 6 - Ordinance No. 1272 An Ordinance for supplemental budget for Engineering Services (first reading) was passed 5-0 with a plea from Council persons Wayne Stebner regarding failing sewers and Dan Albertson citing need for paving an alley.

Agenda item 7 - Resolution No. 435 Engineering Services - this is where things started going askew when they got to authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for Town Engineering Services. Item 7.B. of the PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT called for "mileage at the rate which the Internal Revenue Service allows per mile without supporting documents."

This got the Tacoma cabal twins into an immediate tailspin. We should take this out and hope they won't notice it Dan implored. Remember previous meeting where annexation to Tacoma was the only answer as the Town was sinking into a financial abyss. Dan continued "strike this" (mileage), hold it over their head in future discussions. Jim Hedrick said something about sending out a letter? This mileage imbroglio followed Council person Jim Hedrick's comment "we are dead in the water, cannot proceed without Town Engineer, or apply for grants." It should be noted the engineering firm, J. M. Morissette & Associates of Lacey, WA was selected by Mr. Hedrick and former Mayor Bob Everding after extensive interviews. The mileage would only apply to engineering services provided on an "on call" basis, in other words emergencies as I recollect. It is the big items with Dan and Wayne. This continued into public comments and council time.

A public comment pointed out it was about 30 miles to Lacey and we are talking about five dollars in mileage charges allowing for two gallons of gasoline. Cry POOR but make the lawyers RICH. Lawsuits out the ying yang: Commencement (ballet classes), Police Chief (refused illegal order) and the Point Defiance Casino (take down that sign) for MILLIONS nothing left for critically needed Engineering Services mileage. Cry poor on town service spend big on lawsuits, a sure road to bankruptcy and annexation to Tacoma but more likely Pierce County. When we get to Council time you will see that is the plan and they are sticking to it.

General Public Comments -

Marlys - shrubs blocking sidewalks, dangerous uneven sidewalks.
Sherrie- Thanks public employees for HALLOWEEN part, leftovers for Seniors.
JJ - Point Ruston website up, complete survey for types of businesses (Jane: Trader Joe's)
Jim - HAZMAT beware of mail in, skimping on gasoline, the waste goes on

Mayor's Time - Bradley Huson

Working with Pt. Ruston sewers on Baltimore Street, working budget with Town clerk, working with Town Planner regarding amount budgeted through 2011 including Shoreline Management plan, has six applications for Police Chief, five for officers, Town website up needs short bio on Town, photos of Council members. Ugh and ugh.

Bradley, the Town of Ruston cannot thank you enough for your diligence and hard work as pro tem Mayor supporting the Town despite nitpicking and backbiting from two council members. When I worked at a large business they had a saying "when you have an important job to do and need it done quickly and accurately, give it to the busiest employee!!!" You have gone above and beyond filling this void and we can only hope you will put your name in for full time Mayor otherwise we will all have an empty feeling on November 18th.

Council Time -

Stebner - Thanks for Halloween, sewer, budget, new Mayor will only have one and one half months (Bradley will assist). After a coordinated effort to remove all employees from Clerks who were BC (before cabal) and succeeding in removing one assistant Town clerk refusing to change from part time to full time and not on the other under union protection. Now Wayne wants to add more tasks to an already understaffed clerks office. He wants budget over under, surplus property report, now quarterly, provided to him and Dan monthly. Smell something fishy here. Also wants B&O taxes increased and copies of all applications provided to him personally. What door did this guy come in? Budget report quarterly due out soon.

Hedrick - fix typo (Dan) in letter of commendation for outgoing Police Chief Reese

Albertson - Thanked Steve Taylor for letter on off leash pet area, Seconded Stebner on need for Monthly budget reporting, doom and gloom over losing interest on Town time deposits. Town is going broke syndrome. Then it was going off on Point Ruston: EPA not doing job, need executive oversight, is anybody looking at it from Town's side? Got in a jibe on Wingard lawsuit (PRRs) has problems according to Dan. How do you know this?

Wingard supported Point Defiance Casino on injunction Ruston Attorney refusing to stipulate on 3-1 vote in Council increasing tax. Yes, Dan I tried to save thirty or so jobs, eight to thirty thousand dollars per year taxes to the Town. Dan enough money to pave that alley you go on and on about. Dan a member of your cabal or maybe you didn't like their sign. You made an inquiry as to whether Point Defiance Casino paid death tax before closing gambling business. Reply was yes, in trust. That tax could be still be being paid if your neighbor Town Attorney had stipulated yes. You were there Dan consulting for over an hour at the hearing. Dan, you have never been elected to anything in this Town of Ruston. The annexation thing is wearing thin. Ruston has a better chance of making it without you. Give the Town the break it deserves and resign.

Hunt -

Need is great for Engineering firm. Point Ruston will be on PC Assessor's roll next year, fifteen million. There were many kudos for the Halloween party throughout the comment period.

Adjourn - 8:12 pm congratulations.