SHOWDOWN RUSTON

Ruston Town Council meeting February 2nd, 2009 7pm:

Countdown till November
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The boys their days are numbered,
There's trouble in the Town.
The town folk woke up deluded,
They're gearing up for a big take down.

Item 6 Budget Discussion (Albertson)

Daniel at his best pro Tacoma monologue: No criticism but my worst vote ever was for this (2009) budget. We are spending two dollars for every one we take in. We have made no cuts (budget). We are surviving on the surplus property fund. We have no revenue projections. We deed a (drop dead) date that we run out of money. Maybe 2014 with no increase in expenses, we are burning through the money. To use an analogy building is on fire and Point Ruston is the fire department but the economy may not improve. Now to the real issue:

options when we run out of money:
(1) - ANNEXATION to Tacoma need to investigate what that entails, benefits, need talks.
(2) - UN INCORPORATE and become part of Pierce County with lower service levels.

We have a potential to go bankrupt and then what? Then we have nothing to offer Tacoma. Reasonable managers need options. We need to open dialogue.

Bradley - Opening dialogue with Tacoma fruitless. We have tried it prior and got a big yawn "Why would we be interested in Ruston?"
Wayne - makes motion to open talks with Tacoma (never voted on). Maybe not a bad thing, could be positive.
Jane - We need a 3-5 year plan.
Dan - I know the Mayor opposes this still we need to examine.
Bruce - We face a challenge to remain Ruston.
Jim - Anybody can shout "righteous indignation". Any member can setup liaison but it doesn't happen that way. The people would have to vote to dis incorporate.

PUBLIC COMMENTS -
Karen - You were not elected, appointed to annex to Tacoma. You are not fulfilling your duties.
Jim - Re: bankruptcy. Stop involving the Town in ridiculous lawsuits: Ballet Classes vs. Commencement (Wayne) and take down your Sign vs. Point Defiance Cafe and Casino (Dan) and when they refused taxing them out of business.

SPECIAL COMMENT -
Let's reconnoiter, this didn't just appear out of the blue. It has been their stated goal since day one. Remember back when their was great discontent over the Commencement and "the Cabal" came to power in 2006. Wayne and Bob being elected while Dan was defeated. Remember their spaghetti campaign feed at the Yacht Club. One of their main planks was to close every business in Ruston. After that no person outside of the cabal has been appointed to a town office which gets us where we are today. Didn't this come up once before when Wayne and the gang were having secret meetings with Tacoma back in 2006 and were uncovered on a PRR to Tacoma?

Well that was our worst day. They were hired to govern not destroy. I think the oath of office states that. Then came Daniel on an appointment, no other applications taken, no public input. I remember the supporting comment "We need him now!" The greatest mismove in the history of Ruston. We have lived under the misrule of the cabal for three years but the end is in sight if we can hold together until November and the ship is righted.

Thankfully, The Tacoma Cabal is now down to two and thus their misrule is coming to an end in "righteous indignation". November can't come soon enough.

Question: Police department budget $420,000 good place to start on reducing the $500,000 budget deficit. Why so high?

Coming up SEWER DILEMMA.

Town of Ruston officials:

Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson
Council, Jim Hedrick
Council, Wayne Stebner
Council, Dan Albertson
Council, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton

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