ADIEU ADIEU

Ruston, WA Regular Council meeting Monday November, 16, 2009 7:00 PM

Mostly about the budget and the budget deficit reduced from $600 thousand dollars to $130 thousand dollars mostly due to coordination between Police Chief Jeremy Kunkel and Mayor Bruce Hopkins. Mayor Hopkins received many plaudits for his arduous and intense work on the budget.

Another big ticket item the last council meeting for Council Person Dan Albertson who is to be replaced immediately after vote count is verified as he was appointed to the council. Praise was forthcoming from all for his service and dedication to the Town and his high intellect. Dan at times could be controversial but no one doubted his dedication and diligence. You would be well armed to have him on your side.
Hopefully he will retain his interest in supporting the Town of Ruston and its namesake Point Ruston.
Times are changing in this small town and its future looks bright with major projects underway investing in the Town's future.

The rest was fairly mundane, this meeting starting after two study sessions:
1) METER DEPOSITS 5:30 to 6:00 PM
2) BUDGET DISCUSSION 6:00 to 7:00 PM
neither of which I attended. CDs are available at Town Hall FOIA Public Records Request required.

STAFF REPORT
Don - all firefighters inoculated against H1N1 Swine flu virus
Jeremy - on Halloween Town Hall was opened up with candy for kids coffee for adults. Fire engine was present. Their was a great turnout.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim - talked about opening up Special meetings (EPA) to allow both sides of controversial issues to be heard. Suggested a second meeting to allow all citizens, property owners in Ruston to be heard.
Sherri - Congratulations to old council. Anything new on street lights?
Edith - concerned about ever day parking. Town employees and Court attendees take up all available parking places on streets. Wants house next to Town Hall (owned by Town) to have asphalt placed on front yard to provide additional parking for Town employees.
Jeremy - Thanks to Sherri who donated teddy bears for the Town's Halloween party.

BUSINESS
Agenda item #1 - MORRISSETTE proposed amendment #1
. Congratulated Town on obtaining on receiving USDA loan in the amount of $5 million dollars.
Jim - What amount in budget?
Bruce - Haven't put in yet.
Dan - $600 thousand dollars reserve in budget. Can we borrow or use our reserve? Can we put loan proceeds in reserve fund?
Bruce - We receive loan money only when work is completed.
Jane - Need motion to amend.
Wayne - Go back to original.
passes 5-0
Agenda Item #2 - Ordinance No. 1299 - UTILITY TAX RATES (second reading)
David - Taxing electric, natural gas and telephone at maximum rate. Title 35.
Jim - Due date?
Jane -
. Adopt 1299 second reading.
. Six percent maximum allowed.
. Goes directly to general fund not to special fund.
. Not our intention to raise thousands of dollars.
. Every municipality I know of charges this rate.
Jim -
. $50 thousand dollars.
. Not enough data. Need to get credible data.
. Shortfall pays for itself.
. Bring Ruston into the 21st century.
Sideline - Jane - May respond, Bruce - strike that. Brings laughter from audience.
Note: I can't always understand my own notations so did best I could on this one. Please comment.
passes 4-1 Wayne NO.
Agenda Item #3 - Ordinance No. 1300 - AD VALOREM TAX LEVY FOR YEAR 2010 (second reading)
David - Open to public comment as this is public meeting.
Sherri - I speak for this. Takes every one's ability to raise Ruston. I support this tax.
Public comments closed.
Bradley motion to approve Ord. No. 1300 Jane second.
passes 4-1 Dan NO.
Agenda Item #4 - Ordinance No. 1301 - FIRE INSPECTIONS (second reading)
Bradley - motion to approve, Jane second.
Bradley - Unclear if this applys to home businesses?
David - Paragraph 5B Out of Home businesses exempt.
passes 4-1 Dan NO
Agenda Item #5 - Ordinance No. 1302 - RESIDENTIAL UTILITY DEPOSITS AMENDMENT - (second reading)
Motion to table this item, second.
passes 4-1 Jane NO
Agenda Item #6 - 2010 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Bruce -
. This is a followup for those not attending Special Session.
. Any input from the Council?
Wayne - You have done a great job.
Jim - Can we make changes?
Bruce -
. Not right now. Make changes on soft copy.
. Budget pressure right now Utility Tax deposit $75 to $90 thousand dollar shortfall.
. We have made tremendous strides most cuts from Police Department.
. Hope is that Point Ruston will contribute in future years.

CLAIMS AND PAYROLL passes 5-0 Dan abstain

MAYOR'S TIME
. Last council meeting we had DARK SKY in mind.
. One in place corner Commercial street and Baltimore street.
. Boggling! Couldn't believe it.
Note: Looks like a medieval armor mask. Ugly. Totally unnecessary as previous light was adequate and provided for safe streets. Another run up the cost on Point Ruston $1 thousand dollars to $11 hundred dollars per pole. Muggers and burglars, car prowlers will love this. So much for SAFE STREETS.
Bruce -
. Notified Electrical Engineering to install new lights.
. Will use down Winnifred street.
. Jane - Light shines down not up.
. Talk with Mr. Cohen Thursday not good salesman.
Note: Already spends twice as much in Ruston as Tacoma and never satisfied. Why are the original lights NO PROBLEM in Tacoma? Something sinister going on here.
Bruce - No brainer.

COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - Nothing at this time.
Bradley -
. Thanks to Mayor and people who ran safe and sane campaign.
. No street signs.
. Thanks for service to Dan and Wayne (outgoing council members).
Jim -
. Officer Lawless honored.
. Thanks Karen for budget document bringing us to a more professional budget discussion.
. Thanks Mayor Hopkins for time invested in budget.
. CEPA timeline for appeals on Ruston side of Point Ruston has expired.
. Thanks council person Dan Albertson for his services to the Town.
. Wants to put past clashes behind them.
. Praises Dan's intellect as very good.
. Wife is due May 18th. Makes joke about baby's name.
Dan -
. As Husky fans we can come together.
. Appreciate opportunity to serve.
. I gave my best effort. Said exactly what I thought.
. Thanked Town Maintenance workers for service. They deserved raises.
. Last Special meeting with EPA and Project Manager Kevin Rochlin:
.. What he said was disappointing.
.. Residents wanted 230 ppm not 20 ppm.
.. People lobbied not true.
.. Rejected Seattle lab data.
.. Hopes next council stays on top of this.
.. Longtime residents not sufficient proof of overall risk.
.. Tempted to end my final night with:
... Nixon quote "You won't have me to kick around anymore"
... But decided on Martin Luther King's "Free at last".
. Thanks Council member Wayne Stebner for sticking to unpopular causes.
. Thanks Council person Jim Hedrick. No personal disagreements. He works hard.
. I leave with good thoughts.
Jane -
. Thanks people who voted for me.
. Want to contribute to Town.
. Thanks Dan and Wayne for their service.
. Thanks volunteers for helping us through tough times.
. Missed last meeting because of Hotel fire. Had to flee in my slippers and pajamas.
. Congratulations to newly appointed Police Chief Jeremy Kunkel.
. Thanks Mayor for arduous and tedious work on budget.
Wayne -
. Dan was appointed. His term ends this meeting.
. I was elected and have two more meetings.

Town of Ruston officials:
Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson, Jim Hedrick, Wayne Stebner, Dan Albertson, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton
Planner, Rob White
Clerk/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
Electrician, Mo Fesharaki

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