FINAL EDITION 2009

Town of Ruston regular council meeting Monday December 21, 2009 7 pm:

Short meeting 35 minutes. There are less long winded diatribes lately. More of a budget, business attitude. Of note, Wayne Stebner's last meeting having served four years.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
One person listing accomplishments of last four years.
1- Annexation to Tacoma campaign
2- Getting rid of Ruston Volunteer Fire Department campaign
3- Ballet lawsuit v The Commencement
4- Sign removal lawsuit v The Point Defiance Cafe and Casino (still ongoing)
Two people complaining of lights on STACK HILL.

BUSINESS
Agenda item 1 Resolution 457 Extension of Agreement for Judge Sandra Allen
Passed 5-0
Agenda item 2 2010 BUDGET
BIAS Software Accounting purchase
Wayne, Bradley motion second.
Jane - To Mayor, appreciate all your work. Voting for.
Jim -
. Echo Jane, very knowledgeable, understanding of Budget.
. Mayor has done due diligence providing information
. Have spent hours working with Chief Kunkel
. Understand where he is going
. Feel pretty good about budget
. We are starting 2010 on a good footing.
. Borrowed $139 thousand dollars from Surplus Property Fund
. Burn rate significantly lower
. $500,000 last year came out $343,000.
. My complement to the Mayor
passes 5-0

CLAIMS AND PAYROLL not available
Town employees have been paid
Extend C & P until January 14th meeting.
passes 5-0

MAYOR'S TIME
. STACK HILL lights- strong argument (Kevin Mosier) to replace
. Now is the time, save on price and shipping.
. Letter to Mr. Cohen, POINT RUSTON, type of lights for Point Ruston on Ruston side need approval by Ruston Planning Department.
. Putting in at first of permit process
. Thanks Mark for BIAS software presentation (Special Session preceding)
. Loss of Clerk/Treasurer dilemma less with BIAS
. Provides tremendous opportunities, efficiencies
. BIAS - allows online utility payments
. STEBNER - Thanks outgoing council person for four years dedicated public service. People should appreciate his volunteer services. Always readily available.
COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - Nothing
Bradley -
. Thanks for finding positive solution to Clerk/Treasurer problem
. BIAS hour very positive
. Happy Holidays see you January 4th
Jim -
. Spent time with Chief Kunkel to identify problems
. Will have cost estimates for upgrades to provide Police protection
. Expansion and down the road improvements
. Thanks council person Stebner for four years service
Jane -
. Lights on STACK HILL need to check zoning
. Need to pass law for Town Planner and Planning Commission
. Thanks Stebner for four years, did a great job
Lyle - Thanks residents for support

8:35 adjourn

NOTE: Clerk/Treasurer will not be replaced. Will use BIAS accounting system.
After four years of discord and opposition to development we were hoping for change.

a) Lights on Stack Hill basically the problem of one town person. But the council jumps to attention like a bunch of toy soldiers ignoring the other 750 towns people.

b) The four year harassment of the Commencement went on until the final day when given approval to move in. Now they are paying the price as they apparently have been denied use of the much ballyhooed Mary Joyce Community center after 5 pm.

c) Am hoping to see abatement of the harassment of small businesses in the Town. They could start by restoring the parking in front of the Ruston Market.

d) Stop grandstanding on Stack Hill. More lighting defends against burglars, car break ins, street crime. Find out about SAFE STREETS and use the information in Ruston. Criminals benefit from lower lighting.

e) But the harassment of POINT RUSTON is shameful. The closest Ruston resident lives 200 feet up a cliff and blocks over. There is no plausible explanation for street lighting in the Tacoma part of Point Ruston and the Ruston part of Point Ruston being different. Tacoma has engineers plural, Ruston on consulting only.

f) You either want Point Ruston in Ruston or you don't. Be forthright not disingenuous. I commend Mike Cohen for having the patience of Jobe dealing with the stalling and tactics of the Town of Ruston over the past four years. From the EPA scare tactics, Jobs for Justice, and the comment those "hideous buildings".

I will, however, be around for the million dollar lawsuit Point Defiance Cafe and Casino v Ruston. A who's Who of Ruston will be on the witness stand April 5, 2010 when the lawsuit is held. Apparently the town is banking on a minor settlement having refused arbitration and settlement offers. Attorney fees for the Town however are given a blank check or in poker terms NO LIMIT.

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

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