SULTAN MESSAGE BOARD & DISCUSSION FORUM **

Search G.R.I.T.:

WWW ittakesgrit.org

Audio of 9/26/07 Sultan Candidate Debate (at SHS)
Previous Sultan Election pages (G.R.I.T.'s)

G.R.I.T.'S PICKS:
Seehuus for Mayor. It's a no-brainer. Sultan needs a mayor who can hit the ground running.
For Council: Jim Flower and Sarah Davenport-Smith (both of whom are essentially running unopposed). In the Kerry Ourada-Dale Doornek race, we believe this is also a no-brainer: Kerry Ourada over Dale Doornek. Mr. Ourada has been educating himself over the last 18 months by attending most council meetings, while Doornek has not attended any council or public venues for many years (until he filed in June for this council run), as far as we know (and we attend every council meeting/hearing). Again, this is a no-brainer: Considering Sultan's serious issues, the intelligent decision is a candidate who is well-informed on the issues and already up to speed. The learning curve on the major challenges facing Sultan is incredibly steep, and this is no time to wait for a struggling, uninformed straggler to get up to speed. This is the critical point in this election.

NEWS
CURRENT & LOCAL INTEREST
SCHEDULE & EVENTS

NEWS SOURCES:
Everett Herald, Seattle-PI, Seattle Times, Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Rush Limbaugh, Chicago Tribune, Wired Magazine, Associated Press, LA Times, Washington Post, Drudge Report, Yahoo, Valley Review, The Monroe Monitor and Valley News

Recent News Stories:

Former SPD Chief Walser files $10 million claim with City

L. Storm Letter to Herald Editor re Sultan election

U. S. 2 designated a "Traffic Safety Corridor" by Gov. Gregoire in 10/8/07 press conference

Fri., 10/5 - State Supreme Court decision encourages election lies (like it wasn't bad enough before?)

WSP Troopers & U. S. 2: Speed and you WILL get a ticket.

9/19 - Herald's article ("Traffic woes too big for Monroe") re a 9/18 legislator meeting with City of Monroe staff

9/16/07: WILD SKY: spending fight snags it

9/11/07 Gov. Gregoire visit to Sultan & Monroe

9/5 Seattle Times: "Highway 2 safety, funds fail to intersect"

8/15 - "Sultan to trim police service"

8/15 - Three newcomers running for Sultan seat"

8/2: Mitch Ruth decides to back off on idea for Monroe to annex Sultan

OTHER "STUFF"


G.R.I.T.'s 2002 RECORDING WARS - updated 3/21/06
(When the City tried to stop G.R.I.T. from recording public meetings, with the help of the Boucher Boys, then-Mayor C. H. Rowe, and others....)

**MESSAGE BOARD & BLOG:

This forum is sponsored and monitored by former Sultan Planning Commissioner Jeff Kirkman. Although G.R.I.T. strongly encourages citizens to visit and participate in the discussions, that is the extent of our involvement. (BACK TO TOP)
"The citizens of Sultan are entitled to coordinated and comprehensive planning
for growth in their community...."
[Source: Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board decision; Fallgatter VIII, FDO20070213]

Sun. Nov. 4:

Wed., Oct. 31

  • AUDIO & agenda documents, Reid Shockey's slide show, and Photos of the Oct. 25, 2007 Joint Sultan Council and Planning Board meeting at the high school RE Sultan's Comprehensive Plan Update and reduction in levels of service for police, parks and transportation (i.e., roads).
  • $250 REWARD being offered for information re recent animal cruelty incident
  • RECENT JOHN GALT RECOMMENDATIONS: Hoot Owl's request for variance (denied) and Keith & Bert Arndt's appeal of a city administrative decision re WWTP connection policy (upheld)
  • Sultan Harvest needs volunteers and donations - 10/30/07 Press Release, and 10/31/07 List of Donations needed.
  • PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT G.R.I.T. IS FOR THE BIRDS are finally vindicated. Follow this link for a feather-ruffling, mind-blowing video (or copy-and-paste this link into your brownser window http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html
  • G.R.I.T.'s WEBMASTER LORETTA STORM WILL SOON BE BEHIND BARS: "Turned in" by a local person or persons unknown (under the "witness protection program"), I'll be serving a one-hour sentence at 1:00 PM Tuesday, November 13th in the "jail" at the Monroe Canyon Restaurant. The "Bail" I need to pay to be released is $1,300 in donations to the National Muscular Dystrophy fund. This is a real win-win situation: Some of the folks we've criticized over the years should be happy to "pay" to see me behind bars, and our friends will certainly be happy to contribute to this worthy cause! (More details later on how your donations can set me free....)

Wed., Oct. 24:

Everett Herald article re Sultan's election, "Mmayor, Council on ballot" - (Interestingly, this article fails to state that Derek Boyd has officially resigned from the race against the council position Jim Flower currently holds.)

Monday, Oct. 22nd

Sat., Oct. 20th:

Fri., Oct. 19th:

Wed., Oct. 17th:

Tuesday, Oct. 16th:

Monday, Oct. 15th:

  • Today, 1:00 PM - John Galt Hearing of an appeal by developer-hopeful Keith Arndt of a City Administrative decision re sewer allocations
  • Loretta Storm's letter to the EverettHerald's editor re Sultan's election
  • FINAL OPPORTUNITY TODAY (5:00 PM deadline) TO SUBMIT COMMENTS on the City's draft revised (2004) Comprehensive Plan. Read/review the Plan and letters of comment received from public agencies and individuals on the City's webpage: http://www.ci.sultan.wa.us/council/community_development/

    I am deeply saddened that so few comments have been received on this CRITICAL revision (including formal written comments by myself). The purpose of this revision was to bring Sultan's 2004 comprehensive plan into compliance with the law. At a minimum, at stake with this revision is the removal of a level of service (i.e., staffing) for Sultan Police in the Plan, and a tremendous reduction in parks levels of service (i.e., how much park land will be allocated for Sultan residents' use). While both of those areas need review and adjustment, I fear both badies will be tossed along with the bathwater.

  • No planning board meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night; it has been CANCELLED.
  • 6:30 PM Wed., 10/17 - Sultan's Blue Ribbon CAP (Citizens Advisory Panel) meets: there will be presentations by AWC (Assn. of Wash. Cities) and the Snohomish County Assessor. (We apologize for the delay in publishing our CAP webpage.)
  • Coming later today (10/15) AUDIO (& documents) of the Sultan Council Retreat last Saturday, held in Monroe. (Absent: Mayor Tolson and Councilman Bruce Champeaux. Number of candidates up forr election in attendance: one, Sarah Davenport-Smith. Number of CAP members attnending, three: Chairman Jeff Beeler [until he had to leave for business reasons], myself, and Sultan Library Manager Jackie Personeous. Attending as "concerned citizens" were BrianCopple and Debbie Copple, and a Public Works employee, whose name we do not know.)

Thurs, 10/4 -, 10/11:

  • The City of Sultan's inability to achieve compliance with its 6-year TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) -- even after two compliance hearing attempts (in the matter of Fallgatter VIII) -- has resulted in the Central Puget Sound Growth Mgt. Hearings Board (CPSGMHB) entering an "order of continuing noncompliance and determination of continuing invalidity." Re the City's explanation as to its inability to comply, "the Board finds the city's argument [for missing "the long-missesd deadline"] unconvincing," and has given an extended deadline (end of 2007) to meet compliance or "the Board will request that the Governor impose sanctions" on the City. This is the easy-to-read six-page Board Order.
    • Related to above: Of further interest: Snohomish County Fire District #5 Commissioners requested to become a participant in Fallgatter VIII via their Sept. 10th letter to the Board (listen to FD#5 Mike Ingalls' comments during the Sept. 13th Public Comment period, and read their several letters to the City linked below, re the City's plans to bisect FD 5's Property on U. S. 2.)
  • L. Storm's Letter to the Herald Editor re 2007 Election choices (essentially the same letter was sent to the Monroe Monitor, and appears in this week's issue. link: http://www.monroemonitor.com
  • HEY! who wouldn't want to wake up to THIS every morning?
  • (still) Coming: Audio and other information on Sultan's Blue Ribbon CAP (Citizens Advisory Panel)

Thurs, 10/4 - Sun.10/7:

Sat., Sept. 29th:

However, as many Sultan citizen activists are aware, the city uses a process contrary to RCW 36.70B.070 in determining an application's completeness. The the city uses the term, "counter complete" to judge when an application is complete. What that means is it can, and usually does, continue adding requirements for documentation to the applicant's subdivision file up to, and even during, Galt's hearing (some hearings have even been held "open" for days or weeks while needed information is collected/supplied). This makes a mockery of the Application Complete/vesting date. In the several Galt subdivision hearings in 2006 and 2007, all of the "complete" applications were missing several key documents, not the least of which were items such as certificates of concurrency, developer agreements, letters of sewer and water availabilty, etc. (Stay tuned. We'll be posting a transcription of statements made by Josie Fallgatter at the close of the August 23rd council meeting on this subject.)

September 28th (Friday):

  • Audio from last night's Sultan Council meeting
  • AUDIO from Wednesday's 9/26 CANDIDATE DEBATE is now available.
  • Mayor Tolson apologized last in Sultan's council meeting for the inappropriate (I'll say!) comments he made -- he thought, in secret -- on Jeff Kirkman's discussion forum, smearing Chief Walser and former SPD employee/Administrator, Carole Pepperell. (To read messages and/or participate in discussions, click the link above, between the Quick Links and Google Search boxes.)
  • WSP Troopers watching over U. S. 2 (Thank you, guys!)
  • MIND-BOGGLER-ALERT! Related to the above WSP & U. S. 2 story, and something you need to know, but would rather NOT know: There has been NO INCREASE in the number of WSP patrol/troopers since 1976 in our region. (Imagine if you were still trying to live your life with the resources you had in 1976!)
  • Audio from last night's council meeting, and the 9/17/07 CAP meeting will be posted later today (we hope!)

September 27:

  • Sultan council meets tonight; presentation tonight at 6:30 PM about joining an online property/brokerage service/listing.
  • NEW PAGES:
    • David Hose's newest mural on the Sultan Post Office's south side (in process)
    • Sept. 26th Election Debate (unfortunately held without John Seehuus). New "Rumor" is that Derek Boyd is "withdrawing from the race" (against Jim Flower). Say wa? He's listed on the ballots being queued up to be mailed.

Sept. 26th Wed., 7:00 PM, Sultan High School - CANDIDATE DEBATE FORUM

Sept. 24th:

Sept. 22nd:

Sept. 18th:

Gold Bar Citizens "educate"a busload of Eastern Washington-bound Legislators (9/18) on the dangers of U. S. 2. Kudos to Gold Bar's Joe Beaver and many others their extraordinary actions.

Herald's article ("Traffic woes too big for Monroe") re a 9/18 meeting of City of Monroe staff and members of the State Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee. (The legislators met with Monroe's staff in a workshop to study that city as a "microcosm" of transportation issues: three major highways, high growth, Chicgo-to-Seattle BNSF rail lines cutting it in half, and constrained by significant ecological challenges.)

6:30 Mon., 9/24: The City of Sultan will host its second quarterly "Business Roundtable: The primary subject of the meeting will be Sultan's SIGNS & SIGN ordinance. This is a terrific concept. City documents for this meeting: (1) meeting's agenda/program; and (2) City's Design Review Board & sign codes

RELATED: Here's are the notes from the city's first quarterly business roundtable held July 12, 2007. It was was well-attended and seemed very worthwhile, with a minor legal glitch with that one, however: There was an "unpublished/un-noticed" quorum of council members present, all participating in their official capacity. (Also, despite the fact that this "Invitation" was to business owners, this meeting is open to the public, insofar as attendance, but not participation, is concerned.)

Sept. 16th:

September 13th:

Sept. 6th:

Sept. 5th:

Sept. 4th:

  • 9/5 Wed., 12 Noon - Sultan's Mayoral Candidates John Seehuus and Carolyn Eslick will be luncheon speakers at the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting in Council Chambers, 319 Main St. (RSVP required for lunch)
  • IMPORTANT! OPEN HOUSE - Comments needed on update on Sultan's Comprehensive Plan: TUESDAY, SEPT. 18th, 5:30-8:00 PM, 319 Main Street. (This item was "found" as a legal notice in the Everett Herald, published Friday, Aug. 31st. However, it has not been published on the City's website, nor sent out as a press release or on the City's listserv, some rather glaring oversights. We're hoping that the City at least remembered to publicize this event in a "vocal" manner by including a bright-colored flyer or highlighted in some other meaningful way within residents' utility monthly billing.)
  • TRANSCRIPTIONS from Aug. 9, 2007 Council meeting:
  • LEGAL PUBLICATION of Sultan Ordinance 954-07, 2007 Budget Amendments (This also was not posted on the City's website, nor was it sent out as a listserv item.)
  • Sultan Vision 2020 Plan - At the Aug. 9th council meeting, Councilwoman Kristina Blair stated the city was due to revise their Vision 2020 statement because it had been done about 10 years ago and Sultan's demographics had changed significantly. Here's Sultan's Vision 2020 Plan, sent to council October 2005.

Tuesday, 8/28:

Sunday, 8/26:

  • UPDATED 8/26 - All Audio of 8/23 Council Meeting now available
  • Volunteers encouraged to help clean up near City Hall, VIC: 8:00 a.m., Sunday, August 26th; meet at 4th & Main.
  • Sultan Mayoral Candidates John Seehuus and Carolyn Eslick will be speakers at Sky Valley Chamber's 9/5 lunch meeting; R.S.F.P. is required if you're planning on having lunch (sponsored by Sultan Subs/Paoli Pizza)

Thursday, 8/23:

Monday, 8/20:

Wednesday, 8/15:

Monday, 8/13:

Saturday, 8/11:

Thurs., 8/9

  • Tonight's City of Sultan Council Agenda Packet - There's a 6:00 PM HEARING on the formation of a new public works utility (Stormwater utility, $11-13 new charge per month); with a HEARING following on increases to residents' monthly sewer rates.
  • G.R.I.T. EDITORIAL: "Sink or Swim: Sultan's Financial Crisis (Same as the old ones)" -- Includes links to the Prothman Report and City of Sultan state audit reports since 1998 (when $7,500 was embezzled from the Utility Fund)
  • SUMMARY/MINUTES of Sultan's First Quarterly Economic Development ROUNDTABLE (w/local biz owners)
  • Coming soon: Is Sultan's Watershed endangered?

Week of Aug.1st thru-7th:

Friday, 8/3: Herald article, "Police chief takes Sultan to court" - Here's WALSER'S PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW

Reininder: Today is the last day to submit your application to serve on Sultan's Blue Ribbon Citizen Advisory Panel. You can obtain an aapplication from the City's website.

Thurs., 8/2

Week of July 25 - 31st:

Tuesday, July 31st:

  • 1:00 PM - Sportsman's club Galt Hearing for Conditional Use Permit (to build 5,000 s.f. clubhouse in residential area on west side of First Street.
  • 7:00 PM - Planning Board meets with a VERY full agenda (two hearings and approvals of Sultan's 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan and new sewer rate increases.)

Sunday, July 29th:

Week of July 18 - 24th:

Tuesday, 7/24:

  • COUNCIL AGENDA & DOCUMENTS for 7/26 meeting. Highest priority item on the agenda is the General Fund deficit/recommendation for budget cuts (Budget Amendment hearing begins at 6:30). Chief among these are: (1) Do NOT fill two currently vacant SPD positions, and (2) REDUCE SPD staffing from 8 budgeted patrol officer positions to 4. (FYI,Sultan's current comprehensive Plan's required police level of service is 2.6 uniformed officers per 1,000 in population. Sultan's "official" population, as published LAST July (2006) by the state's Office of Financial Management (OFM), is therefore 11.4 uniformed officers ON THE STREET. The City is recommending only FOUR officers. And speaking of streets, another safety issue on the table is to reduce street lighting (or use rolling blackouts or other alternatives).
  • Other recommendations/alternatives to "balance" the budget include: Increase city fees (duh); increase B&O tax; a November levy lid lift; sell property(ies) owned by the City; cut city staff hours; and -- finally! -- "Review the Community Development Director [Rick Cisar] contract.
  • Other information from the 7/19 Fin. Comm. Mtg.: If the City pursues its plan to "move" Public Works staff to the utilities (enterprise) fund, PARKS will no longer be maintained.

Saturday 7/21

  • AN OLIVE BRANCH FROM FRED WALSER was faxed to Mayor Tolson (via City's Special Attorney, Rafael Schwimmer) July 19th. The one-time offer was rejected by the city; per our sources, the rejection was because Fred Walser is not the reason the City is in financial difficulty, and they do not want a hearing on anything. This contradicts several recent statements by City officials and staff.
    • (NOTE: A long-time Sultan-watcher recently commented to me that the City's problems must have something to do with its water. My retort: "It's not the water. It's the Kool-aid.")
  • Sultan's monthly sewer bill increases per household (by year: 2007-2003). The 2007 monthly amount is $52. From 2008 through 2013, here's the estimated total monthly recommended* Sultan Sewer bill, from 2008-2013, by year: $56.70, $61.74, $64.83, $68.07, $71.47, $75.05, or approx. 5% increase per year.

Last Thursday evening (7/19/07), City Staff (Deborah Knight, Laura Koenig and Connie Dunn) met with Council Finance Committee members John Seehuus, Kristina Blair and Ron Wiediger. We have audio, some of which we will post, if we have time. We are not going to post the documents distributed at this meeting as they are supposed to be on the City's website now, as well as becoming part of the agenda packet for the July 26th Council Meeting. OF INTEREST: At the start of this Commitee Meeting, Ms.Knight stated there's revenue shortfall of $237K, combined with an expense overage of $168K. If all cuts are made as recommended, the city will still need to "find" another $130K to balance 2007's budget.

NOTE: We were a bit disappointed in this committee meeting; we were under the assumption -- based on what was said during the July 12th council meeting -- that the purpose of the meeting was a higher-level discussion of the alternatives available. It was instead an item-by-item explanation by staff of their recommended cuts.

GOTTA SHARE THIS ONE: Council salaries are $150 a month. During that time they attend numerous hearings, meetings and other events/activities at which their attendance is either appropriate or required. So this comment by John Seehuus, mayor pro-tem during Tolson's six-week leave of absence, and current Sultan mayoral candidate is -- quite literally -- priceless. After city staff advised council members of a 50% reduction in their salaries, his dry-as-dust statement was, "Well, I always knew my participation in politics would pay off big some day...."

Week of July 10 - 17th:

Monday, July 16th:

AUDIO OF Sultan's JULY 12th council Meeting (including decision re future of Sultan Police) and discussions of the future of the Sultan Library, has now been posted. (We have also updated our Main Audio page)

  • IMPORTANT NOTE! The Council's Finance committee will be discussing the General Fund shortfall and Sultan's future at 6:00 PM, Thursday, July 19th in council chambers. The purpose is to discuss and review various alternatives for recommendations to Staff to present to the full council at their July 26th Meeting.

THIS WEDNESDAY - July 18th - 7:00 PM - ELECTION DEBATE
Community Center, 319 Main Street, Sultan
For Sultan council candidates running in the Aug. 21st primary election: Sarah Davenport-Smith and Richard Hill. (Also invited, but not yet responding, is Brady Boucher. However, the invitation remains open and we hope he'll be able to attend). This event is being co-sponsored by KSER Radio and the Livable Snohomish County Coalition. The debate is being recorded for future broadcast by KSER.

7/14 (Saturday): Everett Herald story re Sultan's Financial Woes (Where's the citizen comment/slant on this one?)

7/13 (Friday): AUDIO - COUNCIL DISCUSSION & DECISION to keep Sultan police services (KOMO-TV did a story on this issue, evening of 7/12)

One of two citizen made-paid-and-erected signs thanking Chief Walser for his long and valued service to Sultan, removed by parties unknown 7-3-07
The "now you see it, now you don't" disappearing pro-Walser signs are back up again after removal July 3rd. Here's the story, from Traci Hoenstine, wife of Kerry Ourada, who is running for a council seat against Dale Doornek at the Nov. 6 general election.

Week of July 2nd - 9th:

  • 7/9: July 12th Sultan Council Mtg. - DOCUMENTS & Agenda: Scheduled Action items include: Direction to Mayor to proceed on County Sheriff Services. (Agenda page only)

    Additionally, several items are included on the Consent Agenda that are of significant interest. (Issues/items on a consent agenda are those which require no discussion -- i.e., "no-brainer"-type issues are included in this section. Since D. Knight has been helming the city's ship of state, an increasing number of issues have been "hidden in plain view" in this area, which is a bit of a concern. Four such items are Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11, none of which have had any previous conversation or discussion whatsoever. Three of them commit the city to future payments for as-needed and on-call services for planning and to obtain legal rights-of-way for the LID 97-1 and for parks/open space. Finally, Consent Item #11 calls for the purchase of "new" police vehicles and surplusing old worn-out vehicles -- which, keep in mind, Sultan police officers were only recently using and driving. That subject was briefly discussed as an "orphan" (unadvertised and un-noticed) item during the June 28th council meeting, wedged in the No Man's Land between the Action and Discussion Agendas.

  • 7/7:
    • Audio (in MP3) of Sultan's June 28, 2007 council meeting (highlights are non-scheduled actions and budget amendments to hire an attorney to represent Sultan's Civil Service Commission for Fred Walser's appeal to the Commission, of which the Commission never received official notice from the City; also of interest is a discussion of a possible "trade" of county land on 124th for a "park" with city-owned land adjoining the cemetery the county wants to use for green waste recycling.
    • Wed., July 18th - 7:00 PM ON-AIR (Radio-Broadcast) ELECTION DEBATE for Sultan council candidates running in the Aug. 21st primary election: Sarah Davenport-Smith and Richard Hill (Also invited, but non-responsive, despite several attempts to contact him, was Candidate Brady Boucher). This debate/forum will be held in Sultan's Community Center, 319 Main St. Although this forum will be moderated by a KSER-Radio personality, the public will be allowed an opportunity to ask the candidates questions.
  • 7/6 - Friday- THE LAST DAY of work as a Sultan Police Officer for COLLEEN HOLMAN AND ADRIAN STEBBINS. Good luck and best wishes to you both, with thanks and appreciation for your valued service!
One of two citizen made-paid-and-erected signs thanking Chief Walser for his long and valued service to Sultan, removed by parties unknown 7-3-07
  • 7/6 - The citizen-paid-for and -erected "THANK YOU, CHIEF WALSER" signs (SHOWN ABOVE) were removed shortly after a 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 3rd By-Invitation-Only Mayor-City Administrator meeting to discuss Sultan's $350-450,000 shortfall in the 2007's General Fund (see below for those details). In this meeting, attempts were made by Sultan's "Not-so-silent minority" to lay blame for the deficit at the feet of the Sultan PD and recent investigations, as well as costs associated with mandates from the CPSGMHB (Central Puget Sound Growth Mgt. Hearings Board) to get Sultan's 2004 Comprehensive Plan into compliance with the GMA (imagine the nerve of those folks!). But the sign was undoubtedly a reaction to Sultan's not-so-silent minority who still believe that the City's long-overdue financial crisis can be laid at the feet of Chief Walser and the Sultan PD and Josie Fallgatter for her several petitions to the CPSGMHB re Sultan's Comp Plan). This Not-so-silent Minority also believe that the world is flat, the Holocaust was a hoax, and that many millions of illegal immigrants can still be rounded up and sent back to their place of origins. But that's another story.
  • 7/6 - GENERAL FUND DEFICIT - City of Sultan Mayor/City Admin. Meeting (7/3/07. 10:00 a.m.) alerts business and other community leaders to serious ($350,000-400,000) deficit in 2007 General Fund. (here's the handout distributed; here's my update published July 4th)
  • 7/6 - AUDIO from the June 28th council meeting (coming later today, Friday)

"In a similar effort to boost employment, the Des Moines Police Department recently began offering $2,000 bonuses for experienced police officers who join the department and $1,000 bonuses for entry-level officers....

TO FIND PREVOUS ARTICLES & HOME PAGES....

Most-recently archived home pages:

OTHER HOME PAGES CAN BE FOUND IN ARCHIVES - If you're looking for a previous article or legal, etc., Google it at the top of our page

An appropriate sentiment for taxpayers' T-shirts:
"Representation by Litigation"

"Put down the bag of potato chips
and step away from the TV!"

In other words, unplug yourself from your "TV I.V." and GET INVOLVED!

The world moves fast, but don't be confused. Just take it one hearing and meeting at a time: Attend them,, speak your mind and your heart, ask questions and you will soon be making a difference. Tell your city officials what you want (and don't want). There are no stupid questions, and NO ONE will laugh at you or what you have to say. These are YOUR tax dollars, and you have a say in how they are spent.

The only time your voice doesn't count
is when you don't use it...

From the Washington State Public Disclosure Act:
"The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so they may maintain control over the instruments they created."
(How to make a Public Disclosure/Information Request)

This website is designed and maintained by non-paid volunteers for the purpose of providing public documents, news, information and audio of city meetings and hearings to taxpayers and citizens who otherwise would have little or no knowledge of the events going on in Sultan. Contact us if you want a MP3 audio file not posted on our website on CD; or if you want to know more or would like to volunteer your time to help us sculpt Sultan's future.

Quotes we just happen to agree with, attributed to
Edmund Burke 1729-1797, an Irish philosopher and statesman:

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could only do a little."

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing."
Ittakesgrit.org is a registered trademark and non-profit corporation. All original material is copyrighted and proprietary, although we're willing to share, with persmission and attribution.
Paid for and created by Loretta Storm and Ray Kistenmacher, Co-Founders of G.R.I.T. (Governmental Responsibility, Integrity and Truth)
To contact us:
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Email: lorettastorm@seanet.com or call 360.793.6683
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IN SULTAN
(all events are at Sultan's city hall, 319 Main, unless otherwise indicated).

6:30 PM Mon. 12/5:
Sultan's Blue Ribbon CAP Mtg. (Public is welcome)

Sultan Council Meetings for the remainder of 2007:

Nov. 8 & 15 and Dec. 13th (which will hopefully be the only Dec. mtg.)

IN GOLD BAR:

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS & RECORDS
State Law: Public Officers & Agencies (Ethics, elections, public documents, public meetings, etc.)

CITY OF SULTAN CONTACT/email INFORMATION:
319 Main Street
PO Box 1199
Sultan, WA 98294
360-793-2231-ph
360-793-3344-fax

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (most council members' mailboxes are almost always full):

Kristina Blair
Derek Boyd
Bruce Champeaux (does not wish to use email)
Jim Flower
John Seehuus
Steve Slawson
Ron Wiediger

EMAIL ADDRESS The "formula" for city hall staff and officials: is
firstname, then a period, then their last name, then @ci.sultan.wa.us.
Example: Laura Koenig's address is: laura.koenig@ci.sultan.wa.us

PLANNING BOARD: (Established June, 2006) Their first official meeting was July 11, 2006. For information on Sultan's previous planning entity -- called the "Planning Commission," disbanded in early 2006, click here.):

Chairman Kurt Latimore

Board member Jeff Cofer

Board Member Sarah Davenport-Smith

Board Member George Schmidt

Board Member Charles Van Pelt

NOTE: We are keeping the below note regarding Sultan's PLANNING COMMISSION on this website for a little while longer to remind folks of either the backdoor shenanigans of the City of Sultan or its incompetence (one of the two must be true).
As of the 2/8/06 via Ord. 904-06, Sultan's PC duties were placed in the hands of the city council, which will be acting as its own PC. However, during their first meeting, it was determined that they did not have the time to fulfill this role. The City is currently seeking NEW APPLICANTS to serve on a NEW Planning "Board." if interested, contact city hall at 360-793-2231 or visit their website: www.ci.sultan.wa.us

Prior to its Jan., 2006 disbandment, the PC consisted of the following individuals, with two positions vacant):
Bart Dalmasso (resigned just prior to disbandment, and urged that the PC be dissolved)
Josie Fallgatter
Ray George (term expired, not reappointed)
Tom Green (term expired, not reappointed)
Jeff Kirkman