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)

Monday, Dec. 3rd:

• 11/29/07 Block Watch: A great big THANK YOU to Gold Bar Ray Coleman for the meeting synopsis and photos (We did not attend.)
• Sultan Harvest Wrap-up & Photo
• TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE SULTAN'S FUTURE:
  • Apply to be a Sultan Planning Board: Flyer & Application
  • Serve on Sultan's Design Review Board (DRB): Flyer & Application

Monday, Nov. 26th:

NEW WEBPAGE - SULTAN BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM ( 7 PM, Thursday, Nov. 29th Town Meeting @ Sultan Middle School

Sunday, Nov. 25th:

• AUDIO (and links to Agenda Documents and transcriptions) - Nov. 15, 2007 COUNCIL Meetings & Hearings
• TUESDAY, 7:00 PM 11/27 Planning Board Meeting: No agenda yet posted yet, but the ONLY subject for these guys is the oh-so-insignificant challenge of making Sultan's non-compliant Comprehensive Plan, well, compliant.
• UPDATE - Re City's 11/20 "Special" behind-closed-doors meeting to discuss financing for Sultan's Wastewater Treatment Plant: Forming an LID and other financing for major sewer infrastructure improvements
• LIGHT UP SULTAN! (Press Release from Sky Valley Chamber re Sultan's annual Christmas (yes, "Christmas" not "Holiday"!) Display Light Awards

Tuesday, Nov. 20th:

• Gov. Gregoire calls 11/29 special session re ramifications of supreme court ruling that tossed out I-747 limiting annual property tax increases to 1%. Even though neither the Herald article linked above nor the Governor's letter to the Legislature contained specific details (time, location of sesssion), we're certain this information will be distributed shortly
• SULTAN HAS ALSO CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION FOR TODAY - City-State-Developer Interests will be there (re WWTP Financing/LID/Improvements), but the City has blocked any attendance or monitoring by citizens or taxpayers. (One reason given for the black-balling was the "perspective" of how that meeting that would be reported/represented on this website. My response to that was by excluding citizens from the meeting the city will simply cause more distrust and significantly increase citizen's curiosity). READ FURTHER DETAILS.
• G.R.I.T. OPINION/EDITORIAL: "The Difference between "Comprehensive" and "Holistic"
• Business Opportunity alert from Sky Valley's CofC: "There is going to be a new organic restaurant going into Snohomish. Someone from their management team asked me to alert anyone in construction that they will be needing: plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, painting, etc. If you are interested in bidding on their jobs please email : trala11@msn.com or phone 425-327-5208"
• SULTAN HARVEST needs stuffed toys (and blankets and coats) (they can be brought to Sultan's VOA (Volunteers of America) or to City Hall "early" Thanksgiving morning before the Thanksgiving meal begins at 12 Noon.

Friday, Nov. 16th:

Audio and Agenda documents from Tuesday's 11/13 Planning Board meeting (Subject: Sultan Comprehensive Plan compliance issues)

Coming Saturday: Audio page of Sultan's Council Meeting last night (11/15)

Wednesday, Nov. 14th:

• Revised file: On Nov. 4th we posted comparables of the Police Force resources of other Washington cities (4000-5000 in population). At the time we searched for Sultan details on city-data.com, nothing could be found. In a conversation we had yesterday with City Admin. Knight, however, she said that website did indeed contain details for Sultan. This time we did not Google it, but searched directly from city-data.com's website and sure enough, there's a ton of data on the City of Sultan. And WHAT a resource it is, too! Here's the link: http://www.city-data.com/city/Sultan-Washington.html

Tuesday, Nov. 13th:

• AUDIO OF 11/8 COUNCIL MEETING is now available, (Audio also available for the Civil Service workshop and a hearing and slideshow on the 2008 proposed budget.)
• NEW! City's Historical Investment Interest: As a member of Sultan's Blue Ribbon Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP), I and other members have been asking for information on the city's investment interest: how it's invested, in what funds, etc. Because of the city's long delay providing us with this information, and frustrated at the City's Deputy Finance Director's excuses -- "Our computers crashed" and "Yes, we do have it on hard copy but it's in storage" etc. -- I spent a good chunk of my weekend attempting to locate and construct a meaningful snapshot o this data. Below are links to the various spreadsheets and source documents used. NOTE: Because I only had Sultan's 2002's annual report, which was key to this endeavor, I was forced to use that year for much of the information.
  • 10-year History of annual interest received by the City of Sultan and for which fund it was received. (Still missing is a detail of any transfers made out of any of those funds.)
  • 2002 Annual Report (1.6 mb pdf)
  • One-page Snapshot ("Schedule of Cash Activity") from the Annual Repor - shows all city funds and two Treasurer's funds activity
  • 10-year spreadsheet showing historical data for all of Sultan's funds was key to this effort. Unfortunately, in a moment of complete idiocy, I failed to either scan or copy this document before highlighting and marking it up, so there's some hen-scratching here and there. This document was distributed at a 2003 city meeting, although I did not record that information, unfortunately, when I received it.
• The City's Agenda Packet for this Thursday's 11/15 Council Meeting is available at the city's website.

Saturday, Nov. 10th:

City's PowerPoint presentation (in pdf) on 2008 proposed Budget. Accompanying audio for this subject, and the remainder of the proceedings of the Nov. 8th Sultan council meeting, will be posted later today. PLEASE NOTE: Because of the "work-around" in schedules needed to accommodate Thanksgiving, The next city council meting will be later this week, on the 15th. (Gratefully, that will be the last council meeting until Dec. 13th, giving everyone a much-needed and well-deserved break.)

A meeting of Sultan Developers, City Staff and State interests has been scheduled for Tues. Nov. 20th: The purpose is to discuss specifics of the use of private funding/donations toward facility improvements needed for Sultan's WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant). These Sewer Plant improvements are needed to accommodate the tsunami of new residential homes coming this way. This meeting was announced at the 11/8 council meeting. We have sent an email to the city requesting the time and location of this event so other interested parties can attend and monitor these proceedings.

Friday, Nov. 9th:

• Taxpayers take another one on the chin: :State Supreme court has found I-747 unconstitutional:
  • Everett Herald article (11/9), "Court tosses Eyman's limit on property taxes"

    [NOTE: Mayor Tolson is liberally quoted in this article stating the cut in property taxes has "contributed to the city's financial woes." That's true, Mr. Mayor. But the City's inability to kick the monkey on its back -- the ponzi/pyramid scheme of building infrastructure-sucking residential improvements using short-term funds, combined with incompetent planning and financial management, is the real reason.]

  • Seattle Times articles (11/8):
    • "Higher Taxes? Court clears [the] way"
    • Q&A - What this could mean to you
• AUDIO of 11/8 council meeting & Hearing on 2008 budget - We hope to have the Audio uploaded and available today (but certainly by tomorrow)
• SULTAN HARVEST: Still needs donations, especially coats and hats (10/30/07 Press Release, and 10/31/07 List of Donations needed._

Wed., Nov. 7:

• The long-awaited Criminal Report from the Everett PD re former Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser has finally been released; has been forwarded to the Whatcom County Prosecutor's office for consideration of charges.
  • The 10-page summary report (we obtained from the city on Monday) - NOTE: We have placed a PDA request for the entire 800-page report. Interestingly, City Administrator Deborah Knight told us early Monday morning during a conversation that Dusty Boucher of the VR and KIRO-TV had already reviewed the entire report late last week (Dusty, at least, "cherry-picked it" inside City Hall. Was the "Early Word" they received on the report's completion/availability just really damn good reporting, or did they benefit from insider information?
  • Fred Walser told us Monday to post the summary report, then stated, "I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide."
  • This morning's HERALD story
  • KIRO-TV coverage
• SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: G.R.I.T.'s response to two Letters published 10/30/07 in the Monroe Monitor Editor 10/30/07:
  • Speaking of possible charges.....Here's our response to Betty and Burl Champeaux's 10/30 Letter to the Monroe Monitor stated:
    • there was "no assault" of Traci Hoenstine in the Red Apple parking lot Sunday 8/19 (their letter incorreclyt states the incident occurred on 8/26); and
    • there was "no investigation" of that incident
  • Bart Dalmasso has no self-interests in local land development???? (Here's where you can find Mr. Dalmasso's listings, most of which are in the Sky Valley, but some in Seattle and elsewhere: http://bartdalmasso.homesandland.com/
  • ALL letters and opinions published in the Monroe Monitor during this election period.
• PUBLIC DISCLOSURE IN SULTAN: Has it improved since April of 2000? (An opinion by Traci Hoenstine published on Jeff Kirkman's message board, with a footnote by G.R.I.T.'s webmaster)
• PRESS RELEASE: SULTAN HIGH SCHOOL CLAYBREAKERS - results and a photo
• CTED's (Washington State Department of Community Trade & Economic Development) Letter of comment re Sultan's "update" to its 2004 Comprehensive Plan

Sun. Nov. 4:

• Sultan Police Service - Before the council eliminates the Sultan Police level of service, here are some police comparables they might just want to check out.
• Tomorrow (Monday): Sultan Police Services, LOS and Wash. State crime rates and statistics
• 2007 Sultan Election - Here are all of the published Opinions and Letters to the Editor that appeared in the Monroe Monitor).

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

• A story of animal cruelty (and another reason Sultan needs Animal Control)

Sat., Oct. 20th:

• New! (4:19 PM) - Finally....Our Sultan Blue Ribbon CAP (Citizens Advisory Panel) Website is ready for Prime Time. This page includes documents provided by the city, audio of the meetings and meeting minutes/notes, plus links to a good portion of the research that's been done by individual CAP Members to educate themselves on the issues.
• Herald article: Former SPD Chief Walser files $10 million claim against City of Sultan
  • $10 million Tort Claim document served to Clerk Koenig Oct. 18, 2007 prior to start of th Sultan Council meeting
• City of Sultan may face Governor-ordered financial sanctions if unable to comply with Growth Mgt. Hearing Board Decision (the Board's decision is linked below)

Fri., Oct. 19th:

• Thursday's (10/18) Council Meeting - Audio & Council Agenda documents now posted
• CELEBRATE the Sky Valley's FALL FARM FESTIVAL tomorrow (Sat., 10/20)
• City Served with $10 million Fred Walser tort lawsuit (more later)

Wed., Oct. 17th:

• Audio of 10/15/07 John Galt hearing re Bert & Keith Arndt Appeal of a City Decision re sewer availability
• LEGAL NOTICES:
  • Notice of Determination of Non-significance for Anderson Farms (this development goes back oh-so-many years; here's some background info)
  • Notice of Continued Hearing for Caleb Court: 1:00 PM, Nov. 1st

Tuesday, Oct. 16th:

• Sultan Council's Retreat (Sat., 10/13) - Audio and linked documents are now available.

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:

• NEW (10:40 a.m., Friday)! Audio from the Oct. 2nd Planning Board meeting (re Fallgatter IX discussions)
• NEW/Update - Audio from 9/27/07 Council Meeting: Tolson's troublesome message board postings, and a G.R.I.T. mini-editorial of why Tolson should RESIGN NOW
• Sept. 24, 2007 Letter from Fire District #5 Commissioners to Sultan's Mayor, city and council. Always fiscal accountability proponents, FD #5 Commissioners explain why the District has become a party of interest in Fallgatter VIII (re Sultan's invalid TIP, Transportation Improvement Plan).
• Herald's "FYI" section advertises ittakesgrit.org's election debate audio page. Cool.
• Of Interest: Stratford Place homes still on the market (Final Plat approval was Oct., 2005).

Sat., Sept. 29th:

• SULTAN's 2006 STATE AUDITOR REPORTS: : Management Letter (87 kb pdf), Accountability Audit Report (136 kb pdf), Financial Statements & Federal Single Audit Report (459 kb pdf)
  Related: Updated G.R.I.T. Auditor Report webpage

• LEGAL Notices (3): DAN RAMIREZ's next attempt to develop his 8.53-acre property ""Twin Rivers Ranch Estates") between the BNSF RR tracks and the Skykomish River, this time as a 16-lot Cluster subdivision. The date this application was deemed complete (per the City's "Notice of Application") is September 18, 2007. In planning-speak, the date an Application is deemed legally complete is when all required documentation by both the applicant and the City has been received, accepted, approved and recorded by the city as the "vesting" date. That is the date on which the application is essentially "ready to go" to Hearing Examiner John Galt.

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:

• Tonight (Monday, 9/24), 7 PM, U. S. 2 Safety Coalition Meeting, 319 Main Street
• How important is it, really, to follow the Open Public Meetings Act? The City of Shoreline found out, as they face half a million dollars in fines and legal fees trying to "defend" an undefendable position (Sounds a bit like Sultan "defending" its Comprehensive Plan against Josie Fallgatter's appeals.....)

Sept. 22nd:

• Galt's Sept. 19th Recommendation on Tom Green's 63-unit PUD subdivision (pdf)
• Galt's Sept. 14th Recommendation on Connwill Duplex CUP (pdf)

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:

• AUDIO (& Agenda documents) - 9/13/07 Council Meeting now available
• Herald article: "Sultan sets pay range for police chief"

September 13th:

• Gov. Gregoire meets with U. S. 2 Safety Coalition Board (more coming....)
• GRIT Update 090713 - SPD Carole Pepperell fired (links to stories)
• City Council meeting tonight (Thurs., 9/13) - Please visit City's webpage; I have not yet had time to create my webpage for this item, sorry)

Sept. 6th:

• 9/6 Revision to Sultan Mayoral Candidates Eslick & Seehuus speak out at Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting (J. Seehuus' background and credentials added; here it is as a separate pdf)
• NEW PAGE: SULTAN VOLUNTEERS - "Never underestimate the heart of a Sultan volunteer"

Sept. 5th:

• Documentation/Hand-out for Monday's (9/10) First Blue Ribbon CAP (Citizen Advisory Panel), 1.2 mb pdf
• Stop the Presses!!! City of Sultan news makes FRONT PAGE of the Wall Street Journal (Well, sort of....)

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:
  • Various excerpts from 8/9/07 meeting
  • Entire discussion and vote 8/9/07 Council Meeting re Ord. 954-07 re 2007 Budget Cuts & Amendments (1st reading; 2nd reading and final passage was 8/23/07.)
• 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:

• ENHANCING SULTAN'S BEAUTY (while growing stronger)

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:

• Public Information requests received from Snohoco's Sheriff's Dept. (requested by Gerry Gibson), as well as from the City of Sultan (requested by T. Hoenstine) re the many months of communication in search of the elusive Apples-to-Apples cost comparison of a Sheriff's contract v. using City's Sultan Police services.
• COUNCIL AGENDA PACKET: Thursday, Aug. 23rd (begins at 6:00 PM with two pre-council hearings)
• Letter from the City sent to the Blue Ribbon Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP) Applicants -- Disappointingly, this letter snail-mailed to all CAP applicants, included the mention of a Bart Dalmassos application not delivered to the city until Aug. 16th, almost a full week past the Aug. 9th deadline. I wonder why the city would have done that? All other applicants -- including Josie Fallgatter, who has thus far been blatently snubbed for inclusion in this Panel and whose knowledge and expertise is essential to its success -- managed to get their applications in on time. My opinion is that Mr. Dalmasso's application does not exist because it failed to meet the deadline; thus, calling him "applicant" shows very poor judgment. Here are the applications for consideration to the CAP.

Monday, 8/20:

SPEAKING IN SIGN LANGUAGE....

• Press Releases: NRA Dinner & Auction.....Sky Valley Chamber wants YOUR ideas about the best hidden treasures, hideaways and secrets of the Sky Valley (to use in a new visitor brochure)

Wednesday, 8/15:

• Everett Herald Articles: "Sultan to trim police service" and "Three newcomers running for Sultan seat"
• G.R.I.T. UPDATE (Re Herald story corrections and status of Sultan's Blue Ribbon Citizens Advisory Panel application process
• 6 PM, 8/16 Thursday, 319 Main St. - Sultan council subcommittee to review, decide on Blue Ribbon Panel Citizens Advisory Panel applicants

Monday, 8/13:

• SPD v. Sheriff contract:
  • When did the elusive and many-month pursuit of an Apples-to-Apples cost comparison between SPD local services and the sheriff county contract actually begin? We believe this August, 17, 2006 email from Sheriff Dept. Tom Greene to Mayor Tolson, puts paid to that question.
  • A Jan. 25, 2007 email from T. Greene to D. Knight with a no-brainer, common sense question about Walser's salary
  • Here's another items of interest: A May 9, 2007 Letter from Sheriff Bart (signed by Tom Greene)r to Mayor Tolson re Civil Service Commission challenges re Walser....
• G.R.I.T. Aug. 13, 2007 UPDATE (To receive our updates in the future, cleck here)

Saturday, 8/11:

• AUDIO OF AUGUST 9TH COUNCIL MEETING
• 7:00 pm Monday, 8/13 - VOA Meeting re Youth Violence & Gangs, at the VOA building at High & 1st Streets (In the meantime, here are the minutes from VOA's 8/7/2007 Steering Committee Meeting)

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

"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:

• Nov. 6, 2007
• Sept. 21, 2007
• May 29, 2007
• May 1, 2007

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...

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

• City of Sultan 2007 Schedule (Garbage, etc.) (in pdf)
• Mayor Ben Tolson
• City Administrator Deborah Knight
• City Councilmembers (see below links)
• City Clerk Laura Koenig (for council agenda and Public Info requests)
  
• Community Development Director Rick Cisar
• Public Works Director Connie Dunn

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