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TRANSCRIPTION EXCERPT: City of Sultan Council Meeting 4/12/2007 - Public Comments (Audio of these commentscan be found here. For our Main Audio page, click here.)
Gerry Gibson (Listen to MP3 audio): Good evening. [address withheld] I've got a couple different things. And I will start out – Pro-tem Blair: Mr. Gibson Could you -- ? Thank you. [chuckles] Gibson: Okay. Want to start out, uh, just….with the police issue again. You know, I—I—I just want to make another appeal to just – if you can't just withdraw and get—get that – make it go away. I know we have some more business coming up, and a town meeting and stuff that… If you can just make it go away I think it would be a good thing for—for the city. Um…About eight months ago I was here. I made some comments about it's time – it—it's been way past time to…to consider some new road impact fees. At the time everybody seemed to be interested in—in renewing those fees. And I was told that [unintelligible] there has to be some studies, there has to be blah-blah-blah. That's been about eight months now---now, and I just wondered where we stand on that. Um, I hate to see the development get completely done, and then somebody decide we need some new impact fees for roads. And the last thing, and it's not a…. a pleasant thing but I—I….I really, really, really have some strong feelings about an article in a recent newspaper having to do with a Dr. Greenbud. Derek I—I'm really disappointed with this whole thing. And, uh…I—I just don't think that's something that a—a—a city council person should be involved in and write about and so on at a time when drugs is an issue here in—in Sultan. And for somebody just to condone the whole thing, I thin it's wrong. So that's my input.
Kerry Ourada (Listen to MP3 audio): Um, I was hoping the chief would be here because this has a lot to do with his officers. Um…I want to offer an apology to the chief and his officers for the way they've been treated in this town for the last 10 or 15 years. I think it's very sad. Um…The latest gig here started just a few months ago when our so-called newspaper ran a fake story about a fake crime wave that's hit Sultan. Um…same people, same old story—story, only this time they're using [the] printed word to push their propaganda. They've also used a couple of long-time Sultan residents in their quest to bring in county, the county police. These residents appeared before the council to issue complaints about police protection. And amazingly enough, the representative of the so [unintelligible] newspaper happened to be at these very same council meetings, despite never attending other council meeting[s] the previous year. Was this coincidence? I think not. So here we are again. We have a lot of the same people with few issues, trying to oust the Sultan Police Department. Unfortunately this council's followed the lead of these people. Instead of showing support for the SPD, they have helped get [unintelligible] to such a deplorable action. Yes, I've heard many of you claim this is about finances. But if you look at the history of this issue, it's about much, much more than that. It's about a small minority of people who think they own this town. And it's about how these people can benefit the most. It's not about what's best for Sultan, it's about what's best for the small minority and their pursuit for more power. You all maybe disagree with this assessment, and that's your right. But my wife and I stand by it. We will do everything we can to make sure shu—Sultan keeps the best small town police department in the state of Washington. In closing, I really wanted to thank Chief Walser for serving Sultan in such an ethical and moral way, and for not giving up on us, despite the that we need his support. And that's all I'm saying.
Loretta Storm (Listen to MP3 audio) I'd just first like to say to Deborah that…um…the changes that have occurred in the amount and quality of information and communication since you've been on board, is nothing short – in my mind – miraculous. Yesterday was our seventh year anniversary, I am very embarrassed to say that we're still doing this after seven years. Uh, having to do this after seven years. But in that time I've never seen anything like you, a force of nature. We do not disagree – I mean, we do not agree on everything, obviously, and we won't. But you are doing a phenomenal job, at least in presenting the council, it looks like, and the mayor with the information that they need, and the research and the tools that they need by which to make decisions, which has never happened before. So hopefully, that will continue. And having said that… [chuckles] I will say that I feel the communication on the town meeting, uh, on the [April] 26th, um…it…is inadequate. Just leave it at that. But as I [unintelligible] I would like to see a mailer to each and every citizen of Sultan. A little blurb on a teeny little card, utility card or bill is not adequate in my opinion, especially when it doesn't give any input whatsoever as to – people look at that. They say, "Sheriff presentation. Oh, okay, well, gee, what does that mean? Big deal." Um…Josie had a conversation with you, Bruce, on – I think it was on the 22nd – about what is needed in, uh, descriptions of hearings and ordinance notices and so forth to communicate properly. Well, the utility bill certainly doesn't. The notices are good as far as it goes. It certainly doesn't communicate to anyone like, uh, myself years ago when I just went back-and-forth and back-and-forth to Seattle in the dark all the time and never – never came down to city hall – didn't even know where the bloody thing was at that time. Um, I would like to see a mailing. And offered to—to, uh, Deborah that, depending on the costs, you know, Ray and I would like to participate in that if the city cannot possibly afford to do that. Um, we could certainly, you know, add some spit and manual labor to seal the envelopes or whatever. But I think it's very important – urgently important that every citizen in Sultan know exactly what's at stake here. Thank you.
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