A couple of important events to communicate…

There will be a 7:30 PM Planning Commission hearing on the Draft EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) for Comprehensive Plan that will set the blueprint for Sultan's future for the next 20 years.

One of the "best-kept secrets in Sultan," public participation on the Plan suffered tremendously after getting off to a great start last year with a couple of interactive workshops. Since then, virtually all activity on the plan has occurred with little, or no, notice to, or oversight by, the public. I can't help but wonder what sort of city Sultan could become if this administration spent as much effort promoting events that directly affect our future, such as this comp plan, as they spend on PR-type events that make the city look good (like the annual city photo, Shindig, etc.).

This meeting will be only one of two hearings before it's a done deal and goes to council for a hearing and final approval.

I've been hearing folks grumbling recently that it doesn't matter how much they voice their opinions, this administration just doesn't listen. Well, folks, they sure as heck won't/can't hear you when your mouth is shut and your pen sheathed.

Rather than wait to determine the outcome of the May 20^th vote on what form Sultan's future government will take (mayor-council or council-manager), Mayor Rowe has decided not to wait. Rowe is steam-rolling through an ordinance that seems a sure bet for council approval at Wednesday's Council meeting (7 PM, 319 Main St.). The new ordinance would place the city planner in the dual role of Sultan's City Administrator and City Planner under Rowe's supervision. Mayor Rowe has not explained what will happen to Mr. Cisar should Sultan voters decide to change Sultan's current form of government, since the council will no doubt wish to hire their own professional administrator, sans planner position, which in itself is more than a full-time position.

The irony of the situation is that, instead of folks rejecting and criticizing such a bold and precipitous move by Rowe so close to the election, they're instead discussing the merits and/or aspects related either to Mr. Cisar's qualifications to become the city administrator and/or the wisdom of combining and assigning two such powerful positions to single individual.

Mr. Cisar came to Sultan from Mt. Vernon, where he acted as that city's director of community and economic development from 1992 to mid-2001. When that department was reorganized in August of 2001, he was offered, and took, what I would consider to be a rather liberal severance package. We will have a copy of this agreement online tomorrow morning.

By the way, Rowe's in such a hurry that he has requested that first reading of this ordinance be waived. For you council "newbies" out there, normal procedure is that an ordinance receive a first and second "reading," which simply means that it's brought to a legislative body (in this case, the council), on two different occasions for review, discussion and possible revision before denial or passage. This one's moving so fast it's positively anaerobic (Feel the burn!).

(Despite our April 3rd Public Information Request for Mr. Cisar's personnel records that would indicate his education, training and qualifications for this key city position, legal action has not yet been taken to fulfill RCW 42.17, the statute guiding the Public Information Act.)

Just in time for the May 20^th ballot issue and looking forward to next November's elections, we have heard that the Sky Valley Weekly News has been resurrected. It has been purchased, and it's new editor is Brady Boucher. As of this morning, our sources said that its #1 writer will be Merle Estrin. (Good luck to her in this new endeavor; her articles were the very best thing in Coy's-published editions.)

Gee, I wonder who's financing it this time? Perhaps a national publication came in and scooped it up at a bargain price, appointing an ex-University of Washington truck driver as its editor. What're the odds, huh?

• Easter Egg Hunt: 11:45 a.m. at River Park. Bring the kids!

(And speaking of that, anyone who can assist in stuffing store-wrapped candy into plastic Easter eggs for this event, go on down to Rose's Variety at 5^th & Main and pick up a box of eggs to fill with candy. Doesn't take long [30 minutes or so], but you do have to provide the candy. As of Noon today, only two out of 12 boxes are ready to go. Please help, if you can.)

• Recycling at Sultan High School (from 8 to 4)

Bring the following down for no-charge recycling: Batteries, bleach, brake fluid, chemistry sets, drain cleaner, floor wax, fungicide, furniture polish, glues, herbicides, insecticides, mildew removers, moth balls, oven cleaner, paint thinner, paint, varnish or stain, photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, shoe/silver polish, solvents, transmission fluid and wood preservatives.

Have a great day!

Loretta Storm