Yelm's City Council received news last night that three improvement projects are over-budget. City staffers explained in each instance that construction costs have sky-rocketed due to petroleum related products, i.e. asphalts, steel, etc.

1. Yelm Prairie Line trail bid
The current cost estimate exceeds the original bid by $56,000.
Approved was $65,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund, which includes a $9,000 contingency.

When Mayor Harding asked for questions from the Council, Council member Don Miller asked, "Can we afford it?"
This observer in Council Chambers thought that an interesting question from a Council member for 2 reasons:
A. Does a City Council member not know the budget with which they are given responsibility, instead relying on a a city staffer to answer the question?
B. That a City Council member asked such a question is bold, as this is a question that needs to be examined about every item in Yelm's budget, since this city has been spending alot of money against the backdrop of a national, state and county economic downturn.
Mr. Miller, I applaud your asking the question, especially as the City Council approaches working with the 2009 budget this Fall!

2. Coates Avenue Reconstruction
This little over $1.025 million project is over-budget due to unexpected right-of-way cost, the replacement of some undersized water line and the addition of new water and sewer lines. The $75,000 in under-runs on Stevens & West Streets projects is expected to cover the overages on this Coates Street project. The road will be open during construction, which will occur during the school year. This road gets alot of school bus barn traffic and others using the inner loop to bypass Yelm Ave. West morning traffic.

3. Longmire Park reclaimed water line
A $40,800 budget amendment increase was approved bringing this job total now to $408,800. Yelm Public Works Director Time Peterson told the City Council his department is currently trucking water to the park 8-10 hours a day. The added expense is necessitated by the fact that water, sewer and reuse water lines all have separating requirements down the same street, so the reuse water line to Longmire Park will have to go down the center of the street, increasing asphalt/repaving costs. There is a 15% contingency in this bid.

While the City Council has funded some wonderful projects, look for greatly reduced spending next year as the slowdown trickles down to Yelm. Continued project overruns and funding from the city's reserves should serve as a red flag, just as Councilman Miller naively asked, "Can we afford this?"

What say you?

Posted by Steve at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Every year the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County has a sponsored walk for homeless pets.
This year's walk is Saturday, July 26 at the Fort Steilacoom County Park at 8:30am.

You are encouraged to walk with your dog and collect sponsors to help raise funds for dogs in need, or if you can not walk and would still like to contribute, (however small, every $ helps), Yelm Travel owner Elizabeth Felix invites you to sponsor her dogs Abby and Wesley in walking.
If you can spare a donation, please write your check to "The Humane Society" and either mail to :
Yelm Travel
P. O. BOX 730
Yelm, WA. 98597

or drop by the Yelm Travel office on Creek Street, behind the Yelm Post Office, in the same building with the Chinese Wok.
Says Elizabeth, "Our dogs, yours and mine are the lucky ones, but there are many that need help.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Elizabeth, Abby and Wesley"

TELL ELIZABETH YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Rainier animal shelter improving
"About a month ago the City of Rainier updated its animal control ordinance.

Among the changes, Rainier approved a life-long dog license and an official no-kill status for their shelter.

Getting the shelter to its current status, among other improvements, has been a five-year process for public works employee Tony Schall.

When Schall took on the project of improving Rainier’s shelter, he said the only facility they had was a cement slab and portable dog kennels," quoting the Nisqually Valley News.

IF RAINIER CAN DO THIS, WHY CAN'T YELM?

Posted by Steve at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Guustaaf Damave

Patricia Noffsinger has placed in the display cases at the Yelm Timberland Library an exhibit to show that needlepoint and embroidery have truly become an artform. Pat reports she is also using the display to gain interest in our area as she forms a local chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild.
The display will run until Aug 31st.
Ms. Noffsinger sells or purchases original artwork online on her site Mixed Medium Art.

"Yelm library kicks off summer fun
Summer boredom is a thing of the past because Yelm Timberland Library has kicked off their summer programs.

Among the many opportunities for local youth, “Catch the Reading Bug” reading program, a book club and Wacky Tuesdays are some of the biggest...

The next activity will be Summer Movie Matinee in the library’s living room.

All ages are invited, and popcorn will be provided, 1-3 p.m., Thursdays, June 26 through July 31...

Typically, many of the adults cannot attend summer events because they are on vacation, said Library Manager Kristin Blalack.

In September, Blalack plans to resume Fireside Talk, a program the library sponsors with the Yelm Historical Society.

Adults sit around talking about the “olden days,”" quoting the NVN.

Posted by Steve at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This from Aviation:

"Stay alert to larceny in the air
What to keep in mind to ensure your valuables are safe while flying

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) certainly isn't immune, either. Although all TSA agents are supposedly background-checked, more than 400 have been fired over the past five years for stealing. (It seems fair to hope some may have been jailed too, for committing crimes while serving in vitally important positions of public trust.) For the record, the TSA says the worst airports for theft are Newark, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Seattle-Tacoma.

Steps to help prevent your items being stolen
Jewelry is the single biggest category of stolen valuables, followed by cameras and electronics. Still, carelessness and blind faith make the situation needlessly worse. So keep the following in mind:

* Don't stash anything in your checked bags that you'd be devastated to lose, and buy one small but solid lock per bag (the TSA suggests Travel Sentry or Safe Skies brands, both of which screeners can open and relock should they decide to go into your bag). Locks occasionally do get cut off by screeners if a bag seems suspicious, but they seem to discourage casual pilfering.
* In security lines, consolidate loose items (such as phones or iPods) into one bag before putting it through the machine, and keep an eagle eye when it emerges out the other end — even if you're detained for wanding or frisking. If the security screeners bring you out of sight of your stuff, politely but firmly ask to have it brought to you immediately. Don’t pass through the metal detector until your items are well inside the x-ray machine.
* In-flight, put the carry-on with all your "must-not-lose" belongings under the seat in front of you and lock it, because the passenger seated ahead of you can reach under his seat and delve into your bag. But keep wallets on your person, especially if it's a long-haul flight. That goes for double if it's overnight and you plan to sleep. Consider locks for any bags in overhead bins, as well; it's not unheard of for a thief to run his or her mitts through bags while their owners are snoozing. It's also not a bad idea to put your bag(s) in the bin across from you, the better to keep an eye on things.
* Don't pack valuables near the tops of your carry-on bags; that makes it easier for someone casually to scoop them out, with minimal effort."

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BELONGINGS AND BE AWARE WHEN USING ANY AIRPORT!

Posted by Steve at 6:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The lovely ladies at McKenna's NATURE'S GARDEN plant and produce stand have moved their FLORAL DEPARTMENT to a new location just past the McKenna Y towards Roy. The address is:

34090 SR507

The phone number for the new INDOOR location is 458-5000.

Also, they will be moving their entire operation including all plants to this location by September.

Please frequent their business and other local, small businesses, and keep our money circulating locally.

TELL NATURE'S GARDEN YOU READ ABOUT THEM IN THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Posted by Steve at 6:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We are nearing the final days of the public comment period for the Thurston Highlands Draft EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), July 28th.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. The EIS must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
The purpose of the EIS and The Comprehensive Plan is to insure the wishes of the community are reflected in these documents.
"The Vision Plan is adopted by reference in the Yelm Comprehensive Plan, and became a guiding document in the creation of development regulations such as the Yelm Design Guidelines."

2. The Yelm Vision Plan was instituted on January 5, 1995 by a group of people to reflect the will of the community.
This states on page 6, #B:
"Develop retail and commercial services to meet the needs of Yelm’s growing population. Focus new
commercial services in existing commercial areas.

on page 8:
Improve Yelm’s historic downtown (roughly between Solberg St. NW/SW, Stevens Ave.NE/NW, 4th St. NE/SE and Mosman Ave. SW/SE).
a. Provide more street amenities and pedestrian oriented businesses, such as open-air restaurants.

on page 12:
Each district would allow the full spectrum of uses as defined by zoning (Zoning will not be changed.) but will also feature guidelines to encourage specific activities and take advantage of special opportunities. For example, the “village retail” district will create an attractive pedestrian-oriented retail center to serve new residents in the southwest annexation (as well as providing a unique shopping experience in the city). The
downtown district targets visitors’ service businesses through historic preservation, street improvements, and by encouraging small cottage industries in existing structures.

on page 15:
Land Use and Design
4. Implement master plan for proposed SW Annex Development to form a high-quality residential community
integrated with the rest of Yelm. Restrict new commercial development outside the current commercially zoned area along Yelm venue.

on page 18:
Village Retail District [current downtown]
b. Make the site accessible from the Southwest Annex and Yelm Avenue. This will reduce congestion on Yelm Avenue by providing alternate access to the development. Easy access from the Southwest Annex will encourage residents to shop in the Village Retail District.

on page 19
Proposed Southwest Annex District [Thurston Highlands]
a. Higher density development, involving a mix of multifamily and single-family units should be located near
Yelm Avenue to encourage pedestrian trips to the Village Retail District [current downtown].

and:

c. Commercial development should be kept to a minimum. Allow only small neighborhood-oriented commercial, such as small grocery stores.

PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS...

IS THURSTON HIGHLANDS' EIS CONSISTENT WITH THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY, AS EXPRESSED IN YELM'S VISION STATEMENT ON THE CITY'S OWN WEBSITE?
AFTER ALL, THE VISION PLAN WAS DEEMED TO BE THE DESIRES OF THIS COMMUNITY!

WE ARE SEEING THIS DRAFT EIS PROPOSE ALMOST 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW COMMERCIAL SPACE IN A DEVELOPMENT AWAY FROM THE YELM'S CURRENT DOWNTOWN, WHERE THE VISION STATEMENT SPECIFICALLY STATES:

Focus new commercial services in existing commercial areas
And:
"Commercial development should be kept to a minimum [in Thurston Highlands]. Allow only small neighborhood-oriented commercial, such as small grocery stores."

The Draft EIS States in Chapter 3, section 7-4:
Yelm Vision Plan
In the same time period during which the City of Yelm was adopting its Comprehensive Land Use Plan consistent with the Growth Management Act, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce and the local community created a Vision Plan designed to improve the economic vitality, convenience and appearance of the downtown commercial area by: focusing on industry, retail and commercial uses, and tourism; building community pride and involvement; enhancing the City’s identity with a directed sense of character, downtown improvements, and coordinated improvement efforts; improving vehicular circulation; and promoting efficient and high-quality land use.
The Vision Plan is adopted by reference in the Yelm Comprehensive Plan, and became a guiding document in the creation of development regulations such as the Yelm Design Guidelines.

Relationship of the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community to the Yelm Vision Plan
The Yelm Vision Plan will be utilized by the City during the Thurston Highlands application review process for final Master Site Plan approval, and during formulation of a Development Agreement (or similar instrument) that will establish project-specific development standards and requirements for construction within the proposed Master Planned Community.


OH, REALLY???!!!
ISN'T THE YELM VISION PLAN SUPPOSED TO REFLECT THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY & BE FOLLOWED?
WHY IS IT NOT BEING FOLLOWED WITH THIS DRAFT EIS?

The Thurston Highlands Draft EIS States in Chapter 3, section 7 - 3:
Relationship of the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community to the Comprehensive Plan
The Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community must be consistent with policies of the Yelm Comprehensive Plan as part of the Master Planned Community approval.

The Draft EIS States in Chapter 3, section 7 - 1:
Relationship of the Proposal to Plans and Policies
Yelm Comprehensive Plan

The primary criteria for conceptual approval of a Master Plan Development is consistency with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

IS THIS DRAFT EIS FOLLOWING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & VISION STATEMENT?
WHY NOT?
DOES THE COMMUNITY CARE IF CITY OFFICIALS CARRY OUT THEIR WISHES OR NOT VIA THESE DOCUMENTS?

IF WE MAKE A NEW COMMERCIAL AREA IN THURSTON HIGHLANDS OF ALMOST 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET [EQUIVALENT TO 5 SUPER WAL-MARTS] , WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE EFFECT ON YELM'S CURRENT COMMERCIAL AREA?

WILL THE COMMUNITY SHOP AT ALL BRIGHT, SHINY AND NEW BUSINESSES OR GO TO THE CURRENT DOWNTOWN AREA?

IF YOU HAD A BUSINESS IN YELM'S DOWNTOWN CORE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS LOCATION BEING SHOVED ASIDE WHILE A NEW COMMERCIAL AREA IS DEVELOPED IN THURSTON HIGHLANDS?

WHY DID THIS CITY GO TO ALL OF THE TROUBLE TO CREATE A VISION STATEMENT AND THEN NOT FOLLOW IT?

WHERE IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS ONE?

ALL THREE ALTERNATIVES SUGGESTED FOR THE HIGHLANDS OFFER LARGE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE PRESENTED WITH LIMITED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT FOLLOWED THE VISION STATEMENT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS DRAFT EIS SHOULD BE REWORKED TO INCLUDE AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN WITH LIMITED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT!

You have 10 days left to send your comments about this to:

Grant Beck, Community Development Director
City of Yelm Community Development Department
P.O. Box 479
Yelm, WA 98597
highlands@ci.yelm.wa.us

Posted by Steve at 6:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This writer now understands Mayor Harding's continual comments that the economy is doing well here, as he said in the Nisqually Valley News last week:

"It’s not just Yelm seeing continued growth in the face of a troubling national economy.

Harding said areas in the county around Yelm are also growing and the city is working to accommodate that growth as well."

The Olympian reported yesterday:
"The overall taxable retail sales data show: ...
• Yelm rose 8.39 percent to $37.4 million from $34.5 million

The retail trade data show:
• Yelm rose 52.83 percent to $18.6 million from $12.2 million...

Still, there were some bright spots in the first-quarter taxable retail sales data.

Yelm's retail trade sales soared more than 50 percent. Contributing to that boost were the more than 20 businesses that opened in the city between October and March, finance and administrative services director Tanya Robacker said."

Omitted from the figures was the fact that between March and now, we have seen the closure of Two Friends Bistro and Arnold's Country Inn, two of the more prominent sit-down restaurants. Alot of other local businesses are feeling pinched.

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of Yelm's Super Wal-Mart opening with 184,368 square feet of commercial space.

No wonder the Mayor says Yelm's economy is growing -- Yelm opened a new Wal-Mart on July 18, 2007, which skewed the numbers in 2008. The Mayor and city should list separate Wal-Mart figures for an accurate comparison.

Instead of looking at biased figures based on a Super Wal-Mart opening to pat ourselves on the back, we should be looking at the overall statistics and trends, as The Olympian reported about our county. Comparing Yelm's year over year retail numbers with a Wal-Mart added this year is not comparing apples to apples.

Thurston county's retail sales tumble

"In another sign of the slowing South Sound economy, Thurston County taxable retail sales have fallen for the first time in 13 years, dropping 1.3 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, new state Department of Revenue data show.

The county's overall taxable retail sales declined, in part, because of fewer sales of new and used cars, motorcycles, boats and recreational vehicles, the result of higher fuel prices, the data show.

The news comes less than a week after Northwest Multiple Listing Service data showed that Thurston County home sales have fallen more than 20 percent in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2007."

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS. THINK ABOUT IT...

Posted by Steve at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This writer has received several emails that Yelm area folks are feeling the pinch and looking to change the way they live everyday life in order to save. Here are some great tips to help you through these times:

"10 Things You Can Like About $4 Gas"
From TIME Magazine, here are 2 0f 10 effects on the Yelm area:
2. Sprawl Stalls
[Ed. Note: Mayor Harding's "planned growth" hopefully will stall, too!]

8. Less Traffic
"Travel on all roads dropped 2.1% in the first four months of 2008, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Wherever people can take public transit, they are doing so."
[Ed. Note: Regardless of the city's new side streets, overall traffic HAS dropped in Yelm from less road use.]

"How to Sell a House, When You Have to Sell It Now
Seven tips for homeowners who can't wait until the market turns around"
From the July 14th Wall Street Journal
And this:
"So you say you're selling your house?
Hey, it could be worse. You could be selling a Hummer."

"A Gourmet Family Meal for $10?"
From Time Magazine.

"All Eyes on Amtrak
Soaring gas prices and higher airfares are causing Americans to take a closer look at their rail system."
From Newsweek
Amtrak offer excellent service to Portland, Seattle, Eugene and Vancouver from Olympia.
I love riding Amtrak's Cascades.

"Pulling the Plug: Summer of '08 Sparks Creative Conservation
With Temperatures -- and Electric Bills -- High,
Families Face Meltdown; Bourbon Cubes
TIPS FOR STAYING COOL"
From the Wall Street Journal.

American's relook wind
"For 20 years, Southwest Windpower has been bringing low-cost, reliable wind energy to the world. As the world's largest producer of small wind generators, we've pioneered new technologies to make renewable energy simple," quoting Southwest Windpower.

Solar Power Workshop
with Brad Burkhartzmeyer
Saturday July 19 from 8 AM to 4 PM
Continental breakfast and lunch included
Develop a plan for your own system - Hands on Class practice in constructing a small model system

Where: Deschutes Grange, 16435 143rd Ave. SE on Vail Road just south of Rainier.
Cost: $40 pre-registration at Lemuria between now and July 18th. $45 at the door.
-Half the proceeds go to fund Brad's journeys around the globe-
Sponsored by the Yelm area's own Babes In Belts

Posted by Steve at 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Thurston Highlands Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Comment Period
is June 10-July 28, 2008

Now is the time for the public to gather information, learn and comment.

Open House
5 PM to 8 PM - July 16, 2008
Yelm High School Commons

Location of Copies of the Draft EIS and Technical Reports for Review

City of Yelm
Community Development Department
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597

Yelm Timberland Library
Fay Fuller Building
210 Prairie Park Street
Yelm, WA 98597

Address Comments to:

Grant Beck, Community Development Director
City of Yelm Community Development Department
P.O. Box 479
Yelm, WA 98597
highlands@ci.yelm.wa.us

Posted by Steve at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Janet Harding
Photo credit: The Olympian

"Janet Harding, a 21-year old from Yelm with a passion for volunteer work, is the new Miss Washington.

Harding was crowned Saturday night [July 12] at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma and will represent Washington in the Miss America competition, which takes place in January in Las Vegas. She competed in the Miss Washington pageant as Miss Tahoma, a title she earned in a Puyallup pageant...

Harding will work for the cause of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America during her reign. To earn her crown, she played a cascading classical piano piece, modeled a two-piece pink swimsuit and a black-and-white beaded evening gown, and answered questions in an onstage interview.

Asked whether she thought Americans are too selfish to make sacrifices to aid the environment, Harding said in the interview that she thinks Americans already are starting to do so.

Harding is the daughter of Myrna and Ron Harding and a student at Western Washington University, where she is studying elementary education, social studies and communications.

She serves on the board of Big Brothers-Big Sisters in Whatcom County and is a Big Sister.

'She puts in hundreds of hours of community service, in whatever cause comes forward,' said Ron Harding, Yelm’s mayor," quoting The Olympian.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JANET!!!!!!

Updated with Nisqually Valley News story published July 18.

Posted by Steve at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)