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Christmas 2008
1973
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- Council, Lynn Syler: lsyler@RustonWa.org 759-3544
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1973
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Our community is only as strong as its informed citizenry. Information should be factual and timely ~ and opinions should be many. This is a safe place where both factual information and varied opinions can be aired. Everyone is encouraged to join the conversation. Anyone can submit information or opinions for posting. Opinions expressed belong to individual authors.
Questions? Email Karen at Karen.Pickett.MBA@gmail.com.
Questions? Email Karen at Karen.Pickett.MBA@gmail.com.
9 comments:
The City of Ruston has been working diligently to make this project a success
What a laugh. His nose must have grown a foot. Since 2006 the Town/City of Ruston has done everything in their power to stop, hinder, slow down, obstruct and run up the costs needlessly on Point Ruston. Remember their previous largest taxpayer they forced out of business with a tax increase designed to close it down. Point Ruston will fare no better.
Jim Why is this happening? What is their point? Thanks, Puzzled
Answering anon
In 2006 a group new to the town took over local government. These 8-10 people still control the mayor/council government of the City. They had financial backing and pro bono legal advice.
They put on a free spaghetti dinner at the Yacht Club in 2006 for the whole Town. Their avowed purpose and campaign promise was to make Ruston a "bedroom community".
This began eight years of harassment for Point Ruston, Stack Hill and the Commencement. They got off easy compared to the Town's largest taxpayer, The Point Defiance Café and Casino, which was taxed out of existence because "we don't like your sign". Pearl Street on the Ruston side is a dead zone, a victim of the Town's policy.
In a nutshell an urban community with all of it's benefits does not fit into their long range plans.
Not doing inspections and letting the construction at Point Ruston is criminal. The state should step in on this. If you let a builder steamroll building safety codes then you have no business running a Building Department. This area has a higher potential for violent shaking during a major earthquake... This issue on the surface is being twisted by the papers to be about which City is the nicest to work with and acting as if permits, fees, etc. are the issue here. But in reality this could result in a failure of epic proportions; all at the jurisdictions expense and possible injures to the public. Seems like neglect of enforcing the Building Codes. The public is relying on both Rustin and Tacoma to uphold Building Codes (laws that pertain to construction in which provide a level of safety)and from what I have been reading it sounds like the are missing the mark. One way to look at this is - If a huge developer can build without permits than the rest of the community should be able to build without permits and inspections... I would not want to by a home for my family knowing it was built without approved plans and inspections; would you?
They are building the foundation for a parking garage.
This is not a problem with a big developer "Steam Rolling" a small town. Every home owner, builder, and small remodel specialist that has done work in Ruston over the past 10 years has had the same problems. Just ask Council Woman Deb Kristovich and her husband. They nearly went to legal blows with the town while trying to get their house built as did their former neighbors. Then Deb joined the council to get a dog park - sorry no dog park for you! Council man Hedrick wanted a home office above his garage - sorry no office for you! (unless you have 6 months or more and are willing to pay a 5000 to 8000 dollar special use permit and another 4000 to 6000 for a variance to the Ruston Code). Some experienced contractors won't even bid work in Ruston because they know the costs and timelines are so exaggerated that it becomes impossible to make a profit. Likewise, small developers and business owners run into the same problems. By the time one retrofits an old space, pays the Town of Ruston to update their utility infrastructure (what you thought Ruston would be proactive or even cooperative with updating their own infrastructure so business owners could have modern reliable electrical and network services), work past the new ridiculous sign-light-landscape codes (modeled after a cottage community like Seabrook), what you have left is a business ready to fail. Sorry Point Defiance Tap and Grill but good luck.
"Not doing inspections...which provide a level of safety" How safe is living next to an empty or old dilapidated buildings. How safe is a community when its police department is in the basement of the old Ruston School(the building was abandoned years ago by the Tacoma School District because it was not up to code and would cost to much to retrofit it to meet seismic safety concerns and ADA compliance. How Safe is a Super Fund Cleanup Site that no one will develop?
P.S. Building Code was not even written for the North West states until 1927, Uniform Building Code (UBC). The codes were not established and enforced until well into the 1950's. Are there any structures your families has lived, worked, play, or learned in that might have been built without code enforcement?
I just read the "Mayors Corner" comments included with the current utility bill. I find the mayors comments to be deceptive at best. He continues to state that "we" support this development as if the Town of Ruston has actually tried to be helpful. Where is the evidence that the Mayor, Council, Planner, or Engineer has done anything creative, constructive, or helpful? A completed project is what is best for the current residents of Ruston, Tacoma, and NW Washington. Give us an example of truly working to make things better or of compromise. Stating that you have "been processing all application in a timely manner in accordance with State Law" might be more honestly put "we have done the bare minimum required by state law". All the developer has to do is “pick up the permits and pay the fees”. Let’s see why would he not do that Mr. Mayor? Could it be that the “fees” are outrageous and not inline with Tacoma’s fees? Could it be that you have put conditions on the permit that are not agreeable? Some of are wondering Mr. Mayor. “Admitting that you (the mayor), your council, and your hired staff have not the resources or experience to deal with a large and complicated project would have been the right approach years ago. Continuing to repeat and exaggerate details such as the "20 percent less rebar" will not improve the relationship with the developer or the outcome of the project. Every good building inspector finds and misses some details and no building in the world is without some flaws. Tell us why you did not know about the installation of a propane gas system. Could it be that the Mayor and council for the Town of Ruston do not know how to have positive working relationships with builders, developers, businesses, or even the citizens? Tell us why the relationship with Tacoma seems so strained? Could it be that they too find it costly and frustrating to work with you Mr. Mayor? How about an honest example like when Tacoma wanted to install conduit for Click Network on both sides of the project to save time and money. That proposal should have come with a “How can we help” but instead you made that a complicated legal process with larger than necessary fees. Include how councilman Hardin tried to leverage Tacoma into bringing Click to all of Ruston in exchange for letting Tacoma put in conduit. The elected officials in University Place, Fircrest, Lakewood, and Fife have Click for their residents.
Thanks for mentioning the proposed “Transfer Station” and protecting us from disease and vermin. We are all eager to hear the well thought out plan for improved refuse collection within Ruston. We have no glass collection. We have no large item collection (call to haul). We have no town disposal site? These lacking services also lead to odors, pest, fire danger, and theft.
People need to get rid of that Ruston mess of a government they have and move on. Go back to Tacoma. The Smelter is gone. The history of the town/city name is; Swansee, Tacoma, Smelter, Ruston.
Even the Ruston Chief of police jumped ship back to Tacomas department recently...Ask him why.
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