The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

Town Administrator weekly update, Nov. 15

By

By Paul Loveless, Steilacoom Town Administrator

Upcoming Meetings:

  • Council Meeting –  November 19, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
  • Preservation and Review Board –  November 27, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
  • Civil Service – December 6, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Community Center
  • Planning Commission – December 9, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town hall.

Council Future Agenda “Look-Ahead” Issues:

  • Copies of the Agenda and staff reports are available at all Town facilities once published.
  • The Agenda and Council meeting minutes are posted to the Town’s official website.

Report Street Light Problems:

As daylight hours are beginning to get shorter, it is a good time to check your neighborhood street lights and help us identify those that are not working and need to be repaired.  To report a street light outage or other problem, please record the nearest street address and contact the Public Works Department at 253.581.1912.  Repairs may take up to 1-2 weeks to complete..

Saltar’s Point Park:

Saltar’s Point Park remains closed. If anyone notices trespassers on the beach, please contact Public Safety using the non-emergency number – 253 798-4721. Staff continues to work with BNSF officials pursuing design of a replacement structure.

Reduce Flooding by Keeping Storm Drains Clear of Leaves:

Steilacoom residents may reduce flooding on Steilacoom roads by picking up yard waste on their properties and making sure nearby storm drains are free of leaves.

Steilacoom residents can take the following actions to keep storm drains clear:

    • Pick up leaves and other yard waste from properties and put them in yard waste bins for pick up.
    • If it can be done safely, remove leaves from storm drains with a rake.
    • Find a list of local facilities that accept yard waste and leaves, often free of charge, at www.piercecountywa.org/yardwaste.
    • Call Steilacoom Public Works and Utilities at (253) 581-1912 if the blockage can’t be cleared or the roadway is flooding.
    • Call (253) 798-4274 if the flooding is occurring along a stream, river or pond in unincorporated Pierce County.

Comprehensive Plan Update:

Your input is needed to update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Over the next several months, the Planning Commission will review the Comprehensive Plan by topic, and public input is vital to the success of this exercise. Remaining topics to be covered are Housing on December 9; Economic Development on January 13, and Transportation on January 27. All meetings will be at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall, 1717 Lafayette Street. More information is available from Town Planner Doug Fortner at 581-1912 or doug.fortner@ci.steilacoom.wa.us.

Want to receive advance notice of Planning Commission meetings and hearings by email? You can sign up at any Planning Commission meeting or send an email request todoug.fortner@ci.steilacoom.wa.us.

Public Safety:

Staffing:

The Chief requested an additional 20 names of entry level candidates.  An oral board is scheduled for December 3rd for these individuals.  A special Civil Service Commission meeting is scheduled for December 6th to add the passing names to the entry level register.

Training:

Sergeant Rodriguez and PSO Derig attended SWAT training this week.

Sergeant Rodriguez, PSO Bailey, and PSO Feleppa are scheduled to attend firearms training this weekend.

Department-wide OTEP (monthly EMT training) was held Wednesday.

Public Works:

Streets and Storm:

Joey Hollow Development:

Staff continued meeting with the Joey Hollow Development Team.  The stop-work order was lifted to allow the contractor to complete additional storm drainage, sewer and water systems’ work, and prepare for street work.

The Developer has requested a hearing for final plat approval.  This is being scheduled for the Planning Commission first and then to come to Council on November 19th.  Given Council will be presiding on this hearing in their quasi-judicial capacity; please do not discuss this matter with anyone outside of the hearing.

Sequalish Street Project;

Work continued on the sewer main between Main Street and Pacific Street.  Additionally, the retaining wall at the ball field is under construction and PSE continues to relocate their facilities between Chambers Street and Union Avenue.  We anticipate this work will continue for the next several weeks.

Crew Emphasis:

The crew focused on street sweeping, site visits at Joey Hollow, vactored catch basins in the vicinity of Roe, Cincinnati, and Marietta Streets, repaired the storm drain line at the corner of Wilkes and Rainier Streets.

Electrical:

Crew Emphasis:

The crew performed streetlight maintenance, replaced lights in the Community Center, assisted the Water/Sewer Department replacing u-joints in some pumps, and they assisted the Street Department with the storm drain work at the corner of Wilkes and Rainier Streets.

Water/Sewer:

Crew Emphasis:

The Crew replaced u-joints in the pumps at the Sunnyside pump station, assisted the Streets Department on the Rainier/Wilkes Streets storm project, and worked with the contractor on Joey Hollow.

Parks and Grounds:

The crew focused on leaf clearing and removal while performing other building and grounds maintenance. Additionally, they repaired the fence at Sunnyside Park.

General:

Kiwanis Winefest:

The Kiwanis Winefest is scheduled for January 24, 2014 at the McGavick Center.  Tickets are $40 each and are available from any Kiwanis member and/or at the Public Works Building front desk.