Submitted by Marion Smith.
As this year draws to a close it also concludes my 20 years as a councilman for the Town of Steilacoom. In 2001 I ran against a field of three challengers and was elected. When I had no challengers in four elections I said I was either doing a good job or no one wants the job. This last election there were three challengers who wanted the job of council member and as result Elizabeth Grasher in now my replacement on Steilacoom Town Council. I wish her the best of luck. She will find a council who gets things done.
Due to excellent staff work the projects presented to council were easy to confirm and authorize for the mayor to proceed with the work. During my tenure the council has authorized many streets to be rebuilt/overlaid and in conjunction with street rebuilds to replace/upgrade underground utilities. This was accomplished by the town’s ability to gain grants for these projects, again due to town staff actions.
I feel that we have the best run town in the state and we have been complimented many times at association meetings by representatives of other municipalities.
As I look back at my 20 year tenure I feel that the town is in very capable hands. I would also like to thank the citizens of Steilacoom for giving me the opportunity to serve them. It has been a pleasure for which I am very grateful and I know without any doubts that Steilacoom is the very best place in the state to live.
THANK YOU, STEILACOOM
Marion V Smith, former councilman
Town of Steilacoom
Thank you, Marion, for being one of the key reasons why this Town is such a wonderful place to live. We recall when a know-it-all reporter predicted that Steilacoom would go bankrupt because the paper mill closure left us without a major revenue source.
Wrong !
You, the Council, the Mayor and our dedicated staff kept this Town not just solvent but improving year after year. You left a fine example for your successor to follow.
Gratefully,
Ray and Maura Egan
Agree! Thank you for everything you have done for the town!
Public service: the work, behind the scenes and often under-appreciated is, nevertheless, the life-blood of institutions and functioning municipalities. Twenty years is an admirable contribution. Thank you.
Marion, special thanks for your 20 years of service to our “Town on the Sound”! A lot of good town history can now be written because of you and your work with Mayor Ron Lucas and many other council members during your time. I was also on the ballot with you back in 2001, though I was running for reelection for our school board. There are a lot of us retired military officers serving our nation in a different capacity. Another of our town’s active citizens Ray Egan mentioned that a “know-it-all” reporter (from the TNT) predicted that Steilacoom would go bankrupt because of the mill closure and if I remember correctly the amount of debt the town had on it’s ledger. Not only did the town not go bankrupt, but the debt has now all been paid, fund balances are healthy, and our streets and utilities continue to be one of the best, if not the best of 280 municipalities. You and your “teammates” deserve a lot of thanks for your conservative and prudent leadership. Continue to keep an “eye on us”, make sure we don’t stray. Again thanks for your service.
Thank you Marion!!