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Town Council members share their hopes for La Conner

The Town’s five council members were asked to share their hopes and goals for 2018 from their perspective as elected officials.

Jacques Brunisholz, committees: Long Range Planning, Utilities, WAB, Flood Control

An elected group of your fellow citizens is busy overseeing crucial and mundane tasks with the tools of a budget. We are keeping up with the maintenance of infrastructure: water lines, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, town buildings, and public safety and encouraging economic opportunities – and more.

There is also a “vision” need for our community. In three clichés:

One. “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best”: We are closer to completing the “ring dike” to protect our town from a possible flooding.

Two. “Think globally, act locally”: The disposal of our sewer via composting and our effort to equip public facilities with electricity generating solar panels are small positive steps in the effort to rein in our production of CO2. Let’s keep it up.

Three: A New Year’s Resolution to ponder: “Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for your community.”

MaryLee Chamberlain, committees: Facilities, Streets & Safety, Ombudsman

Many town activities this year are linked to sustainability with infrastructure improvements such as the Caledonia pump station, sidewalk on State Street and groundwork for the La Conner Whitney water main upgrade.

Another aspect of infrastructure is human in nature and includes the dedicated town staff, volunteers, residents and those who work here or visit the town.

I would love to see those who contribute to the community with their work, their volunteerism and their choice to spend time here feel a strong connection.

The health of the community is influenced by the efforts of many moving parts, strengthened by partnerships, and bolstered by the vitality that celebrates our town for its natural beauty, historic resources, economic activity and culture.

I want to support the vision of our residents as the town updates the comprehensive plan and welcome hearing from folks about their ideas and perspectives.

The voice of our youth is one I would like to cultivate.

A particular interest for me this year is furthering the work of the Design Charrette that focused on the development of viable plans to address climate changes as we continue to encounter reminders of a pressing need to strengthen our resiliency position.

John Leaver, committees: Facilities, Finance, Long Range Planning, Arts Commission

Town Council: We face fiscal limitations along with program obligations. Compromise, fore-going pet projects, is needed.

Business community: Pro-grams are needed to help busi-nesses prosper. Businesses need a more accommodating attitude to help themselves and the business community.

Town administration: Our new administrator supports flexibility, enabling growth by reviewing public rules, supporting public events and creating new events. Strengthen our Sister City program with White Rock BC.: Create and implement bi-lateral plans with that city.

Music venues: Add to our music venues and events. The boardwalk is an under-utilized asset.

Art: Enable artists to work on the boardwalk and in parks.

Parks: Smaller street-end and other parks could become summer outdoor cafés as Europe has.

Tribal relations: We need to work toward a closer relationship with the Swinomish. The Tribe owns adjoining, deserted properties on First Street. They are beyond eyesore. Refurbishing these structures to provide Tribal information, cultural artworks and native food will add another dimension to the town.

Mary Wohleb, committees: Park & Port, Utilities, Flood

My musings for 2018 as a La Conner council member and as a citizen. I hope this year brings abundance, financially as well as in community spirit. I hope that the money will appear to complete this next unfunded phase of Conner Waterfront Park, that we come up with a financing strategy for the ring dike and that local businesses experience a record year in revenues. I hope we will have many opportunities to come together to celebrate the bounty and beauty of our community and perhaps meet someone new or engage in a dialogue to better understand a different perspective than our own.

I look forward to working with our new Town Administrator, Scott Thomas, and wish him a smooth transition into his position. I look forward to continued positive working relations with other jurisdictions: The county, state, and federal agencies and the Tribes. Lastly, I look forward to the completion of the comprehensive plan and hearing some great ideas the Planning Commissions has for our town.

Bill Stokes, committees: Finance, Streets & Safety

Council member Stokes declined to respond.

 

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