Civil Service Commission: Sept. 11, 2008

Ruston's civil service commission held their regular meeting last night. There has been some trouble coordinating a meeting for the last few months, so this is the first time the commission has met in some time.

Police chief Sharon Reese reports that the town's regular attorney, David Britton attended the meeting on behalf of Mr. Winterbauer. Mr. Winterbauer is the attorney who is hired to advise the commission. Mr. Britton had some draft by-laws for the commission to consider. Commission chair Connie Maglione had suggested looking at Bainbridge Island's by-laws as well. No decision on this issue was made.

Chief Reese outlined a plan to advertise for police chief, officers and reserves, all of which have vacancies currently or pending. The chief will present suggestions for how the commission could conduct the hiring process when they are completed.

The commission was informed of a seminar for new civil service commissioners that is recommended by AWC. It will be held in Yakima in October. The commission also went to executive session for a time to discuss former chief Reinhold's complaint.

RUSTON INSIDER

Be advised Ruston is in the big leagues in more ways than POINT RUSTON. One step forward one step back.

POINT DEFIANCE CASINO has sued the town of Ruston for $9.7 million. That is not a mistype. Check out the latest from the Tacoma Volcano here .

Hideous in more ways than one, big time rollers in the TACOMA CABAL. With the Town's money of course.

I will be posting only on RUSTON INSIDER and RUSTON LAWSUIT from hereon. Add to your favorites or add shortcut to your desktop for all the latest FROM THE FRONT ROW.

http://rustoninsider.blogspot.com/

RUSTON LAWSUIT is now available:

http://rustonlawsuit.blogspot.com/

Music Fest

The Ruston-Point Defiance Business District Music Fest is going to be one heck of a party this Saturday (tomorrow) ~ 4 music stages, expanded Kids Zone, artists in action, food, crafts, beer garden, fire department demonstrations and more. The fun starts at 11 am and ends by 8 pm (one day only) on 51st Street in Ruston. Sponsored by Pierce County, The Weekly Volcano, The Commencement and Point Ruston this year.

Free entertainment for everyone ~ don't miss the fun!

• 
  Ruston's own Ginger Kryger has organized a raku pottery demonstration. Raku is a unique firing process that produces spectacular metallic finishes. Small fish and starfish pieces will be available to purchase and fire yourself ~ a fund raiser for the Emergency Food Network. Bleachers will be set up so you can watch first hand. Painters, bead and chalk artists will be showing their skills as well.
• Kids Zone will have lots of inflatable toys for the little ones to run, jump and slide to their hearts content. This is the same operation that set up during Freedom Fest along Ruston Way. There is a small charge for these rides.
• Ruston Fire Department will have the new engine on display. Fire fighters will be doing free blood pressure checks and CPR/defibrillator demonstrations.
• About three times as many vendors will have everything from cashmere, fine scarfs, paintings, food and more.
• Point Defiance Cafe has an outdoor beer garden during the event in their parking lot.
• The auditor's office will be registering folks to vote.

Weekly Volcano Stage (Main Stage):
11 am: Starstruck
Noon: GE5
1 pm: Jonny Smokes
2 pm: 2112 Rush Tribute
3 pm: The Hard Way
4 pm: Sons of Ivan
5 pm: Drug Purse
6 pm: The Elephants
7 pm: Jon Auer (former lead singer for the Posies)

Coles Oasis Reunion Stage, sponsored by The Commencement(Totem Yacht Club):
1:15 pm: Voxxy Vallejo
2:15 pm: Kincaid Avenue
3:15 pm: Malcolm Clark
4:15 pm: Loose Gravel
5:15 pm: Blues Jam

Southern Rock/Country Stage, sponsored by Pierce County (Garden of Eat'n on Pearl Street)
11:45 am: Becca Rae
12:45 pm: Kari Ehli Band
1:45 pm: Voodoo Ranch
2:45 pm: Renegade
3:45 pm: Michael O'Neill Band
4:45: Joshua Cain Band
5:45 pm: Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers

Antique Sandwich Company Acoustic Stage
Noon: Neil Woodall
1 pm: Angel Band
2 pm: Martin Nyberg
3 pm: Josh Adams
4 pm: Stephanie Johnson
5 pm: Gavin Guss
6 pm: The Blonds

In The News

The Tacoma Weekly ran a full article about the meeting last night, with lots more details about who said what.... read it here.

UPDATE: Thursday, 8:45 pm: The Weekly Volcano has an indepth article about Point Defiance Casino closing down its gambling. Read it here.

POINT RUSTON

FROM THE FRONT ROW: Ruston Town Council meeting 9-2-08 7 pm

Item 3 - Ordinance 1264 - Point Ruston MDP (second reading) passes 3-2 Albertson, Stebner voting no. Ruston is saved, on the map big time, despite the recalcitrants. More on the Dan and Wayne show later.

JOHN LARSON writing in the TACOMA WEEKLY here gave a synopsis of this historic Ruston council meeting that one would be hard pressed to improve upon. It is recommended reading. I will report on the Dan and Wayne show attempts to "slow down" the future of Ruston, our 102 year dream come true. I guess that surmises the difference between Wayne and Dan and the people of Ruston. We see and dream of the future they dream of the past


It was an historic evening, the air was light, the weather warm and not even a 55 minute wait for a Dan Albertson EXECUTIVE SESSION to conclude could bring down the sense of excitement. There was a sense of an epochal event of historical proportions about to take place. If you were there you will have a story to tell for the ages.

It was not all sweetness and honey. The disgruntled duo, Dan and Wayne, waged a blistering attack mostly based on baloney and buffoonery. Wayne whose wisdom never seems to advance from where it started in kindergarten started off on his favorite aphorism, building heights. Finally he was informed they were based on high water mark for the umpteenth time.. Then he expanded his knowledge base into utilities stating public was misinformed and Ruston would take "a big hit". Then, his favorite, the Marcotte Report stated there was no money available for fire or police. Wayne reimburse the town for the $70,000 you lost on the ballet lawsuit.

But the highlight, the nattering nabob of negativity, was the "hideous ghetto" comment of the apparently unbalanced Dan Albertson. He started slowly "My concern, rushing through, out of character, lack of openness, timing considerations, ex parte contacts, a litany of gobbledygook poured out of lawyer Dan. Branched off into STACK HILL was rushed with dire consequences had to be reprimanded by Hunt, Huson to stick to items on the agenda.

The duo's predisposition with building heights is unfathomable. The town sits 100 feet above the base elevation of POINT RUSTON, the low point on the Promontory is 90 feet. What is the point? Please somebody tell me what is the point. Dan says development is out of character with rest of the town. No kidding, it took a lawyer to figure that out? Lot 11A in Ruston is 94.75 feet above grade, lot 17 the Silver Cloud Hotel 91.56 feet. Some sites on the Tacoma side top 100 feet.

Then launched into personal attacks on council members with different views only to be shot down when they brought out the true facts. Although he was well advised to steer clear of Jim Hedrick. Finally winding up with a plea to SLOW DOWN. Yah, like almost three years to approve STACK HILL.

Amid the celebration a public comment called for the immediate resignation of Dan Albertson and Wayne Stebner who serve no useful purpose in Ruston except getting us into cabal lawsuits we cannot win. Please Dan and please Wayne sincerely weigh this advice coming from the wisdom of age.

Finally, congratulations to Bradley Huson who has become the elder statesman of Ruston donating his time to serve as Mayor at great cost to himself. Although Bradley went through a rough early period his devotion and willingness to serve the Town of Ruston never wavered. My hat is off to you and hopefully some of your critics on the council will benefit from your example. Kudos to Jane Hunt and Jim Hedrick for their study on the issues and their unbiased votes for progress.

Council Meeting: Sept. 2, 2008

The Ruston council approved the Point Ruston Master Plan tonight with a 3-2 vote (Albertson and Stebner voting no). It's been 23 years and 5 months since the last business shut its doors on this waterfront property. It's finally looking like new businesses will fill that vacant space at the bottom of the hill.

The other item of interest in tonight's meeting: Council Member Huson has agreed to carry on as Mayor Pro-tem until October 31, 2008. The council will be sending out a notice about the vacancy (presumably to take applications for the position).

RUSTON FOREVER

This is your night.
Can't be free until the moments right.
Amber

It is obvious from the virulent, vitriolic comments coming out of the Tacoma (cabal) crowd they know the end is near. The people of Ruston have stood up and said enough.

Barring unexpected happenings POINT RUSTON will be approved, second reading, tonight and Dan Albertson and his ilk will be relegated to guerilla warfare, their raison d'etre for being on the council ended in a vote for progress.

They have left behind enough time bombs in the form of malicious lawsuits that the town may not survive despite their demise from relevance.

Anyway, show up tonight and welcome Ruston into the twenty first century by a loud round of applause. Beware the gavel though. We are still awaiting our new Mayor, whomever, maybe tonight.

It's been a long time coming!!!

Casino Complaint

The casino has filed the following complaint with the Town of Ruston. It's one of several similar issues pending for the town right now.

Point Defiance Casino Owner Makes His Case

Steve Fabre, owner of Point Defiance Cafe (and former casino) is taking his case to the people of Ruston. Steve has released the following letter, in addition to the letter he provided to council members prior to their vote to increase gambling tax in Ruston to 12% on July 7, 2008.

Change Is Good

We have a new format today, along with a new approach to how we will converse on this blog. As I’ve said before, I am excited that we’ve found this new avenue to communicate and deeply grateful that so many are participating. We are fast approaching 200 visits a day – not bad for a community of just over 400 voters.

As our interaction has grown, I have struggled to find a balance between open expression and civility. Until now, I have tipped the scales towards open comments rather than use my own definition of “civil discourse”.But I have become increasingly concerned that we are using this venue to continue to tear each other apart – except now we can do it anonymously. I recognize that most of you refuse to take the comments seriously when the author doesn’t have the courage to stand behind their words. And I recognize this level of discord has been a part of our community for several years now. There is some benefit to having it out in the open now.

Yet I had hoped this effort would help bring us together ~ that we could find a way to disagree without name calling, that we could express different opinions without getting raked over the coals, that we could work through the differences if we talked openly without fear of attack. I don’t see that happening right now.

I believe I have to address the growing trend of personal attacks and mean-spirited harassment we are experiencing here. So, we are going to try something new. Rather than require all commenters to register, any comment that is out of line will be moved to the Ruston Truth blog. This is a “no-holds barred” site where you can rave to your hearts content. But here on Ruston Home, we will find ways to have civil disagreements ~ and continue to discover just how much we agree on the important things, like how much we love our community!

Thanks for your continued participation and help with this new direction. ~ Karen