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Last night’s LID meeting
Booing and hissing and catcalls in a church? Only in the 289 . . . Tuesday night’s citizens meeting on the Street LID was Standing Room Only, with more than 100 people packed into the Shores Fellowship Church (the church provided the space, but was not involved in the meeting, which was hosted by the group L.O.S.T). Outbursts of anger and disgust were aimed at the City, not the citizen-presenters, as many were upset about their brand-new Street LID assessments (“bills”), and came to voice their opinions. Two council members (Gordon Broadbent and John Lynn) attended, as spectators. No city staff was present. Three citizens led the meeting: Don Williams gave a brief history of the four-year LID process, Kaye Bennett pointed out some “red flags” in the final report by Seattle consultants Macaulay, and Al Lizakowski demanded a public meeting, in which Macaulay would explain its methods and answer questions.
Williams, a frequent critic of the Macaulay consultants, said the project was originally estimated at $23 million in March of 2006. The next year, it was projected at $27.8 million in construction, and about $4 million in financing and other costs. (The final tab: $44.5 million.)
Williams noted Macaulay will be paid close to a half-million dollars by the City. “I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what Macaulay did,” Williams said. “I saw nothing that showed the increase in value based on the (new) roads.”
Bennett challenged the Macaulay report statement that “properties have increased due to (new) roads.”
Lizakowski said a “rush to judgment” by the City is preventing it from properly informing the citizens about the process.
When public works director Ken Lanfear’s name was mentioned, early in the meeting, there was booing, hissing and catcalls.
Questions/comments/complaints from the crowd:
“We’re in the worst economic disaster of our lifetime . . . yet they’re doing these monstrosities of projects, like the Fire Station and these roads.”
“When will they finish? I can’t get out of my driveway.”
“A lot of people can’t come up with $3,000 or $5,000, and we didn’t vote on it.”
“They don’t have to have taxpayer approval, do they?”
“As citizens, what can we do to stop things like this, rather than being hamsters on a wheel?”
“The only ‘Special Benefit’ I see is you get to pay more.”
“I’m going to leave, I’m getting high blood pressure. I suggest no one pay their bills.”
Applause, to that last suggestion; Lizakowski took some of the momentum from that away, noting that the city can foreclose on your property, if you don’t pay your LID.
It’s a little late to complain about what will be. Don’t challenge Macaulay. That’s Like shooting the messenger. Challenge why certain people who own more than one lot get a major price break. Challenge why Lanfear set all the criteria of how people should be charged.
And by all means pay attention NOW of the other project spending. Like ANOTHER water plant, why rf water meters, and plugging up the canals. Which, by the way, hurts our water supply. That’s another future capital project if left to decay.
Ouch!
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Everybody wants the streets fixed but nobody wants to pay their fair share. How typical of a town that has a private social club with liens on 7,200 lots. They use the same bull: it adds value to property. And, like the city, they can take your property if you don’t want to belong. We’re trying to sell and get the out of here, but who’d want to buy in this town anymore? Oh, and do you think real estate agents are REALLY telling people about OS? BTW, we made sure our real estate agent tells the whole story of the LID’s, liens, and lies; I couldn’t in good conscience get an agent that wouldn’t tell people about all the crap that goes on in this town. I don’t know how the guy that sold us our house can sleep at night; evidently he doesn’t have a conscience.
One other thing, we’ve gone from a town that kowtowed to the Jordan’s to one that, according to the editor of this smog, is the “matriarch” of Ocean Shores. We’re no better off. But, hey, we have Weatherwax.
And, Evergreen Charm, don’t expect the editor of this smog to come to your aid anytime soon; he’s too afraid of losing the few subscribers he has. (What’s a smog? A blog without substance. Which is what this has become.)
E.C.: I added the clarification about the church just providing the space, thank you for that.
Just a brief comment about where the meeting was held. The LID meeting last night was held at Shores Fellowship Church building. The pastor was kind to provide the place to meet. In no way was the church hosting the meeting. L.O.S.T hosted the meeting. Just a point of clarification.
Tom, I have to say that I’m disappointed in how you characterized the meeting last night. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that a lot of clarifying information was shared and received about the history of the street LID and about the items that need to be clarified about the report. Yes, we are all disgruntled, but the tasteless comments were really at a minimum. The presentation team celebrated the number of interested people who made a commitment to come and learn more. Your comments focused on the negative, and during the meeting we made every effort to move toward positive action. Thank you for your comments, but I don’t think they serve to encourage others to become more involved and educated in the process. We need your help, Tom. Don’t fail us now.