Pro’s: Convenient to shopping, right next to the IGA and ACE Hardware; just two blocks (OK, long blocks) from the beach; nice big lot in the heart of booming downtown; historic landmark of Ocean Shores.

Cons: It’s falling apart.

It’s the Ocean Shores Fire Station! The City is building a new one, just south on Point Brown Ave., so O.S. is getting ready to put the old one up for sale.

According to Mayor Dean Bunkers:

“Appraised value is $250,000.  We’ll sell it to you today for $500,000, just send the check.  No decision has been made concerning the ‘For Sale’ sign.”

(In case you didn’t catch it, he was joking about the check for $500K. But then again . . .)

March 23, 6 p.m. at Lions Club.

Agenda item 5. “City Council to provide direction to staff for proceeding with design and construction of a new City water treatment facility.” 

I asked Mayor Dean Bunkers, via email: Does this mean the City has chosen the above over County water? 

His answer: “No, it is intended to provide discussion by the Council, with public comment, on how they want City staff to proceed in regard to the latest County letter.  Upgrading our water supply is a policy decision and what course the City follows will be decided by the Council.

Sincerely, Dean Bunkers ”

032309-agenda

Read by Mayor Bunkers at City Council meeting Monday night.

letters-from-citizens

STORY IN NEWSPAPER, WITH EXTENDED COVERAGE BELOW

The Weatherwax will be protected, and you can bank on it.

Monday night, City Council voted unanimously “to preserve the Weatherwax Property,” in line with the November tally in which two-thirds of Ocean Shores voters chose “retain” (instead of sell).

Council also approved a four-week summer youth program, and heard a presentation that may shiver the spines of speeders.

The twist in the Weatherwax resolution council passed is that it creates a “designation as a wetland mitigation bank and habitat preserve.”

*Police Chief Mike Styner will present “speed limit statistical information and recommendations.”

*Fire Chief Jim Hodges on fire engine replacement.

*Six weeks of youth summer activities program up for approval.

*Public Works Director Ken Lanfear will present a resolution on Weatherwax “banking.”

Also from Lanfear, requests totaling around $150,000 for items in the budget previously approved:

In 2008, the Port of Grays Harbor collected just over $2 million in taxes. Based on a property assessment of $1.3 billion, and a $.3703 levy, Ocean Shores’ total contribution to the Port was just under $500,000, or a little less than a quarter of the Port’s tax base.

“What the hell are we getting for it?” asks an angry Don Williams. The Ocean Shores home owner then answers his own question:

“We’re not getting anything for it.”

City Councilman Dick Skewis isn’t just mad about this, he’s fighting mad:

“We pay a half million dollars a year to the Port and get nothing for it,” Skewis said

“Maybe we could form our own port district . . .  and secede from the Port of Grays Harbor.”

Thursday afternoon, Ocean Shores Mayor Dean Bunkers briefly interrupted a family vacation to discuss his policy on Executive Sessions. This has been the subject of confusion among some, as during his candidacy, Bunkers was critical (as were others) of previous administrations use of Executive Sessions.

from the City of Ocean Shores:

There will be a Special City Council Meeting held on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Ocean Shores City Hall, Council Chambers, 800 Anchor Ave NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569.

Click below for the agenda

special-city-council-meeting-agenda-030509

LOCALS ONLY (all others turn back now!)

By Tom Scanlon

I’d like to begin this column by boldly stating:

“I heart Dave Creighton!”

I’ll get back to that, and explain why, after meandering around a bit. 

Now, I’d like to clearly mark the above as “opinion,” and note that this column is, indeed, a column. As opposed to a News story.

A longer version than is appearing in this week’s paper. If I missed anything, please add in comments: