Sunnyside Council Member Bruce Epps Resigns, Police Contracts and Airport Discussed
January 27, 2009 1 Comment
At last night’s meeting of the Sunnyside City Council, Bruce Epps announced he was turning in his resignation. Mr. Epps cited a busy work schedule and health concerns for making the decision. His decision leaves the City Council with six members, pending a replacement.
Mr. Epps is also the Mayor Pro Tem, meaning that the Council will need to appoint another member to take his place in that capacity.
The Council also took action regarding collective bargaining agreements for police officers and sergeants. The proposed contract would have boosted accrued vacation hours to the highest level for cities in Washington, as far as the City Council could determine based on information available at the time. Currently officers can carry a maximum of 240 hours of vacation over from one year to the next. The proposed change would have allowed up to 360 hours to be carried over from year to year.
Also, contract language was proposed to give premium pay of 2 to 2.5 times regular pay if an officer is called back from vacation to work. The City would also be obligated by contract to pay for cancelled reservations on the part of the officer. Chief Radder stated that no officer in recent memory has been called back from vacation.
City Council Member Theresa Hancock stated that she felt like cancelling vacation was a management issue to address, and should not be in the contract. City Manager Eric Swansen pointed out that due to cuts in staffing at the police department, they were concerned that it might become an issue in the future, and having a safeguard in writing would address this. Mr. Swansen also said that due to the elimination of the vacation buy back, they were asking for increased accrual of vacation, and cancellation of scheduled vacation benefits in return. Ms. Hancock countered by saying they were getting an increase in pay of 5% in return for giving up the vacation buy back benefit.
The majority of the Council agreed with Ms. Hancock, and voted to strike the language for increasing vacation accrual and cancellation benefits from the contract. The matter will be referred back to the union for consideration and renegotiation. After additional bargaining takes place, the City Council will consider the contract again. Council Members Bill Gant and Tom Gehlen voted against eliminating these new benefits from the contract.
The City Council will be holding a joint meeting with the Port of Sunnyside January 28,2009, at the Banner Bank building. The Council discussed the need to cooperate with the Port for marketing the Sunnyside area, and selling prospective businesses on locating here. In addition, joint agreements can facilitate sharing of resources and equipment, benefiting both entities.
Public Works Director Jim Bridges discussed the status of the airport. He also gave updated information regarding the attempt to get FAA funds for the airport. A contracted consulting firm is still working on a formal airport plan. This plan needs to be completed before the City can request the FAA to release funds for work. When this plan is complete, the City Council and the Planning Commission will be able to use it. City Manager Eric Swansen said it would become increasingly difficult for the City to attempt to continue running the airport by itself, especially given current tight budgets. Partnering with the Port, and users of the airport, would help to both maintain and add to airport facilities.
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I find much of this dialogue interesting. The new city manager just keep praising the Port of Sunnyside. He will learn the hard way. What has the Pot of Sunnyside done for our area? I am going to have to take some time to think about this. Oh yes, they have socialized industrial development in this area. They have stunk up the community with their oversized pond. They have not brought a single new business to this to as of this date. Canam was brought here by Curfman who was a tremendous business developer. Darigold was bought here by the dairy industry of Washington State and the local dairyman. I could go on and on. What the Port has done is virtually cut off private industrial development currently with their welfare for all business’s.
I have sat at many city council meeting and listened to Amber Hansen the Port manager lie and lie to the council. But, the council tends to listen instead of investigate. This POrt wasstarted to bring in new business into this town. Not to use your and my monies to buy up every parcel of land in this city. Commissioner Matson whom is suppose to be pushing economic development. Told one of his clients that he should not invest in land in Sunnyside, because it was a very poor investment! Would you say this is what an economic development director should do?? As many know, St. Clair Woodworth could not even manage his own business properly. He foiled for bankruptcy and had over $1,000.000.00 written off of taxpayer monies. And the voters of this area committed an atrocity by electing this man to spend OUR tax dollars.
Then I have been telling these POrt commissioners for years that legally they had to bid out their farming land. Of course commissioner Matson said “Steve Winfrey their lawyer said they did not have to. After I kept persuing it. They put in an ad for ONE day for bids. They did not want others to see it so they could let their buddies keep it. So finally they did put the bids out. ON 300 plus acres. There was a few bids put in. The high bid was for $195.00 an acre. The low bid was for $105.00 an acre. Naturally Commisioner Martin and commissioner Matson used their buddy system to award the bid to the low bidder. Then a bid was put out for the spray field for the removal of hay per dry matter. Three bids were put in. One bid for $60.00 per ton by a local dairyman. One bid for $31.50 per ton by another good farmer. And the final bid of $30.00 per ton. Once again Matson and Martin used the buddy system and gave it to the low bidder. I have contacted lawyers and other municipal entities. They all said the high bid mst be taken. A lawsuit in Montana came up about the same practice that is happening here. The high bidder won the case. But, this Port will continue the buddy system until it is put in front of a judge. And these commissioners Matson and Martin do not care about the law because if a lawsuit is brought up. They are covered by insurance. I sat down and figured this out from the day Matson and Martin were elected commissioners. This has cost YOU, the taxpayer millions of dollars. And in the meantime. They keep stealing your monies to buy lands that are not necessary to the Port. How long can this go on ? You Port taxpayers need to wake up to the crooked things being done within this Port office.
I told a commissioner once. If Amber Hansen is as good of a manager as you say. Then for three years. Quit collecting Port taxes and see if Amber can make the Port survive. If you read the Daily Sun News you will see othing but good about this. Why, because the Daily sun news under Tim Graff’s direction sold the Port a building and wants to keep their advertising. So, he is buying their business you might say. I even went down to put in a paid for article out of my own pocket to tell the Port taxpayers what was going on. Tim refused to print it ! So, if you think you are hearing the truth from the Daily news. Think again ! You jsut as well compare this aper to NBC,CBS,and ABC. They do not give you the actual news. They also make it up and glorify it to sALE PAPERS !
So what it looks like is happening here in Sunnyside is this. The new city manager is lacking the ability to being a good city manager. He is not get paid as much as the public works directro. So, why should he put out extra effort to try to gt this airport going. He not, he wants to bring in the Port to do his job for him! Plain and simple. This is why when ALL contracts come up; get an outsider in. This city manager is for the city employees 110%. It makes his job easier! You hire an Ohio person. You get another Denns Kacinich. One of the most liberal congreeman in Washington D.C.. You hired him. Now council, do your job!