MARYSVILLE – The Marysville City Council approved an increase in the city’s Emergency Medical Services levy last Monday.
The council also heard some complaints regarding the Marysville Strawberry Festival, and OK’d the purchase of a new SWAT team vehicle and some changes to the development code.
Voters will decide on the EMS levy Aug. 1 in the primary election. Fire Chief Martin McFalls said the increase is needed because the growth of the city is taxing the department. The EMS levy has not been raised since 2008, when it was put at the maximum allowed 50 cents per $1,000 valuation. Because of growing property values, owners now pay about 38 cents per $1,000. Property owners will not have to pay that entire 12 cent increase per $1,000 because the city has “banked” about $369,000. So the estimated increase will be about 6 cents per $1,000 valuation for property owners.
Regarding the Strawberry Festival, Darrell Wigdahl represented a group with some complaints about the way it is being operated this year. He said they have received various complaints from other festivals about the organization. They questioned why festival officials are being so secretive about the operation. They also questioned the hiring of a firm that will be paid 20 percent of what the festival brings in. And they questioned why promotional materials for the event are not being done to support local businesses.
Parks director Jim Ballew said some complaints about the festival’s organization have been dealt with. However, Maryfest, the volunteer group that oversees the festival, is a non-profit service club.
“We do not get involved in the internal workings” of such clubs, he said.
The council approved the permit for the event.
The council also OK’d the purchase of a new Bearcat tactical vehicle at a cost of $240,000, plus a $35,000 delivery charge later. Police have said the funds for the vehicle are coming from confiscations from local drug dealers. Police said the Bearcat should last 25 years and would replace a used armored car that was purchased for $1 12 years ago. That vehicle’s engine is failing. Police have said they don’t know the ballistic capability of the armored car, but the Bearcat could withstand at 50-caliber hit.
As for the changes in the development code, a few developers spoke during the public comment period. They thanked city staff and the planning commission for working with them on the changes, which should ease the process and bring some positive developments to town.
In other news:
•The new Marysville Historical Museum on Armar Road is set to open June 3.
•Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said he hopes the new walkway under the Highway 529 bridge connecting the new Ebey Waterfront Trail system with the waterfront park will be constructed next month or in July. In the meantime, Ballew said a fence will be put up to try to keep people from dangerously crossing the highway, instead of using a crosswalk on First Street.
•Ballew said 200 pounds of food was collected for the food bank at the Kiwanis Fishing Derby.
