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City of Olympia..... You Lose
As if tagging of the murals over the weekend wasn't enough, today Meta stopped by. Not that seeing Meta is a bad thing, I actually like her allot ;-)
It was the news she brought that was discouraging and ....and well, mind blowing is the only thing I can come up with.
On Cherry Street, we have had a little project going to filter our rain water prior to in entering into the storm drains. We were going to do this by way of a planter.
The planter idea was presented by Faye and Meta to Ruth Snyder, who is the City of Olympia Code enforcement person. Ruth approved the planter and once the forms were in place, she measured the location. One day a week and a half ago, Ruth arrived to measure the planter after we poured concrete. She did not make contact with me at the time, so I called her. She assured me that the planter was fine.
Last week Faye and Meta filled the planter with gravel, and guess what? Today Ruth informed Meta that the planter is to close to the parking meter (five feet)and does not fit as per the sidewalk sitting code.
So, can we move it a foot? Let's see, when it was just a plywood box, yes, we could have moved it a foot. Even when it was poured full of concrete we *may* have been able to move it a foot. Now it is full of gravel, so no way can it be moved a foot.
Now here is is the best part. She tells Meta that a council person has complained about it. Now first let me stop you, as it wasn't Jeff Kingsbury, who has shown approval of the planter and has even suggested that we do more. So who are you council person, and what is your problem with the planter?
I tagged the planter this afternoon, in a show of appreciation, to the builders, and my money ($300.00) with the message:
Hello Ruthie! Can you move this a foot?
I really need to let you all in on some important bits about Ruth and why I left the PBIA. Today the City of Olympia lost me as a viable source of thoughts and ideas.
I Love Olympia but I dislike this situation. Long hair David told me a few weeks back: "Love the machine, Hate the factory". I think in this case it is fitting.
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Comments
hey
... and now someone even tagged your planter!
mathias
einmaleins
Have you recieved anything in writing telling you to move it?
I'd wait to see if anyone actually does anything first...then fight it based on the approval you first recieved. It's hard to tell from the wide-angle short, but the meter doesn't look all that close to me.
Don't stop being the good idea person for the city. They clearly need it.
No nothing it writing, but
I think that is a great idea
I wouldn't move it...
...and if the City insists, make Ruth explain that she "sign'd off".
The City can not be arbitrary, and the City staff needs to realize that the "comment period" closes for them too-
Again, I wouldn't move the planter, and I'd make the City pay for the cost of removal /re-do if the City insists.
And so it goes....... As of
And so it goes....... As of 11:00 am all that is left is a pile of gravel.
This morning a rather rude individual representing our fine city came to my office to let me know I was responsible for a code violation. RUTH SNYDER I have found your spine. His name is CHRIS GRABOWSKI. Mr. Grabowski is very proud of the badge he earned when becoming a code enforcement officer for the city of Olympia. He showed it to me when he handed me his business car.
Mr. Grabowski entered my building stating that he was my "prize" for having violated the sidewalk ordinance. He stated that the " sarcophagus" on the sidewalk was in violation of code. Even though his co-worker approved it and measured it twice.
He presented the facts. The one sided facts as presented to him by--------? I informed that facts are only facts when both sides have been addressed as this is the logic behind fact.
Mr. Grabowski, this is your prize. Know everyone knows who you are! I bet that code enforcement badge is just glowing under your coat. You should be proud.
Here is the best part. KAREN MESSMER was your council person that INSISTED that this be removed. Ok Karen, thats cool. Be ready to be very busy moving a whole bunch of items from sidewalks all over your fair town.
The reason things take forever and get lost in process are due to individuals like this council member that make little things like Meta Hogan planter a personal issue. Why don't you do something with substance and back, like say the Griswolds building, or the Cunnigham's Jewelery building. Easy targets are well, easy. Please show the citizens of this community what you can really dowhat you can really do.
So as it were our water filteration project is now in a dumpster going to a landfill, which in case your were wondering, is totally opposite of what we were attempting to do.
If you think situations like