While city crews worked throughout the recent storm to keep city streets open, damage to many of them has been significant.

Some side streets have potholes, the result of freezing and thawing. Several major streets, including College Street in Lacey has lost all of its lane markers which were victims of snow plows.

Lacey staff are aware of the problems. Work crews have started this week laying down temporary painted stripes and will put in permanent lane markers when warmer weather arises.

No cost estimate for street damage is available yet. City staff continue to add up the damage.

The clean up is underway all across Thurston County. The sound of chain saws fill the air, from the professionals on city streets to the amateur in his back yard.

The recent snow and ice storm has brought down hundreds, if not thousands of trees, limbs of trees, parts of trees, all around our community.

Not since 1996 have we had such damage and even then, I’m not sure we lost as many trees then as we did this time around. It was the combination of snow and ice which made this the worse tree disaster in my memory.

Like many of you, I lost a tree in my backyard which ended up for the most part in my neighbor’s yard. Together we’re going to have to decide what we want to do about getting it cut up and removed.

That’s the problem with trees. They fall down. I’ve always liked trees. I think they’re beautiful.

But they don’t belong in urban areas.

Our cities pride themselves for being Tree City USA and have adopted rules and regulations protecting trees – - how they can be cut – - how many can be cut – - where they must be located and just how many trees a builder has to leave on a piece of property.

But, if this recent storm proved anything, it proved that trees and urban populations don’t belong together. That’s particularly true of our Douglas Firs.

Doug Firs are not meant to be around houses. They grow high, with shallow root systems and long limbs. They need to grow in clumps for mutual support. They are not good trees to have around your house or in your neighborhood.

Most of our cities now line their city streets with “people friendly” trees like Ash and Lynden and Cherry in Tumwater. But the big Maples on Legion Way, the Alders on Eastside Street and the Big Doug Firs all around our community just aren’t made for urban areas.

It’s time for the cities to rethink their tree policies, particularly when it comes to new development. Clump trees, like Doug Firs and Maples on one lot and cut all the rest down. Plant “people friendly” trees near houses.

Lets get realistic about our trees and enjoy the beauty they provide in the right settings.

The Washington Retail Association is seeking a three-day School Sales Tax Holiday, to stimulate retail sales and increase revenue to the state.

Washington Retail Association President and CEO Jan Teague made that announcement on “Decision Makers” Tuesday at Two on AM 1240 KGY Radio with host Ken Balsley.

Teague said a study, recently released to the state legislature, shows that the state could expect about $12.5 million in additional revenue by creating a three-day School Sales Tax Holiday. “Some 17 or 18 states already do this, “Teague said. “Exempting school clothes and supplies of up to $75, also stimulates sales of other products. It’s a win for the consumer, it’s a win for the retailer and it’s a win for the state,” she said.

The idea is being held up in the State House of Representatives by the chair of the budget committee.

While thousands of trees lie in backyards, across fences and on city streets, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries is at work checking the dozens of tree removal crews for proper paperwork, proper gear and proper training.

In the process, most of those tree removal teams are being fined for minor infraction of the rules.

L&I has sent out word to all of its offices in Western Washington to inspect all crews working on tree and brush clean-up. One local crew, which had all of its paperwork in order and had all of the necessary safety gear, was fined $300 because one worker wasn’t wearing the proper pants.

This state agency, is under orders, to increase its revenue stream, as are all of the state agencies. Responding to the storm and the damage left behind, L&I told its inspectors to strictly interpret the law and issue citations instead of warnings.

Two updated medic units will soon join the Thurston County Medic One system.

The Hawks Prairie unit at the Steilacoom fire station is currently a 12-hour unit. Plans call for a gradual phase in to make that a full time medic unit. If plans are approved, a third medic will be added this year and two more next year. It’s anticipated that it will become a 24-hour unit by June 2013.

Plans also call to add one more medic and make the Rochester Sprint unit a 24-hour unit.

Cost for the Steilacoom upgrade is $187,000 annually. Cost for the Rochester unit is $90,000.

Thurston County Commissioners will get a briefing at their next regular meeting. It will be on the agenda for approval at the February 7 or February 14 meeting.

Virgil Clarkson, the longest serving current member of the Lacey City Council, was named by the council to represent them as the city’s mayor. Named as deputy mayor was Jason Hearn, the second longest serving current member of the council.

In Lacey, the mayor is not elected by the people, but is selected by the city council to represent them.

The vote was taken at the regular Thursday evening council meeting. Clarkson edged out Andy Ryder 4-3 for the mayor’s seat and Hearn edged out Ryder again for the deputy mayor slot by 4-3.

Following the vote, at the request of Councilmember Jeff Gadman, the vote for both mayor and deputy mayor was made unanimous. “We can disagree but we need to come out of this meeting unanimous in our support of our mayor,”Gadman said after the meeting.

Clarkson is just starting his 14th year as a member of the Lacey City Council. He previously served as mayor in 2004 – 2007, Hearn is just starting his second four-year term on the council. No other councilmembers have served more than two years.

Sworn in Thursday night to begin his first term on the Lacey City Council was Lenny Greenstein. Other members of the council include Ron Lawson and Cynthia Pratt.

Former head of the Washington State History Museum and Tumwater resident Dave Nicandri, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees of The Evergreen State College. His appointment by the Governor is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero said she may support a plan for a new county charter depending on what’s in it. Romero made those remarks on KGY Radio 1240 am during an appearance on “Decision Makers” Tuesday at Two hosted by Ken Balsley. Romero said she favored expansion of the commission from three to five members but wasn’t certain what else a county charter would contain.

When I was a kid, I had a paper route for “The Daily Olympian”. I delivered 110 papers, all the way from the top of the hill, down State Street, through the downtown area and up Fourth Avenue, all the way to the top.

To make a few additional bucks, I worked for the Fourth Avenue Grocery unloading trucks when they came in on Tuesday with new supplies for the grocery shelves.

I also worked occasionally in the summer months digging basements. I once spent an entire summer digging basements for two houses on Quince Street. And, when I couldn’t find work mowing lawns or washing cars, I worked at Tradewell carrying groceries to cars for tips.

I’m not really saying this to tout my work ethic. I’m telling this because those ways I used to make money as a teenager no longer exist.

Paper routes are now done by adults. The small family owned market no longer exists, and if they did, federal work rules would prohibit a teen from loading and unloading trucks. Those same federal rules would prohibit me from digging basements or using power tools.

And, another thing the government has done to stop teens from getting a job and working, is the minimum wage law. The federal government has a minimum wage but the State of Washington has another.

This week the state’s minimum wage went up to $9.04 per hour. That’s the highest minimum wage in the entire United States and a great incentive not to hire teens. Adults will work for $9 an hour. A business person doesn’t have any reason to hire a teen or young person.

The biggest job killer in Washington state is the minimum wage act which not only requires you to pay at least $9 an hour for workers, but goes up each year at a rate no one can determine and no one understands.

Even our Attorney General has questioned the state’s minimum wage requirements.

Businesses think that a first time worker, just entering the work force, should have an opportunity to learn the job before being paid $9 an hour. There’s no exception to the state’s minimum wage. Teenagers get paid the same rate as adults. Businesses which use a lot of labor have been trying for years to get an exception for teens, but have been unable to move the unions or their Democratic allies.

It would seem to me that a lower minimum wage for teenagers and first time workers – - say for a period of six months – - could be an incentive to hire them. Instead, the state’s minimum wage works against teens and keeps their unemployment rate high.

At its first meeting in January, the Lacey City Council will select its new mayor to represent the Council at various meetings and social functions during the year.

Any councilmember can be mayor. All he or she needs is 4 of 7 votes. Individual councilmembers have been meeting and talking with their peers for the last several weeks and jockeying for position. Here’s the current odds as I see them.

2-1 is Jason Hearn. He is the second longest serving member of the council and the more moderate choice to what some see as a liberal bent among some councilmembers.

3-1 is Andy Ryder. He has become the spokesman for the crop of councilmembers who ousted three incumbents two years ago and represents the liberal Democratic Union wing of the council.

4-1 is Virgil Clarkson. He is the longest serving member and has served as both mayor and deputy mayor. He could be the unanimous choice for deputy mayor this time around, but lacks one vote of becoming mayor.

6-1 is Jeff Gadman. Gadman is the second newest member of the council. He speaks well and is showing leadership, but has not indicated that he has the desire to be mayor. Since he works full time for government he may not have the time. Lack of time hampered the last mayor.

7-1 is Lenny Greenstein. He is the newest member of the council and has been working behind the scenes to draft a mayor who will represent all of the council and not just one group.

20-1 is Cynthia Pratt. She is the only woman and her odds should be better, but she hasn’t been able to step up to the next level after having served for two years.

90-1 is Ron Lawson. While he doesn’t stand much of a chance of becoming the city’s next mayor, most people think that he is the deciding vote on who will be mayor. The current council seems split at 3-3 and Lawson is the deciding vote.

This weekend we bid farewell to 2011. What kind of a year was it? In many ways just a normal year. People came, people went. Things got built, things got torn down. Politicians talked. Just a normal year.

Olympia got itself a new city hall and a new mayor, Steven Buxbaum, but it kept the same old problems – - parking, homelessness and downtown businesses struggling to survive.

Lacey got itself a new mayor as well but nobody knows who it will be until the city council decides which of its members it’ll push to the top. The smart money now is on Jason Hearn. The mayor doesn’t represent the people. He or she represents the city council.

Lacey did spend considerable money to buy park property outside the city boundaries to honor its retired city manager Greg Cuoio. And, after a nationwide search, settled on his assistant Scott Spence to take over as city manager. The same firm also helped the Lacey Fire District hire a new fire chief. And, after a nationwide search, settled on one of it’s own – Steve Brooks.

Tumwater has a mayor, a familiar face, Peter Kmet. He’s a real mayor with real power. The city also received approval from voters to spend money to build a new police facility and hire new police and fire fighters. That bucked the trend of voters saying no to more money. Taxpayers in Lacey turned down levy request by its fire district.

The Washington Center found itself in financial problems. It lost its director Tom Iovanne and is operating with an interim director right now. Of course, the Center could get itself out of financial messes if it would book acts that people actually want to see. Harlequin Productions is ending its popular “Starlight” series this year. Only a few performances are left. It’s always been a big financial draw for the group. No one is quite certain what they’ll replace it with.

After more than five decades, South Sound Center has ended its popular July 3 fireworks extravaganza. That will leave Lacey without any type of fireworks display. Voters in Olympia decided to end fireworks in that city and now join with Lacey in being dark and quiet on the Fourth of July.

Marijuana cast its aroma over the community this year. Governor Christine Gregoire called for a review of the state’s marijuana laws while scores of marijuana supporters filled the Lacey City Hall as local police joined with the Feds to raid local medical marijuana facilities.

STOP Thurston County drew attention to the First Amendment while using a little rodent to get Thurston County to rethink its Critical Areas Ordinance.

Lacey decided not reopen Carpenter Road to through traffic as originally planned, while the county continued its multi-year effort to improve the Yelm Highway.

Just a normal year.

Thurston County has weathered the economic downturn thanks to the federal government. That was the assessment by Lon Wyrick, executive director of the Thurston Regional Planning Council.

While state government has made substantial cutbacks in the local economy, the federal government has increased its spending in Thurston County, Wyrick said. Joint Base Lewis McChord is the largest military base in the Western United States and now has an annual payroll of $3.2 billion. Since only 30 percent of all military personnel live on base, the rest live in civilian housing, some of it in Thurston County, primarily in the Lacey area.

Total personnel including soldiers, airmen, dependents, employees, and contractors is 136,000 with an additional 118,000 retirees.

JBLM also has undergone, or will undergo, nearly $4 billion in new construction from 2009 to 2016.

Wyrick made his comments on Decision Makers, Tuesday at Two on KGY Radio 1240 AM. Host of the show is Ken Balsley. Next week’s guest will be Dr. Riley Moore, associate professor of business and economics at St. Martin’s University.

By Dale Cooper

A long time ago the authors of our Constitution, who’d felt the bitter frustration and pain of tyranny, were desperately trying to convince skeptics that the document they’d crafted would give everyone, in perpetuity, what they’d recently fought and bled for. Their document would be a written guaranty against tyranny.

Those men, whom we now call the Founders, came up with something that no nation had ever come-up with before in history. They scrapped the notion that an accident of birth could make one man superior to another and wrote that every man had a God-given dignity equal to that of any other man. And more importantly and radically, they vested the nation’s political sovereignty, not in a king or an aristocracy, but in each man equally.

And so it was that personal dignity became the cornerstone upon which all they constructed rested. They laid that cornerstone on soil stained by the blood of those who fought and died for their improbable dream … self-governance.

The document they authored to achieve that dream they called the Constitution. Their aim was to make iron-clad-sure that the political sovereignty of each and every man, and each and every former colony, was protected forever from a central government so authoritarian and rapacious that it became oppressive. The Constitution they were selling was to be every man’s guaranty in writing against that.

However many felt the original document fell short of that mark. The skeptics wanted a federal government that was explicitly forbidden from doing things such as limiting speech, establishing a religion, or forcing one to testify against oneself in court.

As a consequence, the federalists amended their constitution with ten items, later dubbed the Bill of Rights. Although these additions didn’t convince all the doubting Thomases, such as Patrick Henry of Virginia, they did do the trick. The colonies ratified the Constitution and The United States of America was founded.

It worked, perhaps better than those who wrote it had hoped for. Why? Because they wrote their Constitution in plain English. They wrote-out how things would work using simple words and common phrases that everyone could easily understand.

People could see, for instance, why setting up three co-equal and competing branches of government was a good idea. They could see that the coordination of commerce between the various states was both logical and necessary. And they could see that by limiting the federal government’s powers in writing they could give the ultimate guaranty of liberty to everyone.

Unfortunately , a nation founded on the written word can be destroyed by how those words are defined. Whoever gains the power to define can wield it to reap supreme mastery, limitless wealth and preeminent status.

Some people today think that’s exactly what’s happened. The words and phrases of the Constitution have been argued and interpreted in so many ways over the years as to become convoluted, contradictory and subject to judicial whim. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that our judges and political class are talking about the same document those guys wrote in 1789.

For example, here’s what the Fourth Amendment says about protecting us from the government getting its nose in our personal affairs:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That’s straightforward enough. And if you listen closely you can still hear the founders’ profound respect for personal dignity come through. It all comes down to an individual’s right to privacy from unreasonable intrusions by a government. After all, how can one be free, how can one enjoy the blessings of liberty if one has no privacy?

But that was then and this is now. So let’s take a section of that personal guaranty against tyranny to SeaTac International airport where you can wait with fellow passengers to be herded like sheep through a collection of electronic devices that x-ray your luggage or see through your clothes. It’s uncomfortably close to a scene from a Keystone Cops movie.

At some point during this ordeal you might start thinking that there’s a more efficient way to do what they’re doing. After all, if they’re looking for bad guys, shouldn’t they look for guys that fit that description?

This thought might even lead you to more seditious thoughts, such as why are those TSA officers feeling-up a 90 year old granny? Why are they conducting a full body search on a disabled person who couldn’t walk past the scanners? Or why are they traumatizing a nine-year old girl simply because of where she stood in a line?

This might even get you upset enough to exercise your right to free speech (another guaranty of that Constitution, see Amendment #1). You might even become so incensed that you protest the insanity by producing your copy of the 4th Amendment prohibiting unreasonable search.

No? You won’t do it? Why not? Because you don’t want your name on the “no fly” list! You don’t want to be grounded for eternity because some bureaucrat took offense at your protestations.

So like the rest of us, you’ll not even mutter a meek criticism of those TSA police look-alikes, who, despite their uniforms and their appellation officer fit none of the criteria and have none of the training required for a real officer.

But is that any reason to call the T.S.A. a Gestapo? After all they’re just trying to protect us. It’s not like they set out to subvert our Constitution. True enough, but other things are true as well.

Does anybody else find it spooky that we’re seeing the architecture for a national police force put in place right before our eyes? This is precisely how Herman Goring and Heinrich Himmler created their national police force in Germany where none had previously existed. They called it the Gestapo.

And it’s also true that the political and bureaucratic evolution of such matters invariably produces unintended consequences. Could it be our nation’s future will see TSA hives in train stations, airports of all description, bus stations, seaports and electric generating stations?

If so, by then it would be too late to do much to reverse the situation. Like Ronald Reagan once said, the closest thing to eternal life we’ll see on earth is a government program. Will our kids and their kids and their kids’ kids inherit what amounts to a national police force, a Gestapo of sorts, directed by faceless bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.?

One of these unintended consequences has already played-out. That’s the one that’s shredded the dignity of each and every one of us who’s been subjected to the federal government’s misguided attempt to thwart terrorists in its war on terror … a war against a concept which begs this question: How do you know when it’s over? How do you declare victory against a concept? When the word terror is vanquished?

Here’s another one of those unintended consequences. It’s taking shape along with the formation of our national police. It’s the unionization of the TSA, which will lead to its permanent enshrinement in our galaxy of federal entitlements and rights.

But of course not everyone will find this odious. Some will benefit from it. Take the thousands of TSA employees who will see higher salaries and benefits; or the government unions that will reap handsome dues payments; or the politicians who support those unions and who, in turn, will receive their lucrative support.

So the next time you visit SeaTac, take your copy of your Constitution with you. After all, it’s your guaranty against such things as unreasonable searches and government oppression. And, it’s in writing.

More Americans work for government than in manufacturing, farming, fishing, forestry, mining and utilities combined.

While state workers are taking pay cuts and paying more for their health insurance, city workers are raking in the dough.

Stats, obtained from the City of Olympia show that 84 employees made more than $100,000 a year in wages and bonuses in 2010. In addition, more than 225 city employees made more than $100,000 a year when salary, benefits and health insurance was included.

Most of those making more than $!00,000 were police and fire fighters who raked in the overtime pay. Some police officers made two additional months of wages in overtime alone. The city paid out $700,000 in over time pay for police, $555,000 for fire fighters and $303,000 for public work employees. In addition, police officers received bonuses for the year of 2 to 8 percent, based on an educational scale.

While state employees are being forced to pay more of their health insurance costs, the same is not true with City of Olympia employees. All 530 city employees had 100 percent of their health care paid. The city also paid 85 percent of the costs of health care for employee’s families.

These figures are based on 2010. When 2011 figures are released it’s expected that similar results will be found. And, while we haven’t yet broken down employee costs for the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, we can expect that they also echo the same theme – - that city employees continue to rake in the dough.

New maps just released from the state redistricting committee has the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater all in the 22nd Legislative District. The maps also include all of north Thurston County within that district.

In the past, portions of Tumwater and Lacey were in the 20th Legislative District. Now, all areas within the three city boundaries are in the 22nd District.

This move would tend to make the 22nd District more conservative encompassing all of Lacey and Tumwater. But, the 22nd will still be a safe Democratic district.

The financial problems facing the Washington Center for the Performing Arts can be traced to two reasons.

The economy and the public’s need to make choices regarding spending is the major driver. There’s almost nothing the Center or its Board can do about it.

But the second problem is directly related to the Center’s image. People in this community see it as an elitist organization that’s more concerned with bringing culture to this backwater community than it is to providing entertainment the unwashed masses want to see.

There – I’ve said it. For decades now, people have whispered about how the Washington Center for the Performing Arts was nothing more than an extension of highbrow entertainment and appealed only to those whose entertainment hearts rested in Seattle.

There’s nothing wrong with art. Ballet, orchestra performances and chamber music has its place. The Center is a good location for just such entertainment. But, it doesn’t appeal to everyone, and it doesn’t always fill seats. Bringing in dance troupes from Harlem, or singers from South Africa or Appalachian banjo players elevates the highbrow culture of the community, but it puts off those who pay the bills – - the taxpayers.

The acts that many people want to see never make it to the Washington Center. They can be found at the various performing centers found in the reservation casinos. Willie Nelson, Leann Rimes, Tanya Tucker and many other good performers never grace the stage at the Washington Center.

While some local groups use the Center for their performances, many others are not able to afford the costs. Union labor and union requirements concerning staffing levels makes it impossible for many others to afford the fees,

At one time, the Washington Center was the only performance center available. Now we have many others including those at South Puget Sound Community College and the North Thurston Public Schools.

It’s time the Washington Center comes down from its lofty perch and begin to meet the needs of the community for good entertainment instead of just cultural education.

Never do any business before 10 am or after 3 pm. Before 10 they think you’re anxious. After 3 they think you’re desperate.

The North Thurston School Board honored Dr. John Gott, Tuesday evening, by naming the district’s administrative building after him. It was an honor that Gott didn’t want, but appreciated.

While serving as superintendent for 20 years, Gott always rejected naming any school building after an individual. “Every time I did that,” he said, “it got me into trouble.”

But the district’s honor was well-deserved. Gott was a visionary.

He foresaw the 24-hour work cycle more than two decades ago, and moved to put the North Thurston district into position to serve the needs of its students by creating an evening high school. He also realized that not all students can go to school during the day and needed an evening school in order to meet their educational needs. He was a big supporter of alternative education.

He also supported vocational education, and during his 20 years at the helm, North Thurston was a leader in vocational education. It was he who was responsible for the creation of the New Market Vocational Skills Center. Gott wanted a facility to train students how to work. He would have preferred to have had the facility in North Thurston, but in order to garner support from other school districts, he agreed to have it in Tumwater.

He was active and involved in the community and it was this community activity which brought support to the district when levy time rolled around.

This was a man who never started out to be an educator. He was originally training to be a doctor, but when World War 2 ended, so did his medical training. He went on to work in the private sector with Sears, in finance, and eventually found himself as the director of finance for the state of New Mexico. It was a powerful position which controlled funding to all of the state’s schools.

He was preparing to make a run for governor of New Mexico, when he had a heart attack. Upon recovery, Gott set off to get a degree in education – - and found his way to Lacey.

The new Dr. John W. Gott Administrative Building is a great honor to this education visionary.

Tomorrow evening the North Thurston Public School’s administrative building will be officially dedicated and re-named for former school superintendent Dr. John Gott. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The dedication is unusual because Gott, when school superintendent, never wanted any school buildings to be named for individuals.

The City of Lacey will hold a farewell reception for outgoing mayor Tom Nelson, on Thursday, December 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the city hall chambers. Nelson served on the council for eight years. He had previously also served on the North Thurston School Board.

Allen Miller, chair of the Olympia School Board has submitted an application to Governor Christine Gregoire to be appointed to the position of Thurston County Superior Court Judge for the vacancy created by retiring judge Christine Pomeroy. Miller has been extremely active in the community serving as president of the Thurston County Chamber, president of the Olympia Rotary Club, president of the Thurston County Bar Association, president of United Way of Thurston County and chair of the Olympia Planning Commission.

The Washington Education Association this week, endorsed Representative Jay Inslee for governor of Washington.

The move came as no surprise to anyone, including Inslee’s opponent State Attorney General Rob McKenna, who refused to attend the union’s endorsement committee meeting claiming it was nothing more than an Inslee for Governor meeting.

McKenna has been a strong supporter of education calling for more money, more focus on early learning and reducing the number of high school dropouts.

But, the Washington Education Association has on blinders when it comes to Republican candidates.