Odds and ends and leftovers

Thurston County’s efforts to wring more money out of the taxpayers manifests itself this time around with a $20 fee for renewing your vehicle license.   The commission will create a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) and all those within the district will pay the new fee.   As required by law, the commission must spell out just how the money will be used.   It will be the responsibility of the taxpayer to make certain the money is spent as stated.   Currently Olympia has a TBD and levies a vehicle tab tax.   Tumwater also has one and opted to get Tumwater taxpayer approval for a sales tax increase.   Lacey will attempt to join the other governments in creating and funding a TBD when it goes to the voters next year.

Every since Bloodworks took over Puget Sound Blood Center in collecting donated blood, those of us who had been regular donors have been inundated with phone calls and mail urging us to give blood.   The requests came so often that I finally asked to be taken over their list of donors.   It became nothing more than junk mail and solicitation phone calls.   I still give blood, but I think I’m off the call list.   Oh for the good old days when the American Red Cross used to run blood collection here.

The Lacey City Council is still waiting for a response from Thurston County over its failure to include public opinion in its recently completed plastic bag ban survey.   Despite the best efforts of Lenny Greenstein, Lacey’s representative on the Solid Waster Advisory board, the county approved the survey – minus a public opinion poll.   The Lacey council had always said it wanted citizens in Lacey surveyed over the ban – – and county staff went ahead and paid for the poll – – without the public section included.   Talk about arrogance of county staff.

The City of Lacey’s million dollar purchase of a new facility to house a Lacey Museum will be among the subjects discussed, when the Lacey City Council holds a work session on the future of the facility and the museum.   That council work session is set for August 4.

I’ve had the unfortunate need to venture into downtown Olympia on more than one occasion recently, and I can’t help but notice the growth in housing units going up in different locations.   Good for the City of Olympia.   Lets hope that it will go a long ways towards getting people to live in the downtown area – – and  then caring enough to get rid of the undesirable elements which  cause Olympia so much pain – – and money.