City not listening to citizens on fire station | Letter

Published 10:21 am Monday, December 29, 2014

What’s appropriate?

Citizens were warned about the Council and Kirkland citizens that the Council had already made up its mind on the proposed fire station before any public hearings were conducted. Subsequent hearings were a farce, a ruse, a public statement to placate Kirkland citizens and fire department personal into thinking they had a say on decisions regarding the fire station and other land uses. Instead, the Council went with what they had already decided. Kirkland citizen’s comments fell on deaf ears. They are still doing it.

As far as the Council expressing complete confidence in Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett, he and the other staff did not allow existing residents a say on public services before and after the annexation, which resulted in a reduction of services and higher taxes with resources being diverted from elements in the proposed Kirkland’s budget. It created artificial and unnecessary shortfalls that became an unjustified war cry for higher taxes.

Comments from the city manager and deputy manager are nothing more than political poppycock without merit.

It’s appropriate to remember that council members advise Mr. Triplett and staff what to do. Staff becomes bobbleheads. Public hearings are supposed allow input that citizens want. It would be nice if the Council listened and acted appropriately serving citizens instead of themselves.

Robert L. Style, Kirkland