From the [Steilacoom] Mayor’s Desk

By Ron Lucas, Mayor

Thanks to all the community for a remarkable 4th of July. The annual morning road races had a large turnout and a very enthusiastic rooting section; the parade was just in the “Steilacoom style” with so many groups representing patriotic, family, and community organizations all of these making our celebration memorable. Congratulations again to Marianne Bull, the Steilacoom Citizen of the Year.

The Steilacoom Citizens Fireworks Committee once again was supported by the community and planned and presented a terrific fireworks display on a great summer evening. Thank you to Danny Lopez, the Chairman of this hard-working group, and all of the committee members.

Please remember that if you have outdated or unneeded pharmacy products….just bag them up and take them to the Public Safety Lobby for disposal in the secured container.

The major work to repair the culvert on Martin Street has started …you will see a lot of heavy equipment and we expect work will be completed in October.

Our thanks and continued gratitude for the 42nd MP Bde, our community connector unit, for their support of Steilacoom at “Make a Difference Day” with the project to repair and upgrade the trail system in the Madrona Park area.

Pierce County has just initiated an emergency management alert system that you will see in the news and I bring to your attention. I ask you to go to www.co.pierce.wa.us and then click on “Pierce County Alert” to review the emergency management initiative that you can sign up for to receive emergency alerts 10 different ways. The project is all voluntary and worked great for me when I encountered and was alerted I-5 was clogged because of a tanker fire. Here are the basics of the system at Pierce County Alert.

“We have launched a new mass notification service that allows us to alert you to an emergency in your area. The system uses listed phone numbers. You may also enter additional ways of contacting you, such as cell phones, business phones, and email. The information you enter is protected and will not be used for any other purpose.

How does Emergency Alerts Work? When we issue an alert about an emergency, a potential safety hazard or concern, the messages will be sent to all standard voice and text communication devices that you have registered, including landline phones, cell phones, e-mail, and more.

You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, cell or business phone, e-mail, text messages, hearing impaired receiving devices, and more. You pick where, you pick how.” The site is www.co.pierce.wa.us for more information.”

I received a resignation letter from our Director of Public Safety, Bob Drozynski, effective 15 Oct, 2010. The lure to return to the East coast, family, and likely experience a new chapter in his professional life has been a topic between us for some time. I will write more next month and will announce my plan for continuing the service level you expect.