Tumwater on Tap

City of Tumwater, Washington | www.ci.tumwater.wa.us | February 2015

Every year, I have the privilege of addressing community groups to talk about the "State of the City of Tumwater." As in past years, I reported on the many accomplishments and several challenges we need to address. We also have some exciting projects and programs in store that support the City's six strategic priorities, which are:

Aggressively pursue targeted development opportunities
Build a community recognized for quality
Create and maintain a transportation system for all modes of travel
Refine and sustain a great organization
Provide quality public safety services
Establish and maintain successful partnerships

You can read my report on the City's website.

One challenge facing the City this year is aging streets and sidewalks, which are in need of maintenance. Our Transportation system is one of Tumwater's most valuable assets for connecting our community and attracting new investments. While State and Federal funding for maintenance of City streets has been dramatically reduced in recent years, costs continue to rise, leaving the City with inadequate resources to maintain our streets and sidewalks.

The state Legislature created a section of law (RCW 36.73) allowing local governments to establish a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) as a way to raise funds to maintain local streets and sidewalks. Last November, the Tumwater City Council created such a District, designating the City limits as the benefit area.

Pete Kmet, Mayor

This April, Tumwater voters will be asked to increase the sales tax rate from 8.7 percent to 8.9 percent to fund street and sidewalk maintenance. By using this new sales tax option to raise funds, those who shop and use our transportation system, not just Tumwater residents, will help pay for wear and tear on our streets. By law, the money raised under this proposition must be used within the City (district) for transportation purposes only. Ballots will be mailed the first week in April.

To learn more, visit the City website or call Public Works at (360) 754-4140.

Inside:

Message from the Mayor

Now enrolling for Tumwater University, Class of 2015

Olympia Tumwater Foundation shares Tumwater history -
Next History Talk on February 19

Historic American Chestnut trees acknowledged at ceremony on February 20

Help keep our City clean!

Join us for a roadside clean-up project beginning at City Hall on Saturday, February 21, from 10-12 noon.

Visit Volunteer Tumwater for more info.

Now enrolling for Tumwater University, Class of 2015

For the fourth consecutive year, the City of Tumwater will offer Tumwater University, Bringing Neighbors Together to Build Community. The program provides an interactive, informal classroom-style setting for participants to learn how their local government works, about the services it provides, and gives them a chance to contribute to city priorities.

Register today and join your neighbors on two Monday evenings, March 9 and 16, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Tumwater City Hall, 555 Israel Road SW, Tumwater, WA. Participants should plan to attend both sessions.

The University-themed program, with a syllabus, curriculum, faculty and classrooms, offers participants (students) a unique and fun learning opportunity. Plus, every student receives a Tumwater University t-shirt and diploma at "graduation."

Some course offerings include:

Identity Theft and Police Station Tour
U2 Can Plan-a-Park
How Does the City Pay for Things?
Improving Tumwater School Buildings
The Power of Tumwater Neighborhoods

To enroll, register online at www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/tumwater-university or contact volunteer coordinator Monica Langford, (360) 252-5424 or email mlangford@ci.tumwater.wa.us. Enrollment is limited to 60 students, so register today.

Olympia Tumwater Foundation shares Tumwater's history

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation works in partnership with the City to produce and deliver historical programs for the Tumwater community. Their work includes the Schmidt House History Talks, historic Schmidt House tours, and Riverwalk Tours at Tumwater Falls Park (July-September). The Foundation also owns and operates Tumwater Falls Park, a favorite destination in the heart of Tumwater.

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation is a local charitable organization that traces its roots to the Schmidt family of Tumwater and the famous Olympia Brewing Company. It was created in 1950 by Peter G. Schmidt, Sr., long-time president of the company and oldest son of brewery founder Leopold Schmidt.

This month's history talk is on Thursday, February 19th at 12 noon (doors open at 11:30 a.m.) at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place in Tumwater, where noted local historian and author Karen Johnson will present, "Through the Bowels of the Land: the Cowlitz Trail from the Columbia River to Puget Sound." Many towns in the Pacific Northwest make claim to being the end of the Oregon Trail, and Tumwater is one of them. The Cowlitz Trail was what Tumwater founder Michael T. Simmons' wife Elizabeth called, "the worst part of the whole trip" from St. Joseph, Missouri to Tumwater. Karen has researched this trail extensively and explains why it was such a difficult part of that epic journey.

For a schedule of events and park information, visit their website, email history@olytumfoundation.org, or call (360) 786-8117.

All talks are available on Tumwater TV On Demand website and replayed on Tumwater TV, Channel 26 (Comcast customers only).

Historic American Chestnut trees acknowledged at ceremony on February 20

A special monument will be unveiled at Mills & Mills Memorial Park (5725 Littlerock Road SW) in honor of two of the largest and oldest living American Chestnut trees in the Unites States. The public dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Friday, February 20 at noon and will include Don Trosper, a descendant of the Trosper family and member of the Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission, President of the Tumwater Historical Association Corinne Tobeck, and Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet. Premier Memorial graciously donated the new monument.

Towering more than 80 feet tall, the two trees were planted by original settlers of Tumwater who brought chestnut seeds from the east coast. In 1846, Jesse Ferguson planted the two trees on 320 acres that he claimed on the Bush Prairie. In 2004, the trees were featured in Discover Magazine and proclaimed to be the "largest healthy American Chestnut(s) in the United States." Today, the trees symbolize the legacy of early Tumwater, one of the first American settlements in Washington.

Tumwater City Hall

555 Israel Road SW

Tumwater WA 98501

(360) 754-5855