from The Marysville Globe archives

10 years ago —

n The future athletic complex known as Strawberry Fields is facing hurdles that could delay the first kickoff into the next century. In this case “something is real/and something to get hung about” is putting a kink in the process, contrary to what Lennon and McCartney sang. City officials from Marysville are fighting to have the city’s urban growth boundaries extended to include the Strawberry Fields property on 152nd Street after the county planning department recommended against it. The city won’t go forward with building its planned athletic fields until the land is in city limits. Once Strawberry Fields is under the jurisdiction of the city, officials said its development will be smoother, faster and better. City planners are more familiar with the project than their counterparts at the county, said City Administrator Dave Zabell. City Planner Gloria Hirashima noted the fees for permitting will come back to the city and her department would be able to approve aspects of the project faster than county planners. Before the county planning department recommends any changes to a city’s growth boundaries planners need to see that the city’s plans for use of the land won’t differ from the county’s plans. The city and county are working on matching up their comprehensive plans and the county recommendation to not consider any Marysville properties is based on the fact that work isn’t done. City-hired designers are in the middle of developing plans for Strawberry Fields. This week the design was adjusted to increase the buffer next to streams in anticipation of possible federal listing of Chinook salmon under the endangered species act. This summer the parks department will be applying for state grant money to build the complex. Parks Director Jim Ballew said he hopes to win at least $600,000 in matching funds. Ballew said he hoped it would be possible to break ground this fall, but the project probably won’t get underway until 1999. The city applied to have three properties added to the boundaries this year: Strawberry Fields, a planned reservoir near State Route 9 east of town and an area in Smokey Point. The third area, part of a recent agreement with the city of Arlington, is probably the reason for the rejection recommendation from the planning department. Weiser pointed out that the city and county are still in the middle of negotiations to match up their respective plans for the area. The difference with the reservoir and Strawberry Fields is that the city owns both of those properties and its plans are clear and won’t change in the future, Weiser said. “Bob Drewel and Steve Holt both agreed that there were city-owned properties and the city would stay consistent with county planning,” Weiser said of the County Executive and Director of Planning and Development Services respectively.

25 years ago — 1983

n Organizers and workers for the Seven Lakes District’s “Clean Water Project” are proving unsinkable in their plan to conduct a water quality study for the greater Seven Lakes area. Still finding themselves $5,500 short of their goal of $79,000 — the matching funds required to qualify for a $237,000 State Department of Ecology lake restoration grant — Lake Goodwin Club president Archie Anderson and nine other people (all of whom had already donated up to $300) signed a note guaranteeing the remaining monies. The Seven Lakes Clean Water Project had until April 16 to raise the balance of the funds to qualify for the grant. The project was still $10,000 short of the goal going into last week. Anderson, during a meeting of organizers and workers at the Lake Goodwin Community Club last Saturday, said he learned the state will accept the note — clearing the way for the state DOE grant. Anderson told the gathering some good news. “I am confident, after discussing it with the Department of Ecology, that they will accept this note on Monday and approve the study,” Anderson said. It was later learned the state DOE has accepted the note and the study is expected to begin in early June. Anderson said DOE officials are encouraging the Seven Lakes Water District “to start the sampling program as soon as possible because the DOE say spring (and algae growth) already is upon us.” The fundraising drive will continue until the $5,500 is raised and the note is paid, said Lucille Pierson chairman of the Clean Water Restoration Project. “We’re hoping that all those not yet heard from will really try to make the effort to give at least a little, be it $10 or less, or whatever they can afford,” Pierson said. “It is a shame that so few have contributed for such a worthwhile project that will affect our land, our wells, streams, fish hatcheries, ground water and watersheds, our lakes, the sound and our wildlife. It’s not only for themselves, but four our children and generations to come. Those involved communities are showing a real, deep concern for each others’ needs.”

50 years ago — 1958

n The city’s troubles with the new garbage collection truck have not abated, it was reported, and were not relieved by offers from the transport company form which the purchase was made; offers to trade the truck chassis in on larger, more effective equipment. These offers are to be studied however. It was pointed out that the garbage department’s complaints stem from the type of truck chassis, or its size and condition, in relation to the “packer” installed on it. The packer, or body of the vehicle, which receives and compacts garbage for removal, is operating satisfactorily, according to Claude Wells, superintendent. A letter from W.H.L. Jones of Victoria, B.C., thanked the city for calling attention to the advisability of removing dilapidated buildings at the south approach to the city. He reported arrangements for razing the old farm buildings.