La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

In my 12th year as Mayor, I am very grateful for the community that we all share.

I have always said that La Conner’s greatest resource is its people.

It’s true, and La Conner has attracted an eclectic and vibrant group of individuals from a profusion of backgrounds and varying ages.

The Town is also fortunate to have dedicated staff, organizations and hosts of volunteers that work intently to ensure and improve the high quality of life that we all enjoy.

Further, La Conner’s elected Town Council is a serious group of individuals who don’t take themselves too seriously.

These are your decision makers.

And although they often agree, disagreements are dealt with in a professional manner with the town’s best interests the most important outcome.

Over the past 11 years the town has been focused on projects.

We have seen the 2nd Street stairs replaced, a new skateboard park, the Sherman Street boat launch, the La Conner Boardwalk and a multitude of road and infrastructure projects.

Additionally, the administration worked closely with Water and Wastewater Services to optimize our wastewater treatment plant.

It continues to be a thriving enterprise for the town that accounts for a significant part of the town’s budget.

The administration worked closely with the La Conner School District to help find emergency and long-term funding solutions while the community worked to deal with the effects of the Great Wolf Lodge decision.

The town has made a large investment in the La Conner Fire Department, purchasing the portion of the fire station owned by Fire District 13 and investing in a new engine.

In many ways, La Conner has become a victim of its own success. Many of our projects have required matches (local dollars) to qualify as a grant recipient. This has drawn down on our general fund as well as our dedicated accounts for water and sewer. And although it is accurate to say that the town’s finances are stable, it is also true that the next couple of years must be years of replenishment.

Although we will be taking a breather, the town certainly will not be idle. There is still so much to do.

In 2019, the town will continue to prepare for the proposed gap filler (dike) which would connect to the existing diking systems surrounding the town and provide practical protection for a 100-year flood event. Although it has been discussed for quite some time, it has only been in recent years that the Council has decided to pursue this project beyond a now failed countywide effort to address flooding. Additionally, the town will provide assistance to the La Conner Library in its pursuit of a new facility and resource center.

Long-term, as costs continue to increase, it is critical that we effectively manage the remaining buildable lands within our limits. This will help to ensure our quality of life for many years to come.

Ramon Hayes is a long time local business owner, blessed with a wonderful wife, Heidi. They share an incredible daughter, Victoria. Together, they have lived in La Conner 27 years.