2020 will be year of small changes

Well, 2019 has passed and we are all very fortunate to call our La Conner community home in 2020. With costs for services continuing to rise, the town must be ever vigilant to ensure that we are utilizing our resources as efficiently as possible.

One of the administration’s main goals for 2019 was to assist the library foundation in its ardent pursuit of funding for a new facility. As many of you know, the library was successful in its endeavors, and we will see a groundbreaking for the new building in the 3rd quarter of 2020. The foundation deserves a tremendous amount of credit for its herculean achievement.

The town will continue to pursue a policy of focusing on operations and maintenance in 2020. This time of replenishment is critical for laying the groundwork necessary for some big-ticket items which are soon approaching, such as the proposed ring dike and the replacement of infrastructure along 1st Street, among others.

Also, in 2020, the town is negotiating a revised contract with the Sheriff’s Office that will address the ever-changing needs of the community and address the needs and desires of the La Conner School District. We are very fortunate for our long standing and stable relationship with the Sheriff’s Office and for the reciprocal services agreement we maintain with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Police Department.

2020 will likely see changes to the Municipal Code regarding density. The Planning Commission is looking at a multitude of options and will make a recommendation to the Town Council. The Council will ultimately choose which proposals, if any, to adopt. Although it is true that we are not considering increasing our land area, it is also true that we need to actively pursue how we embrace infill within our borders. The challenge with these potential decisions is making sure we stay true to our heritage while pushing forward into the future.

It is my sincere hope that this new decade will reveal new possibilities for the Moore Clark property, which has been dormant for over 30 years. In 2019, the administration organized several meetings with the property owners, and we are hopeful that the coming years will see revitalization with this critical parcel.

As I reflect over 13 years as mayor, I have observed that our community has enjoyed many successes and certainly our fair share of challenges. Our future will be similar. Together, we will overcome any challenges we face and celebrate in our achievements.

I pray that God bestow a powerful blessing on all our citizens and the greater La Conner community in 2020.

Ramon Hayes is a long time local business owner, living in the community for 28 years with his wife, Heidi, and daughter Victoria. He is starting his fourth term as mayor.

By Ramon Hayes, mayor