Blue Lake cop shop tops By Matt Kapko Eye Reporter The Arcata Eye July 29, 2003 The Blue Lake City Council and city staff is making progress on issues it’s been trying to resolve for months. With all the recent media attention that the Blue Lake Police Department has been getting, “We’re getting known as the department that gets things done,” City Manager Wiley Buck said, enthusiastically. There has been a significant increase in desire for work in the police department. City Clerk Karen Nessler noted that numerous people have been calling with high interest in the open position. The city’s been looking to hire an additional officer for months, but the comparatively lower wages have historically turned many applicants away. The council hopes that the open position will be filled soon. Monda Way vacancy A two-unit industrial building owned by the city on Monda Way has sat idly vacant for months as the city has tried unsuccessfully to rent it out. Buck reported to the council that he has an interested tenant who wants to rent the entire building for manufacturing. He said it looks promising that the building will be rented by August. At recent meetings, the council has increasingly become disappointed in the lack of interest in the vacant building. Some members on the council think the lack of interest and the building’s continued vacancy is partially due to a lack of effort on the part of Buck. At each meeting, at least one councilmember or another has asked Buck to display contact information on a visible rental sign. And although there has been progress in renting out the building, the council was again disappointed to hear that no contact information had been posted. City Councilmember Sherman Schapiro made clear his displeasure with the absent phone number on the rental sign. He pointed it out to Buck and said, “It doesn’t take much to get an old lipstick out or a piece of chalk” and write a number for contact. Budget delayed again As of the council meeting last Tuesday, July 22, Buck was almost finished with the city’s budget. He brought to the council his draft, which he expects to make minor changes to before a final discussion and approval. Buck decided not to ask for approval on the budget because of how late he got it to council for perusing. Buck will have the budget finalized for approval at the council’s next meeting on August 12. In a symbolic gesture, the city approved a letter written by Assemblymember Patty Berg, which urges the California Legislature to “use a balanced approach in adopting the state budget.” The council had some concerns with a few of Berg’s comments in the letter, but nonetheless mostly agreed with its intention and felt that the city’s support could only help more. Home