Sultan has new student reps, vacant planning board position


Sultan City Council appointed two student representatives this year; one primary and one alternate. Both of the new representatives were welcomed by council and Mayor Carolyn Eslick on Thursday, Sept. 11, during the regular business meeting of the Sultan City Council.
Nicholas Sorgen, a junior at Sultan High School, will serve as the primary representative. Sorgen introduced himself to council and shared that he has four younger siblings, and has lived in Sultan for about nine years. He's involved in cross country, wrestling, track and field, pep club, National Honor Society, Sultan High School's Link Crew and more.
"I'm excited to be here,GÇ¥ said Sorgen.
Sorgen has also been involved in community outreach, and has served in the youth chapter of the Sky Valley Community Coalition. He also volunteered over the summer at Kids Caf+¬, the free summer lunch program put on by the Volunteers of America and Food Lifeline.
Renelle Addington, who will serve as the alternate representative, is a sophomore at the high school and has lived in Sultan for about seven years. She participates the Sultan High School marching band and jazz band. She also belongs to the Science, Math and Robot Technology Club (SMART), the debate team and the golf team.
On her application for appointment to the city council student representative position, Addington shared that she wanted to be able to provide the council with input from the student body, and help "develop strategies to help fix some of the problems that concern the students in Sultan.GÇ¥
The two will serve through June 30, 2015.
PLANNING BOARD
Sultan is currently seeking a candidate interested in serving on the city's planning board. The five-member planning board has been down a member for several months; numerous inquiries have been made about the vacant position, but as of yet no one has stepped forward to apply.
"I think it is important that we fill the open position as soon as possible,GÇ¥ said Sultan City Administrator Ken Walker.
The role of the planning board is to act in an advisory capacity to the city council on issues related to the city's comprehensive plan and other matters related to land use. The board conducts public meetings and hearings as mandated by the Growth Management Act (GMA), which stipulates that citizen participation must be encouraged and facilitated.
Applicants should submit a letter of interest to the city of Sultan, along with any referrals or letters of recommendation they would like to allow for consideration. Planning board members are appointed by Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick and confirmed by city council. Appointees are typically asked to commit to a two-year term, unless the appointment is meant to fill the balance of an existing term.
Sultan's Planning Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Sultan City Hall.
For more information on the role of the planning board, please contact Ken Walker at (360) 793-2231.
SULTAN COMMUNITY TASK FORCE
Walker provided council with an update on the activities of the Sultan Community Task Force, a group of volunteers interested in cleaning up the city. The task force, which is chaired by VOA Director Calei Vaughn, has been dedicated to addressing the homeless issue, the at-risk youth issue, the crime issue and other issues as they are brought up.
Thus far, the group has been ardently working on cleaning up the homeless encampments scattered throughout the city including Osprey Park, Reese Park, Steelhead County Park and other areas, as well. Both the north and south sides of the Skykomish River are being addressed.
"Anywhere we can identify people putting trash on public property where they're not supposed to put it,GÇ¥ said Walker.
Walker shared that between 12 and 15 tons of trash has been picked up so far, and said that Snohomish County picks up the abundant refuse at a discounted rate.
Vaughn shared recently that the volunteers have truly been dedicated to making a real difference. One of the sites was so difficult to access that volunteers had to use a rope to scale the precipitous hillside, but they didn't let that stop them. Cleaning events take place every Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon, and larger efforts take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of every month.
The task force meets for discussion every Wednesday afternoon, at 4 p.m., at Sultan City Hall in the main meeting room across from the library. All concerned community members are welcome to attend Sultan Community Task Force meetings.
"We do think this is going to make a difference in our community,GÇ¥ said Walker.

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