Sultan mayor proposing ban on safe injection sites

In one of his first moves as Sultan mayor, John Seehuus has requested discussion on a resolution that would keep safe injection sites from opening within city limits.

The longtime resident said he and several other Sultan city councilmembers have been batting the concept around for some time. He finally decided to throw the idea out and see what everyone has to say.

Seehuus said he has also heard from members of the public that they would prefer not to have the facilities in Sultan. He has kept up the tradition of hosting the weekly Coffee with the Mayor meetings in town. At Friday’s gathering he surveyed those in attendance, and they unanimously agreed they would support a ban.

From his standpoint, Seehuus believes any programs that enable drug abuse are not a solution to the issue. The resolution would simply be preventative. No proposal has come forward to open one in Sultan, he said.

The resolution should be brought before the council within the next few meetings, Seehuus said. He couldn’t say when that date will be. The procedure will most likely include an initial conversation before any immediate moves are made, he said.

Seehuus is currently filling the role vacated by former Mayor Carolyn Eslick, who was tapped this fall to serve in the Washington House of Representatives for the 39th District. He stepped up from his spot as mayor pro tem, which he served as from 2006-07 and again starting in 2015.

The councilmembers will be choosing among themselves who will take on the position permanently. A majority of the current members, including Seehuus, initially expressed interest in being picked for the position. Eslick’s term ends on Dec. 31, 2019.

The longtime resident said he and several other Sultan city councilmembers have been batting the concept around for some time. He finally decided to throw the idea out and see what everyone has to say.

Seehuus said he has also heard from members of the public that they would prefer not to have the facilities in Sultan. He has kept up the tradition of hosting the weekly Coffee with the Mayor meetings in town. At Friday’s gathering he surveyed those in attendance, and they unanimously agreed they would support a ban.

From his standpoint, Seehuus believes any programs that enable drug abuse are not a solution to the issue. The resolution would simply be preventative. No proposal has come forward to open one in Sultan, he said.

The resolution should be brought before the council within the next few meetings, Seehuus said. He couldn’t say when that date will be. The procedure will most likely include an initial conversation before any immediate moves are made, he said.

Seehuus is currently filling the role vacated by former Mayor Carolyn Eslick, who was tapped this fall to serve in the Washington House of Representatives for the 39th District. He stepped up from his spot as mayor pro tem, which he served as from 2006-07 and again starting in 2015.

The councilmembers will be choosing among themselves who will take on the position permanently. A majority of the current members, including Seehuus, initially expressed interest in being picked for the position. Eslick’s term ends on Dec. 31, 2019.