A concerned citizen sent me a copy of a Facebook post by our former Snohomish Mayor John Kartak, accusing our the City Council of trying to “ruin everything” by planning for our future Municipal Campus. Claims in his post are not correct.
Kartak says that the Fire District and the City “seized through eminent domain” the Steuber property, stating that the Pursuit church had an agreement to purchase the property. The former Mayor says we “YOINKED it right out from under” the church.
The former mayor’s statement is false. One would think that he — who knows the phone numbers at City Hall — would have checked his facts and assumptions to know the truth before spreading such lies.
Is it “leftist” — as he claims — to plan for a better future and tell the truth? The truth is that the Fire District and the city purchased this property from the Steuber family for more than $6 million. The visionary plans are to create a Municipal Campus that will serve all the citizens of this city, no matter their religious or political beliefs. This effort expands our capabilities to serve everyone in new environmentally friendly facilities that will last for generations. We will consolidate services for more efficiency and let go of some of our older properties that need significant renovations.
A church serves only the few members of that church. This purchase and sale will allow this property to serve the whole of our community.
Karen Guzak
Snohomish City Council
Snohomish
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
