MARYSVILLE – After a moment of silence, Marysville City Council members and staff couldn’t stop talking about the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting at their meeting Oct. 27.

They know it’s on everyone’s minds.

Council president Jeff Vaughan said when something of this magnitude happens everyone reflects. He said he felt empty inside.

“This will test our community,” he said, adding he hopes it doesn’t set back all the hard work that has been done.

He decided to go to the vigil at Grove Church Friday night.

“It was just what I needed,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

Council Member Michael Stevens gave kudos to police and emergency responders.

“You can’t really ever train for this,” he said, adding he hopes we “have a better community afterward.”

Council Member Kamille Norton said the tragedy shows Marysville is a tight-knit community.

“We had a chance to shine, show our goodness and pull together,” she said.

Chief Executive Officer Gloria Hirashima said, “We have a long road ahead. Tragedy puts stress on people. But we have a wonderful community and fortunate atmosphere” so we can get through it.

Parks director Jim Ballew said not to forget staff at the high school. “They need hugs, too,” he said.

Public Works director Kevin Nielsen said even though the city trains for disasters, he was proud of how the city responded in a real tragedy.

“If something tragic, horrible happens we can handle it,” he said, adding there is always the possibility of an earthquake or train derailment in Marysville.

Police Chief Rick Smith received a lot of praise for how his department handled the shooting. He choked up midway through his talk.

“I haven’t been emotional yet, it’s part of the tough exterior, but it hits me when I think of the kids,” he said.

Smith said it’s been “fast and furious” the past two weeks, first dealing with a shooter on a three-city rampage and now the killings at M-P.

“It’s been a tough two weeks for us,” he said. “We’ve got our tails whooped. But triumph is born from tragedy.”

Smith said the community will work with the Tulalip Tribes to get through this.

“The tribes are a proud and humble people right now, but we will not be defined by this,” he said. “There’s a lot of hurting people out there, but we’re going to work together.”

County Executive John Lovick spoke during the public comment period of the meeting about the city’s professionalism in the tragedy.

“You set a tremendous example, speaking to the hopes of the community and not the fears. We will not let fear win.”

Mayor Jon Nehring agreed.

“What defines our community is the incredible response and the support of the surrounding community,” he said.

The mayor said he’s been talking with kids in schools and found they like to get together with themselves for solace and comfort, but also like having adults around to check in with.

Nehring said top of mind are the victims of the shooting.

“Our hearts are with these kids who are still battling for their lives,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who came home without their loved ones. They have a long road back. We need to stand there with them.”

As for a legacy, Nehring said, “How about if we live a little better life in their memory.”