10 years ago 1998
A sign that Marysville is no longer a small town is evident in a $90,000 total reorganization of the citys police department. Gone are the positions of assistant chief and lieutenant. In their place will be a force run by three equally ranked commanders. The City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the proposal by Police Chief Bob Carden. Carden, on the job six months, spent much of his time evaluating the department, its workload and internal communication. Currently Lt. Dennis Peterson is responsible for the nuts and bolts of the police department including the jail, dispatch, the patrol officers and detectives. Assistant Chief Walter McKinney, oversees education programs and Marysville Seniors Against Crime. An operations commander will oversee the regular patrol, criminal investigations and community service. A second commander will run the jail, dispatch and criminal evidence and property. The third commander will take care of the administration including training and the department budget and attempts to earn state accreditation. Carden stressed the importance of the accreditation. In particular he said accreditation would require consistent procedures in police work.

25 years ago 1983
The City Council postponed a decision on the downtown redevelopment plan for 30 more days to allow the downtown property owners and tenants organization to come up with changes in the proposed plan. Council members had received a letter from the groups president, Lars Sundt, requesting the 30 days. Ken Baxter, who made the motion to extend the decision for 30 days, had earlier requested Council wait at least one more week to give Council members he opportunity to study the developer surveys. The Downtown Redevelopment Commission sent questionnaires to developers around the state and in the Northwest to see what their interest would be. A summary of the responses of 19 developers was included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Councilman Baxter had asked to see the questionnaires to satisfy him that there was some interest in the project. I feel its important the rest of Council read these surveys before they vote on any of this, Baxter said. I do read some things out of them that I havent heard from the rest weve listened to. Dennis Graves said he has wanted the property owners to get together for a long time and is more than willing to give the group 30 days. However, Norm Anderson felt the group has had enough time. They have had two years to do it, he said. What makes you think theyll do it in 30 days? The downtown commissions chairman, Leo Oehler, said he is concerned how the Council can make a decision when the downtown group presents a new plan on the same night. Mayor Daryl Brennick said he doesnt think the group will be presenting a new plan. If thats what it takes to make the property owners feel comfortable, so be it, Brennick told the Council. Thirty days will be nothing in five years. Don Foxe, downtown commissioner, who was a Council member when the idea for a project first began, cautioned the Council about continuous extensions. Whats to say it will keep it from being another 30 days and another, Foxe said. City Administrator Rick Deming said the single lesson the commission had learned about the projects success is the community working together. I honestly dont think were together as a community. If 30 days can help them make a plan, make changes or feel comfortable … whatever, were better off as a community. Councilman Lee Cundiff agreed saying 30 days was a small price to pay to unite the community.

50 years ago 1958
Appearing before City Council Monday evening, Jack Otto asked the city to consider leasing a part of its proposed lagoon site acreage along Ebey Slough for use as an industrial park to attract new firms to Marysville. Otto acts in the capacity of industrial development chairman for the Marysville Chamber of Commerce. He has been closely identified with the countywide efforts to promote new industry with specific attention to Marysvilles qualifications attractive to incoming industry.