I start every day focusing on our mission and vision statement posted right above the computer monitor in my office, and as you know I spend a lot of time writing about them this space.  Today, five particular words have jumped out at me from the vision statement: “establish partnerships with the city…….” 

We have a solid partnership with the City, and every day to it continues to grow.  Here is a recent example of our vision statement in action:  

If you have lived here a while you probably remember like me the excitement and buzz that took place when the North Cascades Highway opened in 1972.   We have a scrapbook at the office documenting the buildup to the opening with the extensive newspaper coverage carefully preserved.  It put Sedro-Woolley on the map as the “Gateway to the North Cascades.”  This theme was echoed in seven signs placed around the city, one of them on the railroad overpass north of town. There is a picture in the scrap book of this particular sign being installed.

I thought city planner Jack Moore would be interested, so, I took the book to City Hall and showed him.  His eyes lit up as he realized the potential of this space and the fact that there was actual documentation of this sign that he himself had heard about through the years.  He was on a mission and last week he brought over the results of his sleuthing:  a copy of the permit he found issued in 1972 granted between Burlington Northern, the Chamber, and the City to establish the sign.  We would like to get a similar sign erected at the same spot that will greatly improve the beauty of this major intersection and entrance to our community.