HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/2011 00 Misc Distributed at the Meeting bi s+6 bu-hed 12 /a , I
RECEIVED
Mr. Eddie A. Casteel CITY OF YAKIMA
1503 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902 NOV 2 8 2011
509- 949 -3814
Yakima City Council OFFICE OF CITY MANAGER
CIO City Manager's Office
129 North 2 Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Mr. Micah Cawley, Mayor
Ms. Kathy Coffey, Assistant Mayor
Mr. Rick Ensey
Mr. Dave Ettl
Ms. Maureen Adkison
Mr. 13ill Lover
Dear City Council,
I wanted to take some time to write and relate a story about a recent interaction with the City of Yakima and the Office of
Neighborhood Development Services. As a Yakima Senior Citizen living on a fixed budget of Social Security slowly eaten away with
medicare and healthcare expenses, when an unexpected expense arises I have to make the hard decision between paying for the
service or possibly going without food, utilities or medical care.
Unfortunately, I was faced with this decision this fall as temperatures dropped and the pilot light on my gas furnace needed
lighting. Estimates I received were all over $100 for this service. As an alternative, my son suggested contacting the Office of
Neighborhood Development Services. To my immediate astonishment and delight I was told my pilot light would be lit within the
hour! !! This was truly unbelievable, especially for a government entity, was this really true ? ?? In fact, they kept their word and it was
fixed promptly.
Without the tireless work of Mr. Orville F. Otto II, Senior Program Supervisor and Mr. Archie M. Mathews, OND Manager I
would have gone without heat and really can't fathom the consequences in my state of health. These are truly outstanding individuals
that deeply care about our Senior Citizens and provide a CRITICAL role in the City of Yakima.
More importantly, Mr. Michael Morales, Assistant City Manager/Director, Department of Community and Economic
Development has a moral obligation and duty to the most vulnerable population of Yakima Citizens who work hard and pay taxes all
of their life and some must live on no more than Social Security to budget and lobby to the best of his ability to make sure these
services continue. Funding MUST continue for this City of Yakima department.
In times of depression and economic despair, please consider this most important aspect of services when allocating resources
—1 feel better knowing the good people of Yakima have such a service in their times of need. I thank Mr. Otto and Mr. Mathews for
their compassion, caring, and RESPECT for Yakima's Senior Citizens. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions
about my experience.
Please don't let us down...
My most sincere regards,
n /
Eddie A. Casteel
Resident/Senior Citizen
CC: Mr. Michael Morales
Assistant City Manager
Director, Community and Economic Development
City of Yakima
129 North 2 Street
Yakima, WA 98902
Mr. Archie M. Mathews
Neighborhood Development Services Manager
Office of Neighborhood Development Services
City of Yakima
112 South. 8 Street
Yakima, WA 98901