Mayor Joe DePinto said the city experienced a “good year” as he reflected upon the progress made throughout Yelm during the annual State of the City address on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Yelm Community Center.
DePinto reviewed his first year as mayor, noting he’s proud of the expanded relationships that have been created with area organizations and businesses, like the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Yelm Senior Center. DePinto also discussed improvements to storefronts through the city’s beautification grant program.
“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a steep learning curve. There’s a lot to learn, and reflecting back, there’s maybe some things I would’ve done differently,” DePinto said. “Yet throughout all the learning, we had a good year here in the City of Yelm. The state of the community remains strong.”
The mayor noted when he first took office, there were issues that needed to be taken care of, which included the end of mask mandate policies, bringing the employees back to in-person work and the negotiation of labor union contracts. The city also needed to fill what DePinto called “critical job openings” like the positions of police chief and city administrator, as well as hiring a new building and planning manager.
DePinto, who became mayor over a year ago, said another priority was to “literally” clean up Yelm. He said the city accomplished that last year through its implementation of the beautification grant. Initiatives like “Pretty City Day” also helped with that effort.
He added the city will continue its cleanup efforts in 2023 with an addition of a street sweeper to the Yelm Public Works Department.
Toward the end of 2022, DePinto said the city council approved a budget with a focus on public safety, transportation projects and increasing experiences for residents. He added the budget will finance the renovation of the new water reclamation facility and parking in downtown.
DePinto said the city acquired water rights to provide water access to future Yelm residents and thanked the hard work of former mayors and city council members who put in two decades of work to secure the newly acquired rights.
Throughout 2023, DePinto said Yelm will see several new additions around the city. Those include the grand opening of a dog park on Rhoton Road, as well as a professional stage at Yelm City Park and a downtown alleyway to create accessibility for food trucks and vendors.
DePinto also spoke on the potential addition of a YMCA in Yelm. He said he met with residents and the chief executive officer of the South Sound branch of the organization to discuss an exploratory committee, which will help determine a possible location, as well as partners and funding models.
DePinto said that the first meeting regarding a Yelm YMCA location was held on Friday, Feb. 10. During the meeting, DePinto learned the estimated cost of a YMCA addition would be $18 million. The next course of action will involve the city council.
“This place can be a new home for our library, provide urgent care medical facilities, and provide recreational exercise for our seniors, students and adults of all ages,” DePinto said. “We can also bring back the swim team at our high school.”
President-elect of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, Tracie Choate, said there are several upcoming chamber of commerce events in the next several months.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, Choate said PTL Hardwood Floors will host Drive 507 Business After Hours and Steele Barrel Barbecue will provide the food. Then on Tuesday, March 14, Teri Pablo, with Yelm Community Schools, will speak about the district’s CTE programs.
On Saturday, April 29, the Nisqually Valley Home and Garden Show will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration to sign up for booths is available on the chamber’s website online at yelmchamber.com.
