LETTER TO GARY RACCA FROM MAYOR 03032015 ��,�f THEpip9� City of Yelm
� �
°' Mayor's Office
105 Yelm Auenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
YELM
WASHINGTON
March 3, 2015
Gary Racca
Soundbuilt Homes, LLC
P.O. Box 73790
Puyallup, WA 98373-0790
Mr. Racca,
We have been working with Kurt Wilson and Esmond Cline regarding the development of
Tahoma Terra Phase II. It is a very unusual step that I am taking in writing this letter, as I rarely
have a situation that rises to this level of concern. This letter is to let you know about the
behavior of your employee's Kurt and Esmond. Their behavior has been growing increasingly
hostile and inappropriate with my City staff to the point that I am growing concerned for their
safety. The most recent example was when Mr. Cline came to our counter on the morning of
February 26.
As you are most likely aware, the development of Tahoma Terra, Phase II, Division 1, which
Soundbuilt purchased, has experienced water drainage issues which has caused problems for
homeowners in the development. While drainage issues were first brought to light by the
construction practices of one of the other builders in the development to whom Soundbuilt
sold lots, it also exists in areas in which Soundbuilt is currently constructing homes.
The water issues have manifested in flooded crawlspaces, poorly drained yards and planter
strips, and standing water throughout the development during and after rain events. To
mitigate the crawlspace issue, the Community Development Department issued a requirement
that footing drains would be required pursuant to the Building Codes for all new construction.
Soundbuilt eventually supplied an alternate plan stamped by a licensed engineer. Soundbuilt
indicated that the home under construction on lot 190 of the development would meet this
new plan, but it did not. Building Inspector John Rowland informed your crew onsite of this,
which apparently was the cause of Mr. Cline's outburst. Mr. Cline's interaction was such that a
Yelm Police Officer attending business on the other end of City Hall came to make sure the
situation did not get out of control.
Mr. Cline has been contacted on several occasions by City inspectors regarding water issues, as
he has installed a number of un-reviewed and unapproved drainage systems throughout the
development in a piecemeal attempt to solve the soggy lot problems. One such `fix' installed a
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common drain on a privately owned lot and through the public right of way without any
approvals or easements. This drain remains in non-compliance with the after the fact approval
of the City.
My staff believes the water issues may be caused, in part, by subsurface water flow from the
stripped and vacant Tahoma Terra Phase II, Division 2, which is also owned by Soundbuilt. This
theory was communicated to Mr. Kurt Wilson and Mr. Cline along with the request that
Soundbuilt review an area wide solution to the water issues in Division 1. This request has not
been met and it was later found that Soundbuilt does not have an updated Stormwater
Pollution Prevention Plan for Division 2.
In response to our concerns and the numerous attempts to address these issues, we have
received threatening emails, phone calls and now even our face to face interaction are subject
to what I consider intolerable behavior.
I don't believe this continued behavior is in the best interest of your development or the
customers that will eventually call Soundbuilt homes their homes. I would encourage you to
take a larger view of the Tahoma Terra development and focus on long term solutions to an
obvious problem. Mr. Cline has been trying to solve this problem, unsuccessfully, on a lot by lot
basis. This should hopefully help Mr. Wilson and Mr. Cline to act appropriately in the future.
Sincerely,
�� ;
Ror( ing, Mayor
City o Yelm
March 3,2015 Page 2 of 2