Pictured above: Debbie Copple, Director of Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce; Maggie Torza, Owner of Miss Maggie’s Desserts; Mayor Carolyn Eslick
In 2010, Maggie Torza missed out on the opportunity to sell Pampered Chef products at Sultan’s Winterfest. She wanted to participate in Winterfest, and began wondering what else she could sell. Maggie met Mayor Eslick and Chamber Director, Debbie Copple that day and the 3 of them discussed the delicious, decadent desserts she creates. Mayor Eslick and Debbie Copple encouraged Maggie to create and sell them at Winterfest.
Maggie was very successful at Winterfest in 2010 and went on to work with Mayor Eslick and Ms. Copple on a business plan. “If it wasn’t for Carolyn and Debbie, I wouldn’t be in business today.” Maggie commented. “They helped me turn a hobby into a real business.”
Miss Maggie’s Desserts officially started in June, 2011 when Maggie found a kitchen to rent at the Twin Eagles Café in Snohomish. She is currently looking for a commercial kitchen to rent in Sultan.
Maggie is a member of GROW Washington, a retail outlet business incubator in Snohomish, founded by Mayor Carolyn Eslick.
Miss Maggie’s Desserts can also be found in the Ventures Store in Pike Place Market in Seattle (another business incubator), Fresh Market Café in the Wine Cellars of Washington, Public Market in Snohomish. Maggie is planning on having a store front in Sultan within the next 5 years.
She is also planning on “Going Virtual” on her web site. Customers around the world can add her chocolates to their shopping cart and order her sweets on-line. She has been test shipping her chocolates to relatives in England, Kansas and Rossberg Washington.
Welcome to the City of Sultan
Whether you are moving to our city, or just visiting and want information, we want you to feel welcome.
Established in the late 1880's and officially incorporated in 1905, our community has a rich and colorful heritage. Logging, mining and agriculture provided the economic and cultural foundation in those early years. Today, Sultan is a quiet but growing community with a population fast approaching 5000.
Our city is on the brink of a great transformation. Already several hundred new residential homes, commercial and retail projects currently in the development process. We recognize that growth is inevitable, and we are actively taking the steps necessary to protect the wonderful way of life that our residents have treasured for over one hundred years.
Press Releases:
January 24, 2012
SULTAN LOWERS UTILITY RATES
At a packed council meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2012, the Sultan city council approved a number of measures to reduce utility rates for water, recycling and Comcast cable services. As a result of the changes, most homeowners will see a 3.76% increase instead of a 5.7% increase in their combined utility bill for water, sewer, garbage, recycling, and storm water. This is a $5.50 per month savings for the average household. "The city council and I have been looking for ways to provide relief to homeowners on their utility bills while still ensuring the city maintains tax payer owned assets", commented Mayor Carolyn Eslick. "I think we’ve achieved both those goals with the approved utility rate changes."
The city had planned a $3.56 increase to water rates effective December 1, 2011. The proposed increase would have paid to finish replacing mechanical water meters with newer, and more accurate, electronic meters. Council member Kristina Blair requested the city council look at postponing the electronic meter replacement program until 2013. The city council approved the delay which reduced the proposed increase from $3.56 to $.71 effective February 1, 2012. The $.71 increase will allow the city to set aside $30,000 for a generator to provide fire flow to residents and neighborhoods along Sultan Basin Road during power outages.
In a separate move, the council approved reducing recycling rates. Homeowners will see a $.50 decrease from $9.35 to $8.85. The reduced recycling rates will be reflected on customer’s March bills. At the same meeting, the city council also discontinued collecting a $.25 per customer per month fee for Comcast Cable subscribers. The $.25 fee was used to upgrade equipment to support the public, education and government channel (Channel 21). The equipment has been purchased, and the $.25 is no longer needed. Channel 21 is shared by the communities of Sultan, Monroe, Snohomish and Lake Stevens.
For more information contact Laura Koenig, Deputy City Clerk at 360-793-2231 or e-mail laura.koenig@ci.sultan.wa.us.
January 23, 2012
SULTAN SEEKS TO FILL PLANNING BOARD VACANCY
Are you interested in the future of Sultan? Would you like to make a difference in your community? Sultan community members with an interest in the future growth and character of the city are invited to apply for one of two vacancies on the Sultan Planning Board - planning board member Steve Harris resigned from the board to focus more time on running his business; Ken Marshall’s seat was vacated when he was appointed to serve on the city council in December.
The Sultan Planning Board consists of five (5) members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Board members are expected to attend regular Planning Board meetings held at 7:00 P.M. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Special meetings are held occasionally to meet with the City Council or cover other business. The Planning Board advises and makes recommendations to the City Council on all matters relating to the future physical development of the city with respect to land use and development zoning and subdivision regulations, and the city's Comprehensive Plan.
Interested community members are invited to apply for either a short term position ending on June 30, 2012 and available for reappointment to a full two-year term; or a long term position ending on June 30, 2013 also available for reappointment to a full two-year term. Applications are available here: Planning Board Application or by contacting City Hall at 360-793-2231.
The application deadline is 4:00pm on Friday, January 27, 2012. Applications can be mailed to the Sultan City Clerk’s Office at City of Sultan, PO BOX 1199, Sultan or delivered in-person at City Hall (319 Main Street, Suite 200). The Mayor will request Council confirmation of her appointment at the Council’s February 9, 2012 meeting. The appointment would be effective immediately. For further information, please contact Robert Martin, Community Development Director at 360-793-2231.
January 9, 2012
SULTAN CONSIDERS PRIVATIZING GARBAGE SERVICE
The Sultan City Council will hear a presentation from Allied Waste on the regulations and alternatives for solid waste (garbage) collection in Washington State at the city council meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2012. The city council meeting begins at 7:00PM in the Sultan Council Chambers located at 319 Main Street. The presentation will begin shortly after the start of the meeting.
The presentation by Allied Waste was prompted by councilmember Kay George’s proposal to privatize the city’s garbage service. Councilmember George has expressed interest in lowering garbage rates and reducing the number of city staff. "I am asking the city council to take a look at the numbers and decide what to do." Under a cost comparison prepared by George, some city residents could see their garbage rates cut in half. "This is the first opportunity for the city council to hear more information about the various alternatives for collecting garbage in Washington State," noted Mayor Carolyn Eslick. "The city council will need to carefully consider the impacts on other city services before making a final decision to privatize the garbage utility and reduce staff."
The city collects garbage from residents and businesses three-days per week. The city owns the garbage truck and disposes solid waste at the Snohomish County drop box located in Sultan on Cascade View Drive. The city’s garbage utility funds 3.61 full-time equivalent employees including two employees who provide garbage service three days per week. The other two-days per week these same employees maintain the city’s parks, streets and utilities.
The city completed a garbage rate study in 2009 and adopted a five year rate schedule which went into effect on July 1, 2010. Garbage rates have increased 14% since the new rate schedule was adopted. Prior to adopting the rate schedule, garbage rates had not increased since 1994. The current rate increases are needed to raise money to purchase a fully automated garbage truck in 2015, supply 96-gallon toters to all city residents and establish a 90-day operating reserve fund. If the city’s garbage utility is discontinued in favor of privatization, the funds will be reallocated to other city uses.
For more information on the Allied Waste presentation and the alternatives for collecting municipal solid waste in Washington State, contact city administrator, Deborah Knight at 360-793-1164.
An archive of all Press Releases can be found here
