Gun trafficking
A 36-year-old Tulalip man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to more than seven years in prison for four felonies related to illegal gun possession and trafficking.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran said Hany Veletanlic of Bosnia was found guilty of illegally possessing two unregistered silencers and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He was convicted in February 2019 following a two-day jury trial. At sentencing, Judge James L. Robart said that Veletanlic had run an illegal “lucrative business” and taken “quite sophisticated steps” to hide his conduct. The court emphasized that sending guns to countries with restrictions on guns was very serious. “This defendant repeaedly lied to law enforcement, violated judges orders, and even schemed to harm a witness against him from the Federal Detention Center,” Moran said. “Even behind bars he tried to transfer guns in his control to another violent group.”
In May 2017, Veletanlic told Homeland Security he sold firearms on eBay and shipped packages of firearms to Sweden, France, Russia and Brazil.
Tax exemption
MARYSVILLE – The City Council approved a tax exemption for an aerospace company coming to the Cascade Industrial Center.
Web Industries will provide 38 jobs paying more than at least $18. It will have about 107,000 square feet of building, costing $18 million. All of those numbers easily qualify the business for the tax exemption.
It will be located at 4201 156th St. NE.
Also at the council meeting Monday night, it allowed Arlington to use jail services in Marysville the first three months of 2020.
The council also OK’d the city to pay HDR Inc. an additional $358,000 for more work on the State Avenue Corridor Improvement Project.
Custody officer Bryce Lether was also sworn in.
Mayor coffee
MARYSVILLE – Mayor Jon Nehring invites Marysville residents and business people to join him for coffee and informal conversation about city programs and services Feb. 10 between 10-11 a.m. at City Hall, 1049 State Ave.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by Feb. 7 to Leah Tocco at 360-363-8091 or ltocco@marysvillewa.gov.
Nehring holds informal Coffee Klatch sessions several times a year to meet with residents and hear their concerns. City staff are also on hand to answer questions.
No bill increase
ARLINGTON – Customers of Arlington’s water, sewer, and stormwater utilities will not see an increase in their utility bill in 2020. Since 2010, the city ordinance has required a rate increase, but the City Council canceled it Tuesday for the eighth-straight year.
Also, starting in January, the city changed its utility billing practices to include a payment reminder for those who have not paid their bill by the due date. The payment reminders will include the last date to pay before shut off, how to make a payment arrangement and other information. For details call 360-403-3421 or email finance@arlingtonwa.gov.
Growth task force
MARYSVILLE – Mayor Jon Nehring has created a new Mayor’s Task Force on Growth Management to consider and provide input into the future of Marysville. Marysville expects continued growth and must comply with the Growth Management Act while leaders aim to maintain a sense of community.
Subjects the task force may be asked to weigh in on include: Neighborhood character and values; mixed-use development; high-density residential development; transportation networks and utility capacity; industrial center implementation; downtown redevelopment; and future population and employment targets. Task force findings will be used to help the city establish scope and policy for the required update of the Marysville Comprehensive Plan due in 2023, and to update other planning documents such as the Downtown Master Plan and amendments to development codes.
