Former Lake Stevens Annexation Coordinator Resigns

Carl Nelson tells City he needs to pursue other options JOURNAL STAFF Lake Stevens Annexation Coordinator Carl Nelson resigned Tuesday, putting an end to a nearly month long administrative suspension at the hands of City leadership. Mayor Vern Little placed Nelson on leave Dec. 19, the day before the Frontier Village annexation became official. City officials declined to explain the shelving of Nelson, but said an explanation would be forthcoming after the first of the year.

After weeks of continued silence, Nelson said it was obvious he no longer had a place in the city, and turned in his letter of resignation.

“In the year and ten months I’ve been with the City I’ve had the privilege to work with a diverse team that has brought the greatest change in the City’s size and nature since its incorporation,” Nelson wrote.

Nelson added that he felt he had lived up to the obligations of his job description, and was dismayed that the City did not have a place for him.
“A great many of the obligations that were laid out for me when I was offered the position of Annexation/Transition Service Coordinator have been fulfilled. With these accomplishments, I had expected other opportunities to become open to me and they have not, and I believe it’s time for me to move on and pursue other options,” Nelson said.

With Nelson at the annexation helm, the City successfully added the North Lake and Frontier Village annexes, effectively doubling in size and population in about 12 months.

City officials would not comment on the reasoning behind Nelson’s suspension, but sources at City Hall said City leaders found Nelson to be too vocal in expressing his opinion on subjects outside of annexation.

The several city employees and elected officials wrote to the Journal in support of Nelson.

One staffer, who asked to remain nameless due to fears of job security, said that he had worked with Nelson since his hiring and was sickened by his dismissal. The staffer said he felt no job at the City was secure when employees were treated as Nelson was.

During the current annexation push, the City has added over 6,000 residents, 1,700 acres and $2.2 million in tax revenue. Signature collection is ongoing in the East Lake area and volunteers have passed the 60 percent mark required for certification in the Soper Hill region, where discussions with land-owner Polygon have held up the process to some degree.

City Administrator Jan Berg will oversee the annexation efforts in Nelson’s absence.

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