Lake Stevens city officials received letters from third graders at Hillcrest Elementary School filled with questions regarding how the city works and just exactly what these officials do.
Those third graders from Ms. Leatherman’s and Ms. Monica’s classrooms got a big surprise when Lake Stevens Mayor Vern Little, Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori, Lake Stevens Fire District Chief Gary Faucett, City Administrator Jan Berg, City Planning Director Becky Abelman and City Public Works Director Dave Ostergaard showed up to answer their questions in person.
Mayor Little took questions from the junior audience including everything from, “How did you get your job?” to “Where did you go to elementary school?”Students, ready with questions in hand, threw their arms up as soon as the floor was open for questions.
“Have you ever made a law?” one student asked.
Little explained that the city council, who are our local representatives, actually make the laws.
“I don’t make the laws but I do have input,” he said. “We make recommendations to the city council.”
One student wanted to know why they chose the profession they were in.
“I always wanted to drive a fire truck,” Chief Faucett told the students. Police Chief Randy Celori explained that studying hard and doing homework makes it possible for anyone to be anything they want to be.
“My job started when I was in elementary school doing my reading and all of my homework,” Celori said.
Students learned that the biggest reason people go into community service work is because they have a desire to keep people safe.
Ostergaard also had students help him with a demonstration which included showing the kids how new, porous cement was being made to help keep the water cleaner and cause less water build-up after rain.
Students poured water into pieces of the cement to see what would happen. After seeing what happens when water is poured over black asphalt, which is currently being used in streets and parking lots, students were amazed that the porous cement allowed the water to flow through it and back into the soil.
The visiting city workers tried to instill in the kids the importance of community service and the endless opportunities that are available to them.
“At your age, try everything because you don’t know what  you are going to like to do someday,” Berg told the kids.

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