OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The state may be getting another official symbol.
SB 5489 would establish the Wilkeson sandstone as the state sandstone.
The state Senate voted unanimously with one excused absence to approve the measure on Monday, Feb. 16 after a short speech from its sponsor Sen. Ron Muzzall.
The bill seeks to resolve a conflict with the town of Wilkeson in Pierce County, whose quarry provided the sandstone that is used in state structures such as the Legislative Building in the 1920s.
Several years ago, the town realized they had never been reimbursed for their work mining the sandstone for the buildings, resulting in a $5 million bill after interest that the state never paid.
Sen. Muzzall says Wilkson’s officials came to the legislature in 2018 to ask the State Treasurer to check if any money had been sent since the 1920s.
“[Wilkeson’s officials] asked for confirmation that [the Treasurer] did send payment and they said ‘Okay, [we’ll] check that out,'” Muzzall said. He followed it up with what the town officials jokingly said.
“If you can’t provide that proof, the City of Wilkeson is here to repossess,” he relayed. State officials made a compromise with Wilkeson according to Muzzall. Instead of sending the money, the state legislature would designate Wilkeson sandstone as an official symbol, placing a plaque on one of the buildings in Olympia to note the town’s contribution.
The bill now heads to the House for discussion.
