City briefs

City resolves 2007 lawsuit

The City of Mercer Island resolved a lawsuit filed against it by a former employee, Scott Walton, last week. Walton worked as a parks maintenance generalist from 1982 to November 2005, when the city let him go. Walton filed a lawsuit in November 2007 alleging unlawful termination. The case was set for trial on May 4, 2009. However, before the trial started, Walton agreed to drop his lawsuit. The city did not pay Walton any settlement money.

Census workers on Mercer Island

In preparation for the 2010 U.S. Census, bureau employees are currently verifying addresses on the Eastside, including Mercer Island.

Nationwide, more than 140,000 census workers will participate in the address canvassing operation, a crucial first step in assuring that every housing unit receives a census questionnaire in March 2010.

All information is kept confidential. The countdown to the 2010 census is officially less than one year out on April 1.

Census workers can be identified by the official Census Bureau badge they carry. During the operation, census workers may ask to verify a housing structure’s address and whether there are additional living quarters on the property.

2010 census workers will not ask for bank or Social Security information. All information collected, including addresses, is confidential and protected by law.

The Census Bureau cannot legally share respondents’ answers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Central Intelligence Agency, Welfare, Immigration, or any other government agency.

No court of law or law enforcement agency can obtain respondents’ answers. All Census Bureau employees — including temporary employees — take an oath for life to keep census information confidential. Any violation of that oath is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.

For more information about the 2010 U.S. Census, visit www.census.gov.

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