Residents press Sumner council over Ryan House salvage, accuse city of restricting family access

Several residents used the public-comment period to criticize the city's handling of property salvaged from the Ryan House and to urge the council to change pickup procedures for family members.

Nick Bierman opened the public-comment block by asking the council to "pause for 1 minute and admit that you owe the Rhine family a huge apology" and described the city's plan to limit family pickups to a single three-hour window on one weekday as unfair. Bierman urged the council to allow appointments, more than one day or longer pickup periods and to work with the family to develop a different plan.

Other commenters echoed similar concerns. Randall Adams described prior interactions with city staff about a proposed community fundraising plan to preserve the Ryan House and alleged the city responded by accusing him of "putting people's lives at risk." Adams criticized the city's litigation spending in related disputes and said the city "is asking is going back court and asking for $7,700,000 in legal bills" while he said earlier court costs had been minimal; the $7.7 million figure was asserted by the speaker and not corroborated in the meeting record.

Amanda Henderson, who identified herself as a Ryan family supporter, read from questions posted by heir Nancy Ryan and said the deed limits retrieval to Ryan family members only but pointed to language in the city's online instructions that appeared to allow family members such as spouses to "assist" after staff brings items to vehicles. Henderson asked why friends and helpers were barred from assisting an elderly or disabled heir at pickup and urged the city to allow family escorts and helpers to strap and load items into trucks.

Casey Henderson and other speakers described alleged building-inspection failures and repeated attendance at council and planning commission meetings to press for accountability, saying homeowners affected by nearby construction face damages. Speakers repeatedly asked the council to "do the right thing" for affected families and warned they would continue to attend meetings if they felt matters were unresolved.

City Administrator Jason Wilson noted on a different topic that the city will provide the Ryan heirs an opportunity on Oct. 1 to review and collect salvaged items and that more information, including required release forms and timing/loading procedures, would be posted on the city's website. The council did not take action on the public comments; the remarks were strictly part of the public-comment period and did not trigger a council response or vote during the meeting.