If the headline is news to you, you haven’t been following the course that the City of Poulsbo charted several months ago. And, if all goes as planned, it will hold true.

Last Wednesday was a big one for Poulsbo city officials and while it was a day that no doubt saw them giving thanks a day early — in many residents’ minds, it was several years too late.

The city inked its deal to purchase land on 10th Avenue, just north of Lincoln Road, with hopes of building its new municipal campus there. An achievement some 14 years in the making. The acreage, unlike the ill-fated, $600,000 boondoggle at the Morris property, appears to be environmentally sound and while some have questioned its location, others are just happy to see the long overdue project finally making some headway.

We are among the latter and fully hope — given the time put into this one — that it’s in the right direction.

No doubt or question that the existing city hall is a piece of junk and how employees made it work for so many years is beyond us, but they are to be commended. They’re good people, those city employees and they deserve better than what they’ve been getting.

After all, pretty much anywhere was better than the city’s current digs — something that will likely play a role when officials there put it on the market. But that’s another story.

Financial issues often are.

And since memories in Poulsbo are historically short, here we go with the tale thus far …

Once upon a time …

Earlier this year, Poulsbo’s Queen and her royal court balked at paying $1 million to retrofit an existing “castle” as they sought to relocate from their humble abode.

A new keep overlooking the lands was offered and plans were drawn up. Excitement spread and though it was infectious, some of the court and members of the serving class questioned the logic in not only building a new castle away from the town’s core market place but also why local “masons” were not being consulted.

Taking these suggestions into consideration, Poulsbo’s royal court agreed to use local talent on a limited basis for the project on the hill. The other castle, located near another village market area but including lease stipulations and questions on retrofit costs, was no longer of interest.

A shiny, new castle it would be.

The city’s royal court rejoiced, its not-so-collective voice rang out across the lands.

But what of the savings to the local serfs, those whose taxes pay the city’s bills? At one point in time, the city’s castle was expected to cost $8 million-$9 million at the high end — this quickly grew by 30-50 percent to more than $12 million. Few in the kingdom batted an eyelash.

The new castle was a long-awaited prize after all, and who other than the local scribes of North Kitsap would be so bold to question its approval? Even they were to be mocked.

No matter.

In the end, the quill came out and the deal inked, beating out a deadline on what were expected to be tighter environmental standards on its new land. Construction will begin in 2007.

And they all lived happily ever after. We hope.