Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, July 4, 2009 Support shown for new land fee for conservation district The County Council has asked for a draft proposal that would raise money for the conservation district. By Noah Haglund Herald Writer EVERETT -- Farmers, foresters and rural landowners pleaded with the Snohomish County Council this week to impose a fee to help people manage their land. A similar request last year went nowhere. The money would fund the Snohomish Conservation District, which gives advice on managing natural resources for farmland, backyard gardens and more. The district has no regulatory power. "If the Snohomish Conservation District was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, I would be an investor," said Bill Best of Arlington, one of the 12 supporters who spoke during a public hearing. "I suggest that you do the same." Under the proposal, a new $5 fee would be charged for every land parcel, plus 5 cents per acre. The owner of a 10-acre parcel would pay an extra $5.50 per year. A similar draft that the council requested in September never materialized. Councilmen asked for it again on Wednesday, by a 3-1 vote, but did not set a timeline. They also wanted to know how much it would cost the assessor and the treasurer to collect the fee, which supporters said would total more than $1 million per year. The lone no vote came from Councilman John Koster. While saying the district does "great work," he objected to the added cost. The fee would come on top of storm-water fees that shot up about 150 percent this year in much of the county. "I just don't see now as the time to go and tag people for more" money, Koster said. His remarks sparked an exchange with Councilman Dave Somers, who had suggested lowering the current storm-water fees to compensate for the new charge. Koster said he might support the idea if both issues -- imposing the new fee and lowering the existing one -- were addressed at the same time. Councilman Dave Gossett said his support depended, in part, on having an agreement specifying how the money could be spent. Council Chairman Mike Cooper was unable to attend the hearing. A dozen other counties in Washington have assessments to fund conservation districts. The Snohomish district serves residents in unincorporated areas and in areas annexed to towns and cities after 1941, when the district started. The cities of Snohomish and Arlington form part of the district, too. Its budget comes from the county's general fund, surface water fees, the Stillaguamish Clean Water District and grants. The district is working on a separate assessment for Camano Island with the Whidbey Island Conservation District. Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465 or nhaglund@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer 2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton 3. No charge will be filed in death of Everett pedestrian 4. Rain, thunderstorms forecast for lowlands 5. Bothell steamrolls Stanwood 6. PREP FOOTBALL/SWIMMING ROUNDUP: Halfback pass for touchdown sparks Sultan win 7. More jibba-jabba 8. Obama OK's homebuyer tax credit 9. Suspect identified in Seattle police killing 10. Dana nibbles into Somers’ lead 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million