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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge)   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Tim Eyman loses this time around, but is unlikely to go away 11/5/09 • GOP beats only rural Eastern Washington Democrat legislator 11/5/09 • McGinn’s lead shrinks in Seattle mayor race 11/5/09 • Three County Council incumbents retain lead 11/5/09 • Library tax holds slim approval 11/5/09 • Marysville council candidate arrested after hit-and-run 11/5/09 » More ELECTIONRESULTS2009 stories >   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Lake Stevens to add 10,000 people Voter were approving a plan to annex 9-square miles of unincorporated county land. By Bill Sheets Herald Writer LAKE STEVENS — Lake Stevens is about to grow by two-thirds. A plan to add more than 10,000 people to Lake Stevens — swelling its population from 14,553 to 24,614 — appeared headed to victory in mail-in votes in first returns Tuesday. The measure was leading 717 to 524 in early returns, roughly 58 percent to 42 percent. A simple majority determines the outcome. “For the citizens to come out and vote on this issue, it's a big deal. We wanted to listen to them,” Mayor Vern Little said. “Now we want to listen to them on what they need.” The neighborhoods lie south of Frontier Village and between the lake, Highway 204 and extend south of 20th Street SE. The 9-square-mile unincorporated Snohomish County area is home to 10,061 people. City officials decided earlier this year to put the annexation up for a vote. The reason the city wanted to add that many people at once is because the state is offering a tax rebate to cities for every 10,000 people added at one time. That offer expires next year. The city will look to convert some of area to commercial land to improve the city's tax base, but also will seek to manage development more strictly than has Snohomish County, Little said. “We will have the ability to set in place what we really need to be a city,” he said. The city has plans to add 13 police officers to its current total of 27, and is considering hiring more public works personnel, Little said. Officials plan to meet at 8 a.m. today to discuss that and other issues related to the annexation, the mayor said. In 2005, the city had a population of 7,185. The city then doubled in size with three annexations from 2006 to 2008. When this annexation becomes effective Dec. 31, the city will have grown by more than 300 percent in four years. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out SW annexation of Lake Stevens The thing that bothers me is how the media will only provide a single view point on this issue. So...the early numbers indicate a large number of us are not exactly happy about the take over. Hmmm....I for one, see no advantage being included in the city. My taxes will go up. Even they tell us that, and all they offer in return is more business and over crowding. I feel we are being used to take money from the state who obviously needs what it is owed. I see this as a money grab by the city. Yes, while it is well managed, just the process of swithing hands means more government cost. We have government already. Frankly the city wants something for nothing. And we can't afford more government. If it's not broken... Michael Robinson | Nov 4, 2009 7:06 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) Great just fudgy great. Add more arrogant, and pretensious people, mmmmmmmm just what the city needs more not caring people. dee None | Nov 4, 2009 3:27 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) Great just fudgy great. Add more arrogant, and pretensious people, mmmmmmmm just what the city needs more not caring people. dee None | Nov 4, 2009 3:27 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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