I’d like to thank Councilman John Koster for 12 years of common sense, conservative leadership, serving north Snohomish County residents and defending our property rights. In 2004, after the county purchased the Cloverdale farm at Trafton for a future park, Koster was made aware that the beautiful 60-acre, crop-producing field next to the river needed some bank protection in one spot to spare it from future floods. This is prime agricultural land that produces hundreds of tons of feed each year and provides income to the county park department.
Koster directed departments to design and construct the repair. The county hydraulic engineer came up with a proven design using large logs, rock and bank-stabilizing native plants.
The county got the permits and had it funded, ready to start construction when Bill Blake, using his position on the Stillaguamish Watershed Council, along with several environmental groups, protested the protection of this valuable land. The county was forced instead to use the environmentalists’ so-called “scientifically based” design plan of planting four rows of 12-inch tall fir seedlings along the river bank. A result of this ingenious plan was that the first flood to come along the next winter washed away over four acres of this beautiful field, sending approximately 76,000 tons of silt and sand down the river.
I had a chance to ask Bill Blake last year if he had been out to look at all of the damage done to the Cloverdale Park six years ago. He said, “I heard about it, but hadn’t been out to look at it.” I wonder why? With over 13,000 acres in the Snohomish County Parks Department, purchased with our tax dollars, we need a councilman who will vote to protect our investments and defend our property rights. Bill Blake will do neither. North county has been blessed the last 12 years to have common sense representation. We need to ensure the same for our future. The choice is clear … Ken Klein for North County Council position No. 1.
Dick Sass
Arlington
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