LAKE STEVENS — A candidate for Drainage Improvement District No. 8 has not paid taxes levied by the district the last two years and says his property is not subject to the assessments.
Voters in the Lake Stevens Drainage Improvement District No. 8 will elect a new commissioner in a special election Tuesday.
The election is to fill the six-year seat of Bill Foster, a real estate attorney who has served on the drainage district board for two terms and is not seeking re-election. The contenders are Robert Carkeek, 58, owner of Penryn Farm Children’s Place, and Scott Smith, 44, co-owner of Craven Insurance.
Carkeek has lived in the Lake Stevens area for 34 years. He owns 3.35 acres designated as open space agricultural land. He has not paid the drainage district assessment on his property for 2002 and 2003, and says he doesn’t owe it.
Records from the Snohomish County Treasurer’s Office indicate Carkeek was assessed $406 in 2002 and $413 in 2003, and that with late fees and interest, he owes $941.
Carkeek said that his property is not subject to the district’s assessment under state law. He said he consulted an attorney about suing the county, but the attorney told him a lawsuit "wouldn’t be worth it."
"This County Council and this county in general have taken it upon themselves to take on growth management and land-use issues in a negative way," he said. "I’m confident that I’m within my rights and within the law."
He contends the drainage district has exceeded its authority and its assessments are too high. He called it "a bureaucracy without a job to do" and said the district may need to be disbanded and its duties turned over to Snohomish County.
Smith has lived in the Lake Stevens area for 12 years. He owns a single-family home on a half-acre and his assessment is paid, records indicate.
He wants to improve communications and relations between the district and the community, including his homeowners association. He has worked with district employees when problems occurred, and says he can help solve such problems.
Smith wants a review of how parcels are assessed and whether there should be reduced assessments for seniors.
District residents who are eligible to vote must cast their ballots between 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 1911 Vernon Road, or by mail to the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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