The Energizer Bunny must be a Master Gardener at heart.
Just like the famous drum-rapping rabbit, Master Gardeners and their supporters continue to pound Snohomish County officials for contemplating cuts to the popular program.
County Executive Aaron Reardon’s proposed 2005 budget chops all funding for the Master Gardener program.
But since Reardon’s $548.9 million budget was unveiled in September, Master Gardeners and their supporters have been pressing to keep their $120,000 in county funding intact.
They have lobbied Reardon at budget forums and made their case to the County Council at meetings.
And this week, the beat goes on. School kids have jumped into the fray.
A stack of letters almost 2 inches thick from students at Canyon Park Junior High in Bothell was delivered to county officials. They recalled how Master Gardeners volunteered in class, and the fun they had eating the vegetables they grew.
Wrote Chelsea Roberts, an eighth-grader: “I really liked doing the gardening projects. It was one of the coolest parts of science.
“I also think it was kind of funny, because they got us to learn things pretty sneakily, so we didn’t know it.”
County holds budget retreat
After devoting three days to budget talks in committee meetings last week, and more time this week, the County Council decided to hold a budget retreat today.
The council’s chairman, John Koster, said it will be a chance for council members to talk about what they think county government’s priorities should be before the council’s analysts further refine the budget.
“There’s only so much sand in this box. If you want to fund this, where is that money going to come from?” Koster said.
The council will hold three public meetings on the budget next week, followed by a formal public hearing Nov. 10 in council chambers. The first three meetings all start at 6:30 p.m. with an open house, followed by a budget presentation at 7 p.m. and a public comment session at 7:30 p.m.
The first meeting is Monday at the Stillaguamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Point Blvd., Arlington. The second is Tuesday at East County Senior Center, 824 Village Way, Monroe. The third is Wednesday at Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. SE, Everett.
Play ball: The County Council has approved an agreement with the East County Park and Recreation District. It clears the way for the district to get state funding to pay for lighting three ball fields at Maltby Park.
Claim of the week: An Edmonds woman wants the county to pay for repairs to her roof, window and a handmade mahogany-and-maple bed. A park employee cut down a tree behind her home, and the tree hit the woman’s house, sending a large branch through the window of her master bedroom. She said it barely missed her.
Next week: The County Council’s planning committee will hold a special meeting to talk about the county’s efforts to comply with the state’s Growth Management Act.
How you can get involved: The meeting is 3-5 p.m., Monday in the Jackson Boardroom, sixth floor of the County Administration Building.
Reporter Brian Kelly covers county government for The Herald. He can be reached at 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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