And you thought they talked trash in basketball.
County Executive Aaron Reardon has made a wager with Spokane Mayor Jim West on the upcoming hockey battle between the Everett Silvertips and the Spokane Chiefs.
The Everett expansion team faces the Chiefs in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. The first game in the best-of-seven series starts Friday.
Reardon has promised to mow West’s lawn twice if the Chiefs win and make a tape promoting the other team for the 2004-2005 season. West will have to do the same if the league-leading Silvertips triumph.
But West said Reardon will also have to wear a Chiefs jersey if the county executive loses the bet and gets lawn-cutting duties at his house.
Reardon hinted that a riding mower probably isn’t an option in the slim chance that he loses.
"I know West’s cheap, so he probably still owns the first push mower he bought in the 1960s. It’ll mean a lot more work for me," Reardon said.
Mow news: The county’s Public Works Department has gotten the green light to buy 12 tractors, including six with brush cutters, from Coastline Ford Tractor in Everett. The tractors will cost $755,628 plus tax.
Let’s talk: Snohomish County Council members will spend much of today at the fairgrounds in Monroe. They’re not scoping out the best location for another curly fries stand, but huddling for a council retreat to talk about goals for the coming year.
Bye-bye birds: Snohomish County will sell off the sheriff’s two Bell helicopters so the funds can be used to keep the county’s other helicopters, Air 1 and Air 2, up and running. Air 1 crashed in November 2002 and is still awaiting repairs. The sale of the surplus helicopters and other parts is expected to bring in $100,000.
Fee increase: A proposal to raise most county dog and cat license fees by $6 will be trotted out for a public hearing Wednesday. The increase is a dollar higher than the $5 hike suggested last year. The council will take testimony on the increase at 10:30 a.m. in the Jackson Hearing Room.
Down the road: The county will build a new access road and a parking lot at Portage Creek Wildlife Area and fill in an old dairy lagoon on the property. The improvements should mean better access for people who visit the reserve to see herons, raptors and other wildlife. Land in the 157-acre reserve near Cemetery Road in Arlington was purchased by the county in 1996. The County Council approved a $63,136 consulting contract with David Evans and Associates to design the new entry road and parking lot.
Growth update: The planning commission will get an update next week on the effort to rewrite the county’s comprehensive plan, which will guide development in the county for the next 20 years. Snohomish County’s estimated population was 628,000 in 2002, and the county expects to grow by 233,000 to 337,000 people by 2025. The commission meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2301 Hoyt Ave., Everett.
Claim of the week: A Granite Falls woman wants $1,050 from the county, claiming her wedding ring was lost after she was booked into the county jail. The woman also reported her Guess watch was missing.
Next week: The Snohomish County Boundary Review Board will meet to discuss whether it will review Arlington auto dealer Dwayne Lane’s attempted annexation of Island Crossing into Arlington. How you can get involved: Board meeting is 6 p.m, Monday, Suite 220, 2802 Wetmore Ave., Everett.
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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