The Snohomish County Council may make a temporary loan to start the buyout of flood-threatened homes in Chatham Acres on the north fork of the Stillaguamish River.
Next week, the council will consider shifting $1 million in county funds to cover expenses until the county receives a $1.6 million grant from the state Department of Emergency Management to help pay for the buyout.
In all, the buyout of the 28-acre Chatham Acres properties, 10 single-family homes, a bridge and other structures will cost $1.8 million, with property owners in the area contributing about $230,000 to the effort.
The buyout stems from a flood in December 1999 that changed the river’s path. The homes will be demolished or moved, and the county plans to use the property for recreation uses.
The County Council will vote on the $1 million funding transfer on Wednesday.
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon is looking for volunteers to serve on his Community Council, which was formed after the March 24 cross burning in Arlington to discuss race relations, violence and domestic abuse, unemployment, discrimination and housing issues.
Those interested in serving on the council should submit a resume and a cover letter outlining what role the council should play.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 30.
Applications may be delivered to the Snohomish County executive’s office on the third floor of the County Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. Applications also may be mailed to Martha Robins, Snohomish County Executive’s Office, Mail Stop 407, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett WA 98201-4046.
No parking: The county’s new underground parking garage will be closed Saturday so a Snohomish PUD crew can install a new electrical vault for the county campus redevelopment project. The garage, which opened in February, was the first of three major projects to be finished in the $170 million campus renewal. The jail expansion and new administration building will be finished by spring 2005.
Penny-wise: In his "price of county government" speech Wednesday, Reardon said the county has figured out how much taxpayers are paying for county government. For every dollar residents earn, about 1.5 cents goes to county government. That’s roughly $600 in county taxes, charges and fees for someone who makes $40,000 a year.
Surplus sale: The sheriff’s office is planning to sell four 2 1/2-ton military tanker trucks used by its search-and-rescue crews, a flatbed truck and a step van used by the dive team.
Claim of the week: A Bothell man wants $120 from the county. He said his clothes — a $40 pair of gray sweats, a red shirt worth $10 and a pair of $70 shoes — weren’t returned when he got out of jail.
Next week: The County Council planning committee will talk about changing the way the county collects impact fees for parks. Impact fees from new developments pay for the purchase of park properties and related improvements, and one of the proposed changes would give developers an early payment option.
How you can get involved: No public testimony will be taken at the committee meeting, but the public is invited to hear the council talk about the issue. The committee meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Jackson Hearing Room on the sixth floor of the County Administration Building.
Reporter Brian Kelly covers county government for the Herald. Call 425-339-3422 or e-mail kelly@heraldnet.com.
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