North Bend City Council passes austere budget
December 15, 2010
Squeezed by the bad economy, the North Bend City Council has passed an austere budget that cuts services and delays capital projects rather than raise taxes. The council passed the budget with a 5-2 vote after contentious discussion at its Dec. 7 meeting.
The budget’s supporters said it was the best option during hard economic times, which have sapped the city’s revenues.
Opponents said the budget’s priorities were out of order and will put off dealing with pressing problems.
The budget’s $5.8 million general fund still includes a $100,000 shortfall for paying personnel, which the city must close. It could do that with layoffs, furloughs or concessions from union employees. Mayor Ken Hearing’s administration is in the process of determining which option to use.
“No matter where it comes from, somebody is going to get hurt,” City Administrator Duncan Wilson said.
The budget cut money for things such as human service programs, parks, downtown revitalization programs and street maintenance.
YMCA programs are in the works for Snoqualmie Ridge community center
December 15, 2010
Ground hasn’t broken on the Snoqualmie Ridge community center yet, but Dave Mayer, its director, is already working on developing programs.
He doesn’t even know how big the building will be.
Officials from the city and the YMCA of Greater Seattle, which will operate the facility, have two options for the building — a basic option and a smaller alternative. Which one is built depends on whether the YMCA receives an $800,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce.
Dave Mayer
But the answer won’t come until spring, with construction beginning soon after.
In the meantime, Mayer is already thinking about what the center will offer Snoqualmie Valley residents.
What programming is offered will be influenced by the Y’s rebranding campaign. The push includes program emphasis on three areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. As part of the campaign, the national entity, which began 166 years ago in England as the Young Men’s Christian Association, also renamed itself to simply “the Y.”
Council delays school impact fees until voters take on bond
December 15, 2010
The Snoqualmie City Council put off voting on school impact fees until after voters decide on a school bond in February.
The increase in impact fees has already been approved by North Bend, Sammamish and unincorporated King County, all of which are part of the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
The impact fees are meant to help pay for a new middle school for the district’s growing student population. The district plans to use one of its three middle schools to ease crowding at Mount Si High School, and build a new middle school, rather than a new high school.
While a new middle school is far cheaper than a new high school, the district will not be eligible for matching funds from the state, which is driving up the impact fees.
Letters
December 15, 2010
Improving road comes at too high a price
The Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Forest Service and King County plan to pool about $20 million to pave the road in the Middle Fork Canyon.
Safety, environment and increased access are cited as reasons. However, a paved lane would enable higher speeds, so improved safety is debatable. Pavement would also enable more people to use the Middle Fork Canyon as a dumping ground for household trash, campers, tires, toxic electronic waste and unwanted pets, as they already do in the South Fork Canyon. That’s hardly a win for the environment.
In theory, increased patrols might help keep the corridor safe and clean once a road is paved… but the county is cutting law enforcement. Remember last month? The county leadership appealed to us for an increase in taxes to fund law enforcement. Surely, if the county is short on funds for a high-priority service like law enforcement, how then would it have any money to spare for a paved road to nowhere in the woods? Leave it gravel and let’s re-purpose the county’s allotment of this project for more important services.
Regarding the other two agencies, right now any federal money is likely part of a legacy of debt we are amassing for our future generations. It would be much better to identify and address any urgent matters with the road for a fraction of the proposed expense, but postpone any major improvements until something other than debt-sourced public funds can be arranged.
David Willson
North Bend
Spread cheer, charity this holiday season
December 15, 2010
Can you hear the clock ticking? Christmas is fast approaching and your to-do list probably seems to keep growing, rather than getting shorter.
We all feel hurried during the holiday season. But take time to remember people who could use a little assistance.
Knock off two birds with one stone by making a donation in someone’s name — it will help a charitable organization and make a great gift for a friend or family member. You’ll help brighten the holiday for two people.
The Snoqualmie Valley is full of holiday fundraising events in full swing. There is the Kiwanis Toy Drive, Eastside Fire & Rescue’s Reindeer Engine, and Foodball, to name a few. Also, remember the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank or Encompass, two nonprofit organizations that help families and children right here at home.
North Bend honors business owner Cindy Walker as Citizen of the Year
December 15, 2010
The North Bend City Council named downtown business owner Cindy Walker as the city’s Citizen of the Year for 2010.
Walker owns two businesses — the North Bend Theatre and Emerald City Smoothie.
The council recognized her work as a merchant and resident to boost North Bend’s economy and profile.
North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing honors Cindy Walker as the city’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of her work to boost its downtown economy. Contributed
Walker helped bring the international Banff Mountain Film Festival to the city. The festival drew hundreds of visitors. She has also helped organize several other events to promote the city’s downtown, such as the annual block party.
“I think I’m getting credit for a lot of other people’s work,” Walker said.
She endorses the city’s downtown master plan and proposal for a pedestrian-friendly central plaza.
Voters to decide on bond for new fire station
December 15, 2010
Voters in North Bend and Fire District 38 will decide whether or not to pay for a new fire station in February.
North Bend’s City Council and the district’s board of directors both approved sending to voters a $5 million bond measure.
After years of negotiations, North Bend and Fire District 38 reached an agreement in July for a new station.
If the bond is approved by voters, it would pay for a new station southeast of downtown North Bend, replacing the existing nearly 70-year-old station.
The bond issue will be on the ballot for the Feb. 8 election.
Ownership of the new station would be evenly split, but the district would pay for 57 percent of construction costs. North Bend owns the land that the new station would be built on, and the district would reimburse the city for the cost of the land.
Both the city and the district belong to Eastside Fire & Rescue. A King County Medic One aid car is also located at the current fire station and would be at the future site.
Police & Fire
December 15, 2010
Snoqualmie blotter
DUI
At 10:45 p.m. Dec. 4, police noticed a tan 2004 Nissan on Snoqualmie Parkway speeding southbound near Southeast 96th St. Police caught up with the car as it entered westbound Interstate 90. The driver said he was from out of town and thought the speed limit was 45 mph. The driver, 58-year-old Jerome J. Johnson, had droopy, watery bloodshot eyes and his speech was slurred. After failing field sobriety tests, Johnson was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to the Issaquah Jail.
Theft
At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, police were dispatched to the 33800 block of Southeast Strouf Street. Officers met a 30-year-old woman who said she came home at about 2:30 p.m. to find a package at the front door. The box was too heavy for her to pick up, so she waited for her husband. When her husband came home, the package was missing. A neighbor later found the box opened on a street corner. Two blankets the woman had ordered were missing. The blankets were valued at $16 each. There were no suspects.
MSHS senior sets bench press world record
December 15, 2010
Doc Derwin, a 17-year-old senior at Mount Si High School is the new world record-holder for bench-pressing in his age group at the 195-pound category.
Doc broke the record Nov. 21 in Las Vegas, and did it three consecutive times.
Doc Derwin bench presses about 300 lbs. during a recent practice workout, 130 lbs. shy of the weight he lifted last November to earn the world record in his age group. By Sebastian Moraga
The son of two bodybuilders, Doc is coached by his father Glenn, who said it was a great feeling to see his son succeed.
Doc said the Vegas trip’s entire purpose was to break the record.
“We knew from a previous competition that it was within grasp,” he said.
He said he felt pressure during the days leading up to the event, but once there, it disappeared.
Spanish academy students serenade transitional center seniors
December 15, 2010
There was a tree all decked out in the middle of the Mount Si Transitional Center, but that was no Christmas spirit decking the halls Dec. 10.
That was “Navidad” spirit.
Preschoolers from the Spanish Academy, a private Spanish-immersion school, serenaded the elderly at the North Bend-based center with a handful of Christmas songs in Spanish.
Students from the Spanish Academy in North Bend serenade residents of the Mount Si Transitional Center with Christmas carols in Spanish Dec. 9 By Sebastian Moraga
The event was a triumph for the children, a special occasion for the residents of the center and a thrill for the giddy parents, who stood in the back, with all sorts of recorders and cameras in hand.
“The parents are very proud,” academy founder Kimberly Houde said in Spanish. “The children are presenting themselves saying, ‘Look at my manners, look at how I’m dressed, look at my song and look at my present.’”
Every child showed up with a scarf for a resident of the center. The children worked for a month on the scarves, said Luza Schlau, a teacher at the academy.
