The Highline Schools Foundation is now accepting nominations for this year’s Gold Star Awards, which will honor outstanding teachers, staff, administrators and volunteers in the Highline Public Schools.

All members of the school community are invited to nominate their peers, and the deadline for nominations is April 1st.

Winners will receive a cash award and will be honored at the Foundation’s Gold Star Luncheon on May 21st.

Nomination forms will be available through school administrators and on the Foundation’s website: www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org, or you can download the form directly here.

The Gold Star Teacher of the Year will also be eligible to represent the District in the region’s Teacher of the Year contest.

Here’s more info on the May 21st awards luncheon:

Simply titled “ten”, this year’s luncheon is May 21, 2010 at the Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel and will feature programs of HSFFE over the past ten years and the impact we’ve had on the district. The emcee this year is none other than Highline High Schools famous alumnus Peter Fewing.

Each year, four Gold Star Awards are presented to an outstanding teacher, administrator, classified employee or support staff and volunteer of Highline Public Schools. All members of the district and community are invited to nominate an outstanding individual. Winners receive a cash award and will be honored at the luncheon. The Gold Star Outstanding Teacher will also be eligible to represent the District in the region’s Teacher of the Year contest. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2010.

The proceeds from this luncheon support one of our major programs, classroom grants, which enrich the education experience for our students. We look forward to partnering with you this year and hope to see you at the 10th Annual Gold Star Luncheon!

Please see the links below for more information on becoming a sponsor at this years Gold Star or to download the Nomination form. For tickets, contact the Foundation Office at (206) 248-5196 or holly@highlineschoolsfoundation.org.

The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence was established in 1999 with the purpose of providing community resources to help Highline Public Schools succeed. We believe that by helping to enrich the classroom and school experience, we can engage students to reach a higher level of learning, and the entire community will benefit. The Foundation is governed by a dedicated group of volunteer Trustees and is the only 501(c)(3) organization supporting all Highline Public Schools. The Foundation strives to be the single point of contact for community members, local and national business, service organizations and other foundations to connect their philanthropic efforts with a single school or the entire district.

If you’re not familiar with the Highline Schools Foundation, here’s a video:

It was an election that didn’t get much attention, but it happened Tuesday (March 16), and on Wednesday (March 17), the King Conservation District announced results of its public election for board of supervisor position.

From our estimates, only 4,232 registered voters bothered to vote in this election.

Here’s the release from the King Conservation District:

Max Prinsen of Renton has been elected to a three-year term as a member of the King Conservation District (King CD) board of supervisors following a final canvassing of votes cast in the district-wide election held March 16, 2010.

The final vote tallies for elected board position included:

• Prinsen (1,772)
• Mara Heiman of Auburn (1,488)
• Mary Embleton of Seattle (519)
• Kirk Prindle of Seattle (402)
• Teri Herrera of Redmond (51)

The unofficial election results will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at its business meeting in May. Prinsen will be sworn in at the June 14th King CD board meeting.

The 2010 vote total of 4,232 marked a major increase over the 2,757 ballots cast in the 2009 election and reflects successively larger turnouts in King CD elections over the past five years, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Knutsen.

“The higher level of activity at the polls this year can be attributed to increased interest in the King CD, including our voluntary conservation and stewardship efforts with private landowners, and enthusiastic campaign efforts by candidates,” said Knutsen.

King CD, working with Bellevue-based election administrator Election Trust, provided seven polling locations across the district (which includes most of King County). The election is held in accordance with Washington Revised Code RCW 89.08.

The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms. As public officials, their responsibility is to ensure that the King CD meets its legal and public trust obligations.

The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provideguidance and oversight to district staff.

Supervisors are expected to help identify critical resource conservation needs in their district, communicate with the public and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents.

The King CD provides information and technical assistance programs that are available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. It is hands-on, site specific, action and results oriented; and it initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.

As one of 47 conservation districts in the state, the King CD is a natural resources assistance agency authorized by the State of Washington and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission.

For more information on the King Conservation District, visit www.kingcd.org.

King County Elections released its final certification of the Feb. 9th election, and the ending tally on Proposition 1 – the King County Library System “Library Levy” – results in a 4.18% victory, approving the measure:

KING COUNTY RURAL LIBRARY DISTRICT

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 240,852 / 647,133 • 37.22%

Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 124,429 • 52.09%
• NO: 114,435 • 47.91%

The language for Prop. 1, according to the Voter’s Pamphlet:

The Board of Directors of the King County Rural Library District adopted Resolution No. 2009-11 concerning an increase in the District’s regular property tax levy. In order to provide continued funding for the normal operation and maintenance of the King County library system, this proposition would authorize the District to restore regular property tax levy rate to $0.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value for collection in 2011, and to increase the levy in each year thereafter as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposition be approved?

This means that residents of King County can now expect a small tax increase to help continue funding KCLS libraries.

Last week (Wed., Feb. 3rd), Seattle Times Columnist Jerry Large wrote an editorial explaining why he thinks White Center would be a “good fit” for Seattle, and vice versa (link here) – an issue that has reared its head ever since new Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said that he’d like to annex the area.

Of course, numerous folks around these parts think differently from both Large and McGinn (hey, weren’t they in a band together in the 60s?), including Burien City Councilmember Kathy Keene, who read Large’s column, then emailed us her response to him:

“Needless to say I do NOT agree and wrote the following letter to Mr. Large, to which he responded.”

Here’s the email dialogue she had with Mr. Large, which we print below with her permission:

From: Kathleen Keene
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:21 AM
To: Jerry Large
Subject: Article on White Center

Dear Jerry,

I want to comment on your article last week on White Center.

Before I go any farther, let me introduce myself: I am a 23 year resident of the area (a veritable newcomer by most standards), and a 19 year Commissioner at Water District 20. We provide water to a very large portion of North Highline, in fact, the remaining unincorporated area east of 509 down to the Seattle city limits in South Park is in our service area. I also am in my first term on the Burien City Council.

As a small local government, Burien offers the residents in North Highline something Seattle will NEVER be able to: POWER TO THEIR VOICES! In Burien they will be 18,000 of 45 000, in Seattle they’ll be 18,000 of what? 600,000? Tell me how much power that gives them. In Burien we hold our Council meetings Monday at 7 PM, Seattle’s are 3:00, how many working folks can make those meetings? As an added bonus we’re a hop, skip and a jump from White Center, two jumps for Blvd Park, and the parking is FREE.

I would love to invite you to Burien and show you around. A Burien annexation of this entire area is a reuniting of a neighborhood that was one neighborhood for many many years. These folks are our brothers and sisters, our moms and dads, our cousins, our best friends. They shop in Burien. Like Burien, they are home owners and shop keepers, many have lived here for generations. I grew up in the little fishing village of Ballard. This area reminds me of my childhood – stable neighborhoods, generational families, extended families, a deep pride of community.

An annexation to Burien also ensures a continuation of the same services they now enjoy:

Libraries-currently the people of NH are part of the KCLS. If they become Seattle residents they lose that. The county may close down the White Center and Blvd Park libraries due to loss of tax revenue. It took Seattle 100 years to build a library in South Park, how long before they will build a replacement library in this area??? There are 8-10,000 people a month that use the White Center Library. I don’t have the figures for Blvd Park, but I do know it is also is the heart of their community. These facilities are a vital part of the human infrastructure of the area.

Speaking of infrastructure, the water distribution system in Water District 20’s boundaries are heads and shoulders above Seattle’s. Our system is almost totally rebuilt. We don’t wait for a pipe to break 3 times before we replace it; we are proactive. We don’t have the accidents like the Ravenna area has had recently. Approx. 35 years ago old WD 61 became a direct service customer of Seattle water; this area includes White Center, North Shorewood, Salmon Creek and the NW corner of Burien. A majority of that systems has not been touched since. The rate payers have no say in their rates and they pay a 10% out of service fee. (You pay, a 14% utility tax on your bill I believe) WD 20 and Burien have no utility taxes. By reuniting the entire area we can hopefully give all these folks back control of their water system and rates.

Another cost savings for the unincorporated area is their sewers. The western area is served by SW Suburban Sewer District (SWSSD), which has its own sewer treatment plants. We do NOT have to pay for Brightwater… look at your sewer bill, there is most likely a charge of $40 + to pay off the county bonds, which, I believe are 40 year bonds. I have been told that will probably go up to around $50/month. If this area becomes part of Seattle, I believe they will have to pay those rates because of the bond covenants, even if they remain in SWSSD.

Fire – Fire District 11 will go away and the entire area will be served by FD 2. The existing fire fighters will become FD 2 personnel. They know the area, which is helpful when every minute counts. When Burien was deciding on the boundaries of Phase 1 we included the fire station on 112th which serves this area now. Seattle was adamant that they needed that station to serve the area and parts of south Seattle. In a spirit of cooperation we honored their request. When the Seattle City Council was getting their briefing they were told this station isn’t adequate and White Center will be covered by the station in West Seattle…. I wonder how that will affect the response time? I wonder why we gave it up.

Police – If the area becomes part of Burien they will have the same police officers they have now, there will be a seamless transition. Our Sheriffs have been very effective dealing with crime in this area. So what happens to these officers if Seattle annexes? I realize they have the option to hire those that currently work there but there are issues of seniority, pay, benefits etc.

Debt-Burien has no debt, Seattle has many levy and bond measures that have to be paid. The new residents will be responsible for helping to pay for this debt since they now “enjoy the benefits”.

The focus of your article was on the social services and how the non profits could “help the people”. As you can see from what I’ve written there are many other aspects to consider. It is true Burien does not have the deep pockets of Seattle, but we do work well with the various support and non profit groups that work in our city. We look forward to working with the non profits you mentioned as well. Since these folks are receiving grant money from private agencies that money can also continue to flow into the area.

We are a small and nimble city, it is in our combined best interests to see that this area thrives. By having a government close by I anticipate the downtown core of White Center begin to fill up with new business run by the residents. As you pointed out there is a vibrancy in the area you don’t often see. That needs to be nurtured. Check into the B&O taxes Seattle charges, as well as space taxes, head tax, business license fees etc. These are a burden to beginning/small businesses. Burien doesn’t charge as much in B&O nor do we have any of those other ancillary taxes. We are a business friendly city and value the leadership and ideas they contribute to our community.

Again, I invite you back to the area, come on down to Burien some Monday evening and see our Council in action, walk around our downtown core and see what we have done – it was not done in a vacuum – the residents of Burien were very actively involved. This is the way we do business here – with the involvement and support of our residents. This is the power we offer to the remainder of the unincorporated area. Doubts? Come watch us as we begin this process with the area that will become part of Burien in April. I admit it will take some time; these folks have been ignored, neglected, abused, and dictated to for too many years. They aren’t quite sure of their voice yet, but given time they will gain confidence and bring a new vibrancy to our city…. we will all be a better place. I look forward to including the remainder of the area – what a great city we will be!

Thank you for your time,
Kathy Keene

—– Original Message —–
From: Jerry Large
To: Kathleen Keene
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:25 PM
Subject: RE: Article on White Center

Dear Kathy,

Thanks for the note. I’d love to visit with you about White Center and Burien. I’ll be away next week, but I can come down after that. I have deadlines on Wednesdays and Fridays. If you let me know a couple of times that would work with your schedule, we can find one that works.

Jerry

Jerry Large
Columnist
The Seattle Times

Also, Thursday morning Crosscut published an editorial about why White Center and Seattle “need each other,” this one penned by Jordan Royer. And yes, he’s the son of former Seattle Mayor Charlie Royer – read it here.

So…what do YOU think of this issue? Should Seattle be allowed to annex White Center? Or should Burien go for it? Please take our Poll below, or leave a Comment…

It’s Election Night in Washington, and despite there not being a ballot drop box in White Center anymore, the mailed votes are being counted, and, as of 8:12pm, the totals for Proposition 1, the King County Library System “Library Levy,” were:

KING COUNTY RURAL LIBRARY DISTRICT

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * 182002 / 647133 28.12%
Proposition No. 1

• YES: 91,215 50.51%
• NO: 89,359 49.49%
  

We’ll post further results on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 10th), and the final tally won’t be official until Feb. 24th.

The language for Prop. 1, according to the Voter’s Pamphlet:

The Board of Directors of the King County Rural Library District adopted Resolution No. 2009-11 concerning an increase in the District’s regular property tax levy. In order to provide continued funding for the normal operation and maintenance of the King County library system, this proposition would authorize the District to restore regular property tax levy rate to $0.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value for collection in 2011, and to increase the levy in each year thereafter as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposition be approved?

King County Elections reminds us that voters have until this coming Tuesday night (Feb. 9th) to get their ballots postmarked to be counted as part of the special election.

As we reported Jan. 28th, the ballot drop box that was located at the White Center KCLS Library is no longer there, so in order for your vote to count you have to either mail it in or drop it off at one of two area drop boxes (see addresses below).

Nearly 1.1 million ballots were sent to all active voters three weeks ago and ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday in order for them to count.

All voters should follow these guidelines when voting their mail ballot:

1. Carefully follow all instructions, and review your ballot from top to bottom and front to back.
2. Take your time when signing your voter oath. The signature on every ballot envelope is verified before your ballot moves toward being counted.
3. Respond immediately if you are contacted by King County Elections. You may have forgotten to sign the return envelope or your signature may not match your voter registration record.
4. Make sure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day (Tuesday, Feb. 9th). Ballots without postage can be returned to a ballot drop box until 8 p.m. on election night. Please note: King County Elections has reduced the number of available ballot drop boxes. The nearest ballt drop boxes are located at:

• Seattle, King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., 98104
• Tukwila, King County Elections Headquarters, 9010 East Marginal Way S, 98108

5. Ballots can be dropped off during business hours at one of King County’s three accessible voting centers, without the cost of postage.
6. Track your ballot! Visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections to track your ballot online at three points as it is processed.

Accessible voting options:

• Voters with disabilities can cast a private and independent ballot using an accessible voting unit at the following locations on Monday or Tuesday:

King County Elections, 9010 East Marginal Way S, Tukwila, 98108
Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Election Day: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave NE, Room 121, Bellevue, 98009 and
Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St, Seattle, 98104
Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Election Day: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Equipment at the accessible voting centers provides an audio and touch-screen ballot in English and Chinese. With large font, high contrast and a key pad device, voting is made easy for voters with disabilities.

For more information on Tuesday’s election, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections or call 206-296-VOTE (8683).

We’re not quite to the point of voting securely over the internet, but last week, King County Elections announced that it is now offering audio versions of its voters’ pamphlet at its website, meaning you can now rock out to ballot descriptions on your iPod.

Voters can now download the King County voters’ pamphlet as a FREE MP3 file or do air guitar to it online. King County Elections has provided a limited number of audio recordings of voters’ pamphlets in the past, but now this feature is available for everyone, 24/7/365 at their website.

“We’re trying to improve services to voters who need them in order to vote privately and independently,” said Sandy McConnell, Elections Operations Manager. “This new service also provides convenience to many voters who prefer to listen to an audio version of their pamphlet.”

The audio voters’ pamphlets, along with the text versions, are located on the Elections website here. Audio ballots are also available to support voting at all three accessible voting centers.

Here are direct links to the rockin’ MP3s, with pertinent ones boldfaced:

• A Letter from the Director
• Ballot drop boxes and accessible voting centers
• Voter information
• Reading your voters’ pamphlet
• City of Renton Proposition No. 1
• King County Rural Library District, Proposition No. 1
• Seattle School District No. 1, Proposition No. 1
• Seattle School District No. 1, Proposition No. 2
• Federal Way School District No. 210, Proposition No. 1
• Vashon Island School District No. 402, Proposition No. 1
• Tukwila School District No. 406, Proposition No. 1

Election Day is Tuesday, Feb. 9th.

WCB Reader and White Center Library Guild member Rachel Levine alerted us to this the other day – the King County ballot drop box that used to live outside the White Center Library has been removed by the King County Elections office.

This means that if you were counting on using this drop box to physically submit your ballot for the upcoming Feb. 9th election, you’d better make other plans – like mailing it in or traveling to one of the other two remaining drop box locations in downtown Seattle or Tukwila.

Ironically, one of the main issues in this election is Proposition 1, which seeks an increase in the King County Library System’s regular property tax levy.

Levine is also dismayed at the library system’s controversial attempt at holding on to Puget Sound Park, despite Burien’s approved annexation of that area.

According to the county, drop box removals are part of a new budget-cutting measure, where all but two ballot boxes have been removed; here are some details from their website:

King County Elections, like all departments, was asked by the Council and Executive’s Office to look closely at our operations. We identified opportunities to reduce non-mandated services, that would not jeopardize the integrity of the elections process. The County Council had to carefully weigh the benefits and costs of many services that citizens want and depend on and, as a result, the decision to eliminate most ballot drop boxes was made.

In 2010, the ballot drop box at Election headquarters will remain in service, as will the box at the King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle, due to the high volume of use and its association with the seat of County government.

All ballots must be returned at a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. or postmarked by Election Day (in this case, Feb. 9th).

Ballot drop boxes:

• Seattle, King County Administration Building, 500 Fourth Ave., 98104
• Tukwila, King County Elections Headquarters, 9010 East Marginal Way S, 98108

Other options:
Ballots can be dropped off during business hours at one of King County’s three accessible voting centers, without the cost of postage.

Ballots returned via the U.S. Postal Service require one first class stamp. For more information on U.S. Postal Service collection boxes or postage rates, visit their website.

Here’s Rachel’s original letter to King County Elections:

—–Original Message—–
From: elections@kingcounty.gov [mailto:elections@kingcounty.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:04 PM
To: Elections, Comments; Hsu, Jeff
Subject: Contact us message

Submitted from: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/aboutus/contactus.aspx

Submitted at 12:04:04 PM, on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Name: Rachael Ann Levine

Subject: Voting

Description: I have already called in my concern that the ballot box was removed from the White Center Library location. Ironically, we have only one issue on the local ballot, and that is Proposition 1, which seeks an increase in the King County Library System’s regular property tax levy.

Several people have come into the library, seeking to drop their ballot as before. Now, they need to get a stamp and mail the ballot.

I have been told that the rationale for the removal of this ballot box was a “budgetary” one. Frankly, I question decisions that do not place
the highest priority on the socio-economic situation in a community. The basis for “successful” elections, in my view, is not the lack of
discrepancy in the ballots counted, as important as that is, but the accessibility and consequently participation in voting.

This community is already incensed about the way in which a sale of part of Puget Park to KCLS was attempted before the voter approved annexation of this property to Burien was completed. It is hard for some to realize that KCLS is separate from KC government. Yet, we can see how the decisions in one jurisdiction can profoundly affect those in another.

Meanwhile, thank you for the your hard work in providing an election system in which we can have confidence.

Also, if you haven’t voted by mail before, here’s a video that ’splains things:

Vote by mail in King County: Process video from King County Elections on Vimeo.

According to The Seattle Times, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced Wednesday (Jan. 27th) that he wants to ask White Center residents in November if they want to be annexed to Seattle.

Since Burien’s annexation of the southern North Highline area goes into effect April 1st, we’re presuming McGinn is targeting the remaining area north of there and south of the Seattle city limits, which holds approximately 20,000 residents.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin confirmed that he anticipates the council will now vote to put the measure on the November ballot.

Last year, Seattle was at odds with Burien after then-Mayor Greg Nickels claimed the White Center area and beyond for his city – ever since Countywide Planning Policies, a regional offshoot of Washington’s Growth Management Act, called for King  County’s unincorporated urban areas to be included in cities by 2012.

The council will discuss the idea at a 9:30am meeting this coming Monday, Feb. 1st, at City Hall.

So…what do YOU think? If it were put on the ballot today, would you vote FOR or AGAINST annexing the rest of White Center to Seattle? Please take our Poll below, and add Comments if you have ‘em:

by Ralph Nichols

Finally, it’s official – Burien will annex unincorporated southern North Highline on April 1. City Council members voted 6-1 at their Jan. 11th meeting to establish the effective date.

Their action came after a delay of almost two months in setting an effective date, which occurred when the city learned in late November of an eleventh-hour maneuver by former King County Executive Kurt Triplett to sell Puget Sound Park in the unincorporated annexation area to the King County Library System.

New county Executive Dow Constantine announced on Jan. 6 that King County will not sell the five-acre park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. and, instead, will cede it to Burien as part of annexation.

Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak cast the lone no vote against setting a formal annexation date. Krakowiak has continued to oppose annexation even after residents of southern North Highline voted by a large margin on Aug. 18 to become part of Burien.

City Manager Mike Martin told council members before the vote, “This is the long-awaited resolution … I’m very pleased to bring it to you.”

He said setting an effective date “was not a matter of pulling it out of thin air.” Rather, annexation on April 1 “allows the maximum amount of revenue to be provided to the City from King County while allowing time for technical work needed to make the annexation effective.”

That work includes conducting a population census of the annexation area, contacting businesses there, and working out transition details with the state Department of Transportation.

During public comment, Burien resident Ed Dacy urged council members to use their influence to discourage any move by the King County Library System to close the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries – both of which are in the annexation area – and consolidate them in a new facility.

The library system earlier hoped to acquire Puget Sound Park as a location for a consolidated library – although the library board, on which Krakowiak also serves as a member, has not voted to close the two community libraries that soon will be within the City of Burien.

A 2004 bond issue passed by King County voters included funding for replacement or remodeling of both the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries. That money remains untouched in the library system’s capital budget.

The future of these library sites will be discussed by members of the King County Library System’s Planning Committee at 12 noon this Thursday, Jan. 14, in the second floor meeting room of the Burien Library. The committee will take comments from the public during the meeting.

If you haven’t yet mailed your ballot in, since today (Tuesday, Nov. 3rd) is election day, King County has drop boxes throughout the county that provide voters with a way to securely return ballots without the cost of postage.

The nearest drop box is located at the White Center Library, which is at 11220 16th SW. Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, there’s no charge, but they close at 8pm tonight (Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3rd).

Of course, you can also just make sure your ballot is postmarked Nov. 3rd by going to the post office before it closes, but that’ll cost you 42 cents; plus, ya never know if your ballot will be lost…

Here’s more info on the ballot drop boxes from King County Elections:

How do I use a ballot drop box?
Carefully follow the instructions on the ballot envelope. Place the ballot in the security envelope, seal all envelopes, sign the outer envelope, and deposit your ballot packet into the box.

How do I know my ballot is secure?
Ballots are collected regularly from each drop box by King County Elections. Two official elections workers will use a chain of custody process to transport all ballots.

Ballot packets are delivered to the Elections facility where they are processed with other returned mail ballots. The signature on every ballot is checked against the voter’s registration file and if it matches, the ballot moves forward.

Here’s the list of nearby drop-off boxes (more are listed at the King County Elections website):

• White Center Library: 11220 16th S.W., Seattle, 98146
• Delridge: 5405 Delridge Way SW, 98106
• Tukwila, King County Elections Headquarters: 9010 East Marginal Way S, 98108
• Des Moines Library: 21620 11th Avenue S., 98198
• Federal Way Library: 848 S 320th St, 98003

If you’ve mailed your ballot in and want to check on its progress, you can do so online by clicking here and following instructions.

[Original Artwork by Danielle Burton.]

UPDATE 4:30pm WED. 9/2/09: King County certified the Aug. 18th election results Wednesday (Sept. 2nd), and the final tally for Burien’s annexation bid for the southern North Highline Area has the following returns, from over 39%% of the 6,384 ballots sent out – 55.56% “For” and 44.44% “Against”:

“North Highline South Annexation Area Proposed Annexation to the City of Burien”

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 2521 / 6,384 39.49%

• FOR ANNEXATION 1380 55.56%
• AGAINST ANNEXATION 1104 44.44%

It was pretty obvious from even the earliest returns, but now that it’s official, Burien’s cityfolk can pop open the champagne (‘cept for a certain city manager), breathe a sigh of relief and get to work for their new residents!

And all new Burienites should get busy communicating with their new city councilmembers here – let them know what’s on your mind and what you want your new city to do in your ‘hood!

With over 19% of the votes tabulated so far, the results of the North Highline Fire District Commissioner, Position #3 are:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 2,718 / 14,011 19.40%

• Peggy Noble: 520 •  21.73%
• David Lawson: 739 •  30.88%
• Ray Austin: 1,122 • 46.89%
• Write-in: 12 • 0.50%

The North Highline Fire District (originally named King County Fire District #11) was founded in 1942 and currently serves approximately 40,000 citizens in a 9-square mile area located south of the Seattle city limits.

Its service area includes both a portion of unincorporated King County and the City of Burien. There are 35 paid and 48 volunteer firefighters who provide fire suppression and rescue services from two fire stations, which are staffed 24 hours a day.

As of 9pm on Tuesday, Aug. 18th, Burien’s annexation bid for the North Highline Area has the following returns, from just over 23% of the 6,384 ballots sent out – nearly 59% “For” and 41% “Against”:

North Highline South Annexation Area Proposed Annexation to the City of Burien

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 1,491 / 6,384 • 23.36%:

• FOR ANNEXATION: 862 – 58.84%
• AGAINST ANNEXATION: 603 – 41.16%

As more returns are tabulated, we’ll update the results, so be sure to check back often.

by Mark Neuman

We spoke recently with Ross Hunter, candidate for King County Executive.

Ross, a Medina Democrat, managed a political miracle, if you will, seven years ago.

The 48th District (Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland) had not sent a Democrat to the House in over 100 years. Ross got himself elected.

“That was back when it wasn’t fashionable to be a Democrat on the east side. It was hard work. I raised and spent about a quarter of a million dollars. I knocked on eight thousand doors. I worked pretty hard.”

Was there a particular selling point?

“Sure. I’m competent. And I care about public education, the paramount duty of the state legislature.”

We asked Ross about one of his opponents for King County Executive, Susan Hutchison. In a recent direct mail piece Susan said she, if elected, would establish a transportation czar.

“Susan seems to be confused about the powers the King County Executive actually has.

“For her to come in and say she is going to have a czar that takes over the functions of the cities and the state is a fundamental misreading of what the King County Executive is actually allowed to do.

“The job of Executive is a complicated one with a lot of moving parts and a $5 billion budget.

“Unless we coordinate our transportation with our land use we are making the problem worse.”

Ross recently received the endorsement of the Seattle Times.

“Of course it makes you feel good that they (the Times) share your belief that you are competent to do the job.

“Next to the Seattle Times endorsement, I am most proud of the endorsement of the Eastside Business Alliance. This is a group of various chambers of commerce who know their business doesn’t succeed if they don’t have quality education for their kids, or if they don’t have roads.

“Our economy and quality of life depends on us making the wisest use of limited transportation dollars. We are one county, one region, and we should act like it.

“The solution to improving the business climate isn’t always to cut taxes. Making the system fairer and easier to comply with could have much more impact. More service, less overhead. Simplifying and regionalizing how King County does business with its businesses is one way the county can potentially save businesses thousands and thousands of dollars.

“We can simplify the permitting process for builders and contractors. Instead of making a business owner waste time traveling throughout the county to revisit city permitting offices, King County can provide a regional office where businesses can manage their permits at one location.

“Many cities in King County are already doing this and there’s no reason we can’t provide such a service countywide.”

“I propose that King County provides a simple web service for businesses to apply for licenses and calculate and pay business taxes. One tax return, one tax bill.”

Regarding recent budget cuts Ross said “I think we probably need more prosecutors. It’s not a place I would have cut. I also wouldn’t have cut into the public defenders.

“There are normal times and there are special times. This is a special time, because of the unprecedented downturn in the economy.”

Ross said he expects voters of North Highline to approve annexation on August 18.

He supports annexation because with it “There will be somebody to answer residents’ phone calls.”

by Stephen Lamphear

Attention North Highline Annexation Voters: your Voters Pamphlet contains a steamy, smelly pile of bovine fecal matter about annexation to Burien. Here are some of the dung piles dropped by opponent Mark Ufkes:

Pile #1 — Mr. Ufkes does not live in the voting area – he is not affected by the annexation vote. [full disclosure: I, too, do not live in the voting area, but as a Burien resident will be affected by your vote.]

Pile #2 — The Westwood Village and White Center areas are not included in the voting area, but I’m sure you can find a particular home in N. Burien that is valued lower than a particular home in Westwood. So? Truth is: the homes in unincorporated North Shorewood, Salmon Creek and Boulevard Park (neighborhoods within the voting area) are similar to their long-time N. Burien neighbors’ homes.

Pile #3 — Mr. Ufkes has been a vocal critic of the North Highline Fire Department. That despite the huge satisfaction level of residents. The city of Burien does not provide fire services. All of Burien and North Highline are served by independent Fire Districts — you elect Commissioners who set policies and standards. You will continue to be served by Fire Commissioners you elect, and control taxes for fire services.

Pile #4 — Burien has no plans to hire more police officers AT THIS TIME because it’s not necessary. Burien and North Highline share police services provided by King County. That will continue after annexation. The size of Burien’s police force will always depend on need.

Pile #5 — Burien has no budget deficit — in the state of Washington, all governments are required by law to have balanced budgets; Burien always has. What Burien doesn’t have is debt – it has operated as a cash basis city.

Pile #6 — If Burien decides to build a new community center with a new tax, the law requires voters to approve any such new tax. There is no new tax on the horizon.

Pile #7 — The is no such thing as a Burien downtown fire department tax for Town Square. Town Square is a private development. No taxes have been or will be used for this private project. There is also no massive property tax giveaway to potential Town Square residents.

Pile #8 — There is no factual evidence that property values have any relationship to your address. Property values are simply the value of your property compared to similar properties in a similar neighborhood. Fire services are also not related to your property value — a mansion gets the same fire truck, the same emergency medical team, as does a modest bungalow. Voters set the level of taxes for fire services.

An 8-year former Burien City Councilmember, I live 4 blocks from the proposed annexation area. I’m anxious to re-unite with my neighbors under one government that promotes strong single family neighborhoods rather than the rampant multifamily projects favored by King County and Seattle. Vote ‘YES’ on annexation.

Stephen Lamphear
North Shorewood

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We welcome all opinions, and publish pertinent ones at our discretion. We advise all residents in the North Highline area to read as much as they can about the upcoming Aug. 18th Annexation vote, and decide for themselves whether they want to become a part of Burien or not. As always, Readers are encouraged to either email us their thoughts, or Comment below...]