June 18 VMICC Meeting notes

Snarled traffic at the Fauntleroy ferry dock, higher property taxes, arsenic-contaminated soil removal and rumble strips on the Vashon highway were addressed at the Monday night Vashon-Maury Island Community Council meeting.

The impact of the Barton Pump Station Upgrade at the ferry dock was presented by Kristine Cramer of the King County Waste Water Treatment Division. She said that work will be between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, during which time state police will be directing traffic. Preparations will begin in July and is already impacting traffic. The actual construction will begin in January. The Southworth lane will be closed, which will effect all the traffic waiting for the ferry. For more information call Kristine at 206-263-3184 or email at kristine.cramer@kingcounty.gov.

Tax assessor Lloyd Hara discussed the property tax assessment process and provided information on the relationship of tax levies and property values to individuals’ taxes and the changes from year to year. He explained how the value of a person’s home can go down, but the taxes can go up. He also explained how to challenge taxes that appear to be incorrect. His website is www.kingcounty.gov/assessor. His telephone number is 206-296-7300.

Three representatives of the Washington Department of Ecology presented information on the progress of the Asarco Remendiation. Testing on Vashon may start on the island this summer for improving the mapping of contaminated areas for setting priorities in remediation scheduling. Volunteers are needed for various tasks during the process including focus groups to get residents’ feedback on the process. For more information, contact Amy Hargrove at ahar461@ECY.WA.Gov or call 360-407-6262.

The motion to ask King County to stop putting rumble strips on the highway and to remove those already put down was presented by Steve Able and the Vashon Bicyclists will be voted on at the next VMICC meeting, July 16.

Bob Dixon presented a motio to make Vashon Island a pesticide free zone. A quorum of 25 is needed to vote on these motions. If you care about these issues, please attend.

The motion to ask King County to fund septic inspections and repair was passed unanimously.

The July 16 meeting will be informative and entertaining as a panel of businesses on the island will talk about starting a business and the ins-and-outs of being an entrepreneur and running your own company. All islanders are invited to attend the 7 p.m. meeting.