Large Turnout for Rural Roundtable

More than 150 people turned out for the King County Council's first Rural Roundtable, held Monday at Helena’s Lodge at the Girl Scout's Camp River Ranch near Carnation.

The rural Mayors' Roundtable featured four Snoqualmie Valley rural mayors, who discuss ed the issues facing their cities and how partnerships with County government can be strengthened.

Duvall Mayor Will Ibershof said he frequently receives calls about county issues involving areas outside his boundaries and outside his control, and asked for better communication.

Carnation Mayor Bill Paulsen said King County's construction of the new Tolt Hill Bridge benefits commuters in his city, and spoke of successful partnerships with the county on road resurfacing projects and construction of a city-wide sewer system.

Lee Witter Kahn, co-manager of the Kahn Family tree farm near North Bend and representative of private forest landowners on the Rural Forest Commission, called upon lawmakers to ensure regulatory flexibility in the processing and cost of the county's forest practice permits, so that forest owners can more easily thin their groves to prevent fires, insect infestations and windstorm damage.

Councilmembers and residents heard a briefing on the Rural Economic Strategies report, a plan for advancing the long-term economic viability of the rural areas. The report was developed in coordination with the Rural Forest Commission, the Agricultural Commission, interested rural citizens, and other stakeholders.

The Council also took public testimony on a wide variety of topics from nearly 40 speakers in a session that lasted more than two hours. Citizens who came were also able to meet with Rural Ombudsman David Spohr, County Road Engineer Paulette Norman, and representatives from Public Health, the Department of Development and Environmental Services, and other County agencies.

The Council is a regional government committed to engaging King County residents in their local communities.

Throughout the year, the Council holds local Town Hall Meetings on issues of public importance. Community members have the opportunity to meet Councilmembers, be briefed by local and regional experts, and provide public testimony.

Each Town Hall is a special meeting of the Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole (COW), the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. COW considers complex legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire council.