I attended Wed-
nesday evening’s informational meeting on the potential development of a UAC (Unicorporated Area Council) for ZIP code 98024 (Fall City area). The concept may be worth considering … I encourage all citizens of the Valley to come to the next meeting next month and learn more (date and time to be announced).
What I am concerned about is not whether we form a UAC or not … it’s more basic. Three points:
1. I am concerned about King County’s track record of not listening to its citizens of “rural King County.” Independent of whether we have one person attempting to communicate with King County or our entire community of Fall City, we are a small blip on their radar screen (Fall City 98024 is about 5,000 people; King County’s population is 1.8 million-2006 census report).
King County responds to its largest constituent base. We are a very small percentage of King County, as presented at the meeting last Wednesday night. If we wish to preserve our rural life style, we need to figure out a way to become a strong financial, political force that King County can no longer ignore. Sadly, King County government in large part only responds to financial and political pressure, it appears.
To me, this is the biggest issue facing any organization in our rural Snoqualmie Valley when dealing with King County.
2. I am concerned about King County’s lack of enforcement of its own ordinances. For example, Ordinance 14117; page 9, item 9. This item relates to the present issue between Snoqualmie Ridge (city of Snoqualmie) and the Lake Alice community regarding connection between the Lake Alice Road and Snoqualmie Ridge … this issue is still not resolved.
3. If we are concerned about continuing to enjoy our rural lifestyle, it is critical that all of us come together (this includes the various organizations in our Valley) to discuss how best to address King County’s lack of response or consideration of our rural lifestyle. I encourage everyone to come to next month’s discussion to speak your piece and collectively figure out how to deal with King County.
Bill Crone
Fall City
