Reporter Central Kitsap
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FRIDAY, January 25, 2013 | Vol. 28, No. 20 | www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
Silverdale incorporation questions and answers The incorporation measure is on the Feb. 12 special election mail-in ballot By Leslie Kelly lkelly@soundpublishing.com
Will incorporation mean better services to those who live in the proposed incorporation area, or will incorporation mean higher taxes and another level of government? That was the bottom line for many of those who attended a recent forum about the current incorporation efforts in Silverdale. The forum, sponsored by the Central Kitsap Community Council and the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, was an opportunity for concerned residents to hear comments from representatives of area cities that have incorporated in the past 15 years. “For me, I wanted to make sure that police services in my area improved,” said Rebecca Clark, a former city council member and incorporation organizer in Covington. She became involved in that city’s incorporation efforts more than 10 years ago. “After much study, we determined that by incorporating, we could better control what our taxes were spent on, and ultimately provide better safety, better planning and better development standards than we were getting from King
County.” Clark was one of five panelists who spoke to about 60 people who attended the forum. Others on the panel were from Maple Valley, Kenmore and University Place. The panelists said in all their situations, the areas that became cities were facing incorporation or annexation to other existing cities. “We knew that if we didn’t do something, eventually, someday, we would be annexed by Tacoma,” said Caroline Belleci, city council woman for University Place. “Our citizens were frustrated with the growth in multi-family housing (apartments) in what was a single family community. “We felt that the county was just letting it happen and we didn’t have a say-so. We weren’t seeing the new developments being asked to help pay for street improvements even though that’s what the county standards called for.” That was what drove residents of the area to look into incorporation, she said. “We wanted what would give us the best control over our future,” she said. “We decided incorporation was the best option.” Other members of the panel said that as part of the county, they had no identity. “Kenmore now is a great place,” said David Maehren, co-chairman of the incorporation See INCORPORATION, A6
Leslie Kelly/staff photo
Mary Earl, left, and Carol Smiley discuss the proposed incorporation of Silverdale after studying the area map behind them.
Shipyards feel pinch of Navy hiring freeze Congressman Kilmer says fixing budget mess is ‘a no-brainer’ 25-26 at the fairgrounds, and won’t be hiring 560 new kmoore@soundpublishing.com workers. Congress has yet to pass All of the political pos- a 2013 defense budget and turing and bickering in the is instead approving spending at 2012 levels other Washington while operatfinally came home ing under what is to roost last week called a continuing with the announceresolution. In addiment that United tion to the lack of States Navy issued a budget, despite a a hiring freeze until “fiscal cliff ” deal, Congress takes the Department of action on a budget. Derek Kilmer Defense is bracing As a result, for sequestration, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate or across-the-board cuts, Maintenance Facility has come March 1. postponed a jobs fair, originally scheduled for Jan. See FREEZE, A6 By KEVAN MOORE
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Alethia Douglas, left, performs with the MLK Community Choir, TyAmber White embraces Judge Robin White after introducing her as mistress of ceremonies and Lashante and Shanndon (six month) Torrence take in the festivities Monday morning.