10 years ago 1996

Although the two-year conflict over boundaries and annexations ended last week, many Smokey Point and Lakewood residents are upset at the division of their community and an unexpected potential split of the Lakewood School District. In closed meetings with a moderator, Marysville and Arlington officials agreed to redraw their urban growth boundaries. Smokey Point east of Interstate 5, south to 164th Street NE is in Arlingtons urban growth area while the Lakewood community west of I-5 and the remaining property south of 164th, previously part of Arlingtons urban growth area, is in Marysvilles. The cities and Fire District 12 agreed to drop lawsuits related to Arlingtons annexation of Smokey Point. Because of a previously unnoticed state law limiting cities to only one school district, the Lakewood School District could be severely impacted if Arlington continues with its annexation. If annexed, the commercial and residential area would be transferred to Arlington School District, wiping out the tax base for the Lakewood School District, and the students from a residential area of nearly 2,000 would move to Arlingtons schools. Mickie Jarvill, attorney for citizens of Pony Estates, said she found the information only a week ago and presented it at a public forum Thursday. City officials for both Marysville and Arlington said they didnt know about the law and its impacts to Lakewood. That was not the focus of the issues and perhaps it should have been, said Marysville City Attorney Grant Weed. Arlington City Attorney Steve Peiffle said it was absolutely new information that Jarvill presented at the forum. The idea that the school district could be devastatingly hit, further upset residents at the heated public forum. Did you even think about that? one woman shouted. Legislation was proposed last session to change the statute, but it wasnt passed, said Lakewood School District Superintendent Wayne Robertson. Out position has been it would be nice if the district was not split, he said. We feel its more appropriate to respond to the decisions of the community. Many at the forum, including State Representative Val Stevens, Arlington School District Superintendent Linda Byrnes and attorney Jarvill suggested the cities boundary changes be postponed until legislation is changed. Arlington officials agreed the new information may have an impact. This throws a whole new curve ball into the future, said Arlington City Council member Oliver Smith. It was never anyones intent to deal with this school district or splitting a school district. Marysville City Administrator Dave Zabell said the new information about the impact to the school district may not change anything. The agreement has been ratified. Whatever happens now is up to the county. The 22 citizens who joined Marysville in the appeal of Smokey Points annexation to Arlington wont drop the appeal, Jarvill said. The residents of Pony Estates joined the existing appeal after the county boundary review board added the 285-acre residential area north of 172nd Street NE and east of I-5 to the original annexation. The citizens will not be dismissing their appeal, Jarvill said. We are more hopeful the city of Arlington will see the wisdom of dropping the annexation. They are considering incorporating into their own city, she said. Its a big, big job for the community, Jarvill said. But I think it can be done. Working under the incorporation name of Save Our Community and Schools, Jarvill said she will file a notice of intent to incorporate with the county as soon as the annexation issue is settled. Arlington officials still have to decide whether to continue or reject the Smokey Point annexation, Peiffle said. This may be at the Oct. 21 Council meeting. Once filed, the incorporation process is a complex system of public hearings and elections that could take more than 18 months. The new boundaries put Bruce and Becky Foster, the originators of the annexation petition to Arlington, in Marysvilles urban growth area. What has happened is the worst possible thing that could happen to our community, Bruce Foster told Marysville, Arlington and county officials at the forum. The three political entities weve been relying on have not done their job very damn well. Foster, as well as other residents from Lakewood Commons, are upset with the new boundaries. We are a community, said Ronni Caudle. We dont want to be split in half. Foster said the community would prefer the area grow with retail businesses, but Marysville designated Smokey Point for light industrial businesses. This area would be much better off with an alliance with Arlington, he said. Marysville City Council member Donna Pedersen said it was a difficult process to decide what each city should compromise. Those of us that you elected sat there with your best interests at heart, she said. Smokey Point and Lakewood residents are not represented by either Marysville or Arlington council members. Several residents expressed dismay that all decisions had been made in closed meetings. City officials said that was the only way the situation could be settled. Conducting the meetings with the mediator outside of the public was the only way the two cities could come to an agreement, Peiffle said.

25 years ago 1981

What we dont see wont hurt us, seems to be a general consensus concerning the manufacturing and shipping of dangerous chemicals. But last weeks derailment north of the city brought closer to home the actual dangers which exist for the countys residents. While the Council is planning to invite a Burlington Northern Railroad official to a future work session to get the railroads side of the story, city administrator Rick Deming reminded Council that rail transport of hazardous materials accounts for only a portion shipped through the Northwest. There isnt as much of those materials on the railroad as youll find on the freeway or what comes up the Sound, he said. Chlorine and propellants are only the tip of the iceberg. Its really kind of frightening. There are things out there we dont want to know about. Mayor Daryl Brennick, who recently returned from a trip to Washington and Chicago, said he first heard of the derailment while in Sen. Henry Jacksons office. The Mayor, attending transportation meetings as a representative of the countys transportation system, was in continual contact with the city administrator, however. Its great to see the city administrator, staff, the police and fire departments, the school and the citizens not only of Marysville, but greater Marysville working together to handle the situation, said Brennick. We are a most fortunate community. Brennick said when he was in Chicago, he was impressed at the amount of energy a city that size needed. I asked this fellow where the city gets its electricity, and he told me it was nuclear. He was aware of where the nuclear wastes went. He said, We dont bury any here. That story illustrates the great variety of dangers we live with. It isnt only the railroad. There are just too many hazards of all kinds. The city, expressing disappointment in the care Burlington Northern has taken in the past with several railroad crossings in the city, said they planned to analyze Burlington Northerns franchise with Marysville. The ordinance passed by the city back on June 20 in 1891 says railroad crossings have to be planked, city attorney James Allendoerfer informed the Council. If not, then the railroad forfeits its right to run through the city. My legal advice would be to close off Burlington Northern. If you closed the route and started a lawsuit, youd certainly get publicity right away. Cost wise, Im not sure thats a good idea. The recent derailment presented an opportunity to put a pre-hazardous materials plan into action. Although initiated this time by District 12 fire officials, the plan was originally formulated by Marysville Fire Chief Dick Murdock in 1973. Such a plan follows a national trend to prepare for accidents involving dangerous materials. The plan is important because it sets a definite pattern to start from in case of a disaster, Murdock said. With first priority given to any life hazards presented during an emergency, the plan calls for the gradual phasing in of local, county, state and federal agencies as the disaster dictates. Murdock and Police Chief John Faulkner delivered letters to the city following the Monday night accident, analyzing the performance of their forces during an emergency. Murdocks letter, dated Oct. 8, states that cooperation between law enforcement and fire services was excellent by problems in communications limited their effectiveness. The use of different radio frequencies by the two agencies presented a problem and telephone facilities at the Command Post and Dispatch Center were not adequate to handle the number of calls received during the emergency, according to the letter. Faulkner also said problems in communication lines were a major concern last week.