Welcome to Community News, King County government's monthly newsletter for unincorporated area residents. You can find the newsletter online with links to program details, at www.kingcounty.gov/UnincorporatedAreaNews. To see previous versions of the Unincorporated Area Community Newsletter visit the archives.

News

Calendar

Nov. 17
Open house for project to build consolidated road maintenance facility near Ravensdale

Nov. 24
General Election results certified

Dec. 2
Free fair housing workshop and seminar

Dec. 10
Board of Health meeting

H1N1 vaccine

Due to national delays in the production of vaccine, only limited amounts of vaccine are available locally for people at highest risk for severe illness and hospitalization. Vaccine will continue to arrive to King County in coming weeks, so people who want to be vaccinated should check with their health care providers. For the most current information visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/h1n1 or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464).

Board of Health meeting

The King County Board of Health is scheduled to meet December 10, 2009 at 1:30 PM in the King County Council Chambers. The Board of Health will be briefed on the proposed Pet-Related Business regulation, and have updates on HIV and Swine Flu (H1N1). Check the Web site for details.

King County Veterans Program

The program serves low-income, homeless, disabled, and at-risk veterans and their families by providing emergency financial assistance, housing, case management, employment services and counseling. Veterans, current service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and dependents of these military personnel may be eligible for services. For more information, call 206-296-7656 or 206-205-3501 or go to the Web site.

New ‘LinksByZip’ Web page provides non-emergency numbers at your fingertips

We all know to call 9-1-1 for emergency help, but what about non-emergencies? A new Web page has been developed that provides phone numbers and links for utility companies, health and human services, roads and transportation, non-emergency fire and law enforcement and other critical services. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/linksbyzip.

Reduced weekday schedules ahead for bus riders

King County Metro Transit is reminding bus riders that it will be operating a reduced weekday schedule on several holidays now through January, including a full week of reduced service at the end of December. Some commuter and school-oriented routes do not operate, and other routes have individual trips canceled on days with reduced schedules.

Web site provides one-stop shopping for sandbag distribution sites

Floodplain residents across King County can now learn where and when they can find sandbags to help them protect their homes and property from serious flooding. Visit the Web site to learn where the county is providing sandbag materials or partnering with local cities to provide sandbags to the public free of charge before and during flood events.

Follow the signs, if Green River floods

In an effort to safely get people to higher ground when floodwaters rise, King County began installing evacuation signs this month on key roads in unincorporated areas in the Green River Valley.

Jail inmate look-up service

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention has been preparing for months in case of flooding in the Green River Valley and its impact on the Maleng Regional Justice Center. The online Jail Inmate Look Up Service will be continuously updated with real-time information on persons currently in custody, plus individuals booked or released within the past 24 hours, and includes information regarding their custody status, bail amount, and visiting schedules.

Find a new pet

While plans for flood response in the Green River Valley flood zone are being finalized, King County Animal Care and Control (KCACC) has waived the adoption fee on all pets available for adoption. You can take home a new friend for just the cost of the pet license, and get spay/neuter and all vaccinations included. For now, most KCACC services are still available at our shelter locations; pet licensing is still required, and you can still get help from Animal Control Officers in the field. To read about our move, anticipated changes, pet disaster preparedness tips, and to find a pet to adopt, visit our Web site.

General Election results finalized Nov. 24

The November General Election is still under way and the results will be finalized Nov. 24. Your signature is just as important as your vote; if you've been contacted by our office, make sure to respond by Nov. 23 for your vote to be counted. View election results on the Web site.

Free fair housing workshop and seminar

The King County Office of Civil Rights and other civil rights agencies are hosting two free fair housing trainings at the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle on Dec. 2. The Fair Housing Basics workshop is from 9 a.m. to noon, and the Advanced Fair Housing Seminar is from 1-3 p.m. Participants receive extensive free fair housing materials. Everyone is welcome, including rental housing owners, property managers, tenants and housing advocates. For details and directions, visit the Web site. Advance registration is required – call 206-296-7592.

Black River Community Service Center has moved

The Black River Community Service Center in Renton has moved to the Development and Environmental Customer Service Center, at 900 Oakesdale Ave. SW. Center hours remain unchanged: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., with passport services ending 15 minutes prior to lunch break and the end of the business day. The phone number remains 206-296-7810. We welcome your calls and visits for marriage and pet licenses, property tax payment, voter registration, renewal of concealed pistol licenses and U. S. Passport applications.

DDES permit process assists agricultural property owners

Property owners living in the rural areas of King County often inquire about requirements for constructing agricultural buildings. Permit fees are reduced for agricultural buildings located on properties within an Agricultural Production District, and for properties zoned rural residential, if a farm management plan is prepared and approved by the King Conservation District. For more information, see the Fall 2009 DDES Quarterly News.

New DDES program brings increased predictability and efficiency

The Voluntary Project Management Program is designed to offer applicants with smaller, less complex projects the benefits of an enhanced level of customer service and project monitoring. First-time permit applicants can now volunteer for the program in order to increase predictability and efficiency during the permit review process. For more information, see the DDES Quarterly News.

DDES inspectors take proactive steps, protect waterways for rainy season

Monitoring erosion and sediment control measures, or preventing muddy runoff from leaving construction sites and entering waterways is a major responsibility for DDES building and land-use inspectors, especially during the rainy months in unincorporated King County. Each Fall, DDES publishes information on erosion and sediment control requirements for wet season construction sites and enforces these more stringent requirements during building, land use and grading inspections. For more information, see the DDES Quarterly News.

Crisp weather and fall colors

Fall for Salmon 2009

Volunteer opportunities to plant native trees and shrubs, remove invasive species, and build trails.

Stay on top of what’s happening in ‘Your Big Backyard’

Tolt Bridge near Carnation wins major award

The beauty and utility of the new Tolt Bridge over the Snoqualmie River was recently recognized by the Federal Highway Administration and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Community news

Greater Maple Valley

Nov. 17 open house for project to build consolidated road maintenance facility near Ravensdale

The King County Road Services Division is hosting an open house to discuss its plans to build a consolidated road maintenance facility in southeast King County near Ravensdale. The open house is from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in Black Diamond.

Annual operating model train show

The Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its 12th annual Operating Model Train Show at the Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale, Oct. 18-19. It is the largest operating-only model train show in King County. All gauges of model trains were available for viewing with many different train layouts, both large and small, on display. The event drew large enthusiastic crowds demonstrate model trains are an enjoyable hobby for people of all ages.

North Highline

White Center Heights Park

Vashon

Maury Island Marine Park Overlook

Enjoy sweeping fall vistas from the new overlook off of Southwest 248th Street or hike down to the beach and check out the volunteer-based shoreline restoration effort that’s been going on this year. Check out King County Parks’ photo gallery for photos from this and other Vashon-area parks.

West Hill

Code Enforcement successfully abates property

Code Enforcement recently removing a significant neighborhood blight – a vacant old structure known as the Windy Crest Motel and Bill’s Tavern, formerly located at 12914 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. This property has been successfully abated to the benefit of surrounding neighbors and the larger community. For more information, see the DDES Quarterly News.

If you have comments or suggestions about future content, please contact Lauren Smith at 206-263-7146 or lauren.smith@kingcounty.gov.