I don't live in King County, but I did notice that I paid $20 for surface water management on five acres I own about five miles from Eatonville. Eatonville is a nice little town, and I bought the five acres to retire on someday. I don't begrudge the local school district or whoever getting the $20, but I don't really understand why the surface water needs to be managed on a vacant wooded lot. One would expect that my lot was HELPING the aquifer and surface water management, rather than costing anything. There isn't a square inch of asphalt or concrete on it. Am I being charged because God rains on the five acres, or what?

Craig

Northwest Briefing

Monday, March 13, 2000

ENUMCLAW

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Meeting about water fee to draw I-695's sponsor A public meeting with an anti-tax flair featuring Tim Eyman will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Enumclaw, 44426 244th Ave. S.E. The meeting will focus on public opposition to King County's recent extension of a surface water management fee to more than 14,000 residents and businesses in the eastern part of the county and on Vashon Island.

King County Councilman Kent Pullen, R-Kent, an opponent of the fee, will be on hand to answer questions.

Eyman, chief architect of Initiative 695, will tell the audience about Initiative 711, intended to dedicate 90 percent of transportation funds to road construction and improvement. He'll also stump for Initiative 722, which would freeze taxes at 1999 levels.

For more information, call 360-825-3151.

-- (craigcar@crosswinds.net), March 13, 2000

Answers

Well you can always call the county to see if your property can get an exemption or discount (206) 296-6519. They offer them for property classified as open space, agriculture, or timber.

I'm just wondering what an initiative about transportation has to do about surface water fees, besides providing Tim Eyman an opportunity to get in the press again.

"I just called to see if you were going to write a story and to see if I can enter the fray." Tim Eyman

-- Patrick (patrick1142@yahoo.com), March 14, 2000.

The very idea!

Certainly none of our politicians would ever show up at a meeting for a photo opportunity. Right!

zowie

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), March 14, 2000.

Actually the phone # Craig should call is (253)798-3153. I think Patrick gave out King County's phone #, but Eatonville's in Pierce County. Great views of Mt. Rainier from there.

-- BB (bbquax@hotmail.com), March 14, 2000.