December 2008 Meeting Highlights

 by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary

On Monday, December 1, the Area Council held its regular monthly meeting with 11members present, two members absent (both with proxies), and three positions open. The following major items were addressed:

1) Maple Valley Farmers Market

2) Sheriff's Precinct-Level Quarterly Community Forum

3) Landsburg Mine Cleanup Comments

Public Comment

Kim Emmons and Patty Davis, members of the Maple Valley Farmers Market Steering Committee, addressed the Area Council about plans to start a local Farmers Market. Plans call initially for a Saturday-only market from mid-June to the end of October, starting in 2009. Greater Maple Valley area residents will be able to browse and purchase locally grown fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers, along with locally produced arts and crafts. Tentative location is planned for the Rock Creek Elementary School along SR-169. Once plans are finalized in the coming months, a board of directors will be established and the Steering Committee will dissolve. More information will be forthcoming.

Sheriff's Precinct-Level Quarterly Community Forum

Major Dave Germani of the Maple Valley Sheriff's Precinct held his Quarterly Forum to listen to issues from the public. Issues discussed included King County budget deficit-induced cuts, local policing, and volunteer opportunities. Major Germani was relieved to report that due to restorations in the budget, he will be able to keep all his local storefront offices open for residents to frequent. Members of the community also have the opportunity to volunteer at the various storefront offices.

Landsburg Mine Cleanup Comments

At the Area Council's November regular monthly meeting, Jerome Cruz, Landsburg Mine Site Manager with the WA Dept. of Ecology, and Doug Morell, Technical Consultant with the Potentially Liable Parties (PLPs) provided an update on the cleanup activities at the Landsburg Mine site.

As local residents know, the Landsburg Mine is a former underground coal mine located just northwest of Ravensdale. Ecology is supervising a cleanup process for the site and is drafting a Final Cleanup Action Plan, which should be available for public comment some time next summer.

The Area Council discussed details of the proposed plan. It was decided that the plan appears to adequately address local residents' concerns and provides a reasonable timetable for action towards eventual cleanup and long-term monitoring of the site. Consequently, the Area Council will forward no further comments to Ecology regarding the proposed cleanup plan.

For more detailed information, visit the WA Dept of Ecology web pages for the Landsburg Mine.

Area Council Open Positions

The Area Council seeks candidates to fill three open positions. These positions are located in two of the Area Council's four Community Areas: 1) Francis (voting precincts: Atkinson, Dorre Don, Francis, Shadow Lake, Sweeney, and Twin Firs) and 2) Ravensdale (voting precincts: Bitterroot, Green River, Lund, Pipeline, Plains, Ravensale, and Sellack). If you live in any of these voting precincts and are interested in serving your local community, please contact Area Council Chair Steve Heister via email or at GMVAC, PO Box 101, Maple Valley 98038.