On Monday, March 2, the Greater Maple Valley Area Council held its regular monthly meeting and addressed the following major items:

1) Sheriff's Precinct-Level Community Involvement Program; and

2) Local Farmers Market.

The Area Council serves as an all-volunteer, locally elected advisory body to the King County Council, representing all rural unincorporated area residents living in the Tahoma School District.

Sheriff's Precinct-Level Community Involvement Program

Major Dave Germani, Commander of the Sheriff's Southeast Precinct #3, held his Quarterly Forum to both listen to issues from the public and provide feedback. At tonight's discussion, Major Germani provided a status of crime and prevention in the precinct for 2008.

A Crime Stats meeting is held monthly, in which each precinct shares information and data on types of crimes committed. For 2008, the department (which consists of four Rural Area precincts, including the Southeast Precinct #3) had the goal of reducing the following by 5%: 1) Part I crimes - homicide, burglary, rape, and other violent crimes; and 2) traffic accidents. Major Germani was happy to report that the Southeast Precinct exceeded both these goals, reducing Part I crimes by 6.5% and traffic accidents by 14.9%. To achieve this high reduction in traffic accidents, Major Germani described some of the methods that have proven to work, including: "Do Not Block" intersection signs, visible presence of radar guns, and vehicle speed display machines.

Area residents can contact the Sheriff's Southeast Precinct #3 at (206) 296-3883 and find more information here.

Local Farmers Market

Kim Emmons and Patty Davis provided an update on the planned Maple Valley Farmers Market opening this summer on Saturday, June 20, at the Rock Creek Elementary School. A 12-member locally-formed Steering Committee has been formed to help direct the opening and operation of the Farmers Market. The Area Council endorses the Maple Valley Farmers Market and its support of our local economy and growers.

Kim and Patty encourage the public to go to the market website and fill out a survey that will help shape the Farmers Market to meet your individual needs. Members of th epublic also can volunteer to help with set-up, serve as parking assistants, staff an information booth, act as meeters and greeters, and help with take-down and clean-up. Kim and Patty can also be contacted by mail.

Next Meeting

The Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) at the Sheriff's Precinct #3 Headquarters located at 231st St. and SR 169 (across from the fire station). The public is encouraged to attend. Each meeting begins with a public comment period to provide local citizens with the opportunity to voice issues of concern to Area Council members and King County officials in attendance. Our next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 6, at 7:00 PM.