Letters To The Editor

Burien council called 'enigma' over annexation

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Berk & Associates financial report addresses three scenarios: No Annexation, Annexation by Burien and Annexation by Seattle.

There are deficits for all three scenarios, the smallest being for No Annexation. Yet the Burien City Council persists in going forward with the PAA. Even to the point of suing Seattle because Seattle had the audacity to also file a PAA for North Highline.

Regarding the annexation, the council remains an enigma. Members still maintain that it would be an investment in the future of Burien. I am not sure if the residents of Burien will be willing to pick up the costs of maintaining North Highline while giving up maintenance of our existing city.

If Burien were to annex North Highline, our city as we now know it would no longer exist. How would the Clean Sweep be set up? What would happen to the Strawberry Festival?

The council has always said that finances would be the determining factor in annexation proceedings. What is the council waiting for? The rabbit to pop out of the hat?

The residents of Burien should make their voices heard before the Boundary Review Board or the Growth Management Act takes over and says, "OK Burien, you want North Highline, here it is, like it or not." Then the council could say it wasn't their fault.

James Sharkey, treasurer

Burien Residents Against Annexation