Annexation: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity| Letter

Published 1:12 pm Monday, October 24, 2011

Some opportunities come along just once in a lifetime. On this upcoming election in November, residents in the unincorporated potential annexation area of Bothell, called the North, East, West (NEWBA) area, will have the chance to decide whether to become part of the city of Bothell.

Over the last several years, a citizen group of the NEWBA area has lobbied the city to become part of Bothell. I have had the opportunity to speak with several of the “citizens for annexation” many times and what I found was during the last several years, they have really done their research into annexing into Bothell … and it made sense.

I am also very familiar with the work that the city of Bothell has also put into analyzing this potential annexation and found that the city of Bothell also determined that it was an annexation that made sense for the citizens and city alike. The city took a long tedious road over the last several years just to be able to give citizens the chance to vote.

A vote to annex will ensure new residents many positive things about being part of the city of Bothell. This is what you will get if you vote to annex:

• Local control and a mayor, City Council and city management that is the most responsive to citizens that I have ever seen;

• Proven public safety; I have a great deal of respect for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the fire district’s personnel. But I also know firsthand how the Bothell police and fire departments provide responsive and outstanding citizen and neighborhood protection with proven public safety professionals, staffing levels and systems.

• The chance to be a resident or business part of the new downtown “identity” and revitalization projects that still maintain a “small-town feel”;

• Be part of a city that has won numerous financial awards and widely recognized for excellence over the last several years, even during a downturn in the economy;

• And last but not least, a unique opportunity to save money in property taxes at the same time.

I saw firsthand what went into this potential annexation project on all fronts, and I can say that should you decide to vote yes on annexation … you will be glad you did.

Forrest Conover

Chief of Police (retired)

Bothell Police Department