In a Friday morning press briefing, Snohomish County officials provided an update on their efforts to apply for a variance that would move the county into Phase 2 reopening as specified under the Safe Start provisions of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Safe proclamation. The briefing also included an update from Community Transit on…
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Board of Health Chair Stephanie Wright, and County Council Chair Nate Nehring jointly announced Thursday their intention to apply for a variance that would allow Snohomish County to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan. The announcement comes after the county council Wednesday approved the final piece of…
The Snohomish County Council Thursday approved a Small Business Relief, Recovery, and Resiliency (R3) Grant Program, with up to $25,000 available for businesses that have experienced at least a 25% drop in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The council also approved a First in Flight Fund for Paine Field Airport tenants impacted by COVID-19…
Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney faces two potential recall campaigns, but he says he is not running from a fight to keep his job. The drive to oust Fortney was sparked when he made comments on his Facebook page April 21 critical of Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 restrictions, adding that “the impacts of COVID-19 no…
Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney, who made the news last month when he said he wouldn’t enforce Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home orders aimed at slowing the COVID-19 outbreak, will have to pay for his own legal defense against a recall petition filed against him. In an April 28 letter to Fortney, Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam…
Snohomish County Friday announced the reopening of county parks for day use on Tuesday, May 5, in coordination with Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement this week that state parks will be open for many day-use activities. Play structures, ball fields, and spray pads will remain closed. Parking lots and some gates will open. There are still…
In response to changing pandemic conditions, Snohomish County said it is expanding access to solid waste facilities for the public — with safety mitigations in place — starting Saturday, May 2. Transfer stations — including the Southwest station in Mountlake Terrace at 21311 61st Pl. W. — be open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily to both hand-unload,…
A warning from the Snohomish County COVID-19 briefing on Friday: Social distancing will last months and could remain in some form for years. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers also spoke out on Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney’s Facebook post earlier this week, calling Fortney’s comments: “dangerous and irresponsible.” In a Facebook post Tuesday, the Sheriff…
Among the topics tackled at Friday’s Snohomish County briefing on COVID-19: How deadly is the virus? What will our “new normal” look like? How do we begin to bring local business back to life? Where do we stand on COVID-19 testing? “COVID is 10 times as deadly as the flu,” began Snohomish County Health Officer Dr….
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Snohomish County Council Chair Nate Nehring have announced a series of budget steps they are considering in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a hiring freeze, eliminating any discretionary raises, canceling travel and training, and other fiscal management tools. Early budget estimates predict that the county’s general fund budget…
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Snohomish County’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism is gathering input from residents through the Snohomish County Parks Visioning Survey, which is now open. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SCPRT planners say they are preparing for the re-opening of facilities and the need to focus resources post-pandemic in the most efficient way possible. The survey can be…
Can we ease restrictions in the COVID-19 battle? A local emergency room doctor on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight put it this way: “We have hit the brakes and our car has stopped right before the edge of the cliff… one wheel was over the edge.” Speaking at a Snohomish County briefing with reporters…
The Snohomish County Council Wednesday morning voted unanimously to appoint 44th District State Rep. Jared Mead to fill the District 4 council seat vacated by Terry Ryan, who resigned to become the county’s aerospace economic development director. Mead, a Mill Creek resident, was one of three nominees submitted by the Snohomish County Democratic Party to fill…
The Snohomish County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department has reinforced guidelines to help residents understand how to “recreate responsibly” during the pandemic. The new tag line: “If you take a car, the park is too far!” A sunny day in Snohomish County reveals busy beaches, crowded trails and people parking illegally near parks, the department…
Robert Grant announced this week that he is running for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge. Grant will run for the Position 8 seat held by Judge Eric Z. Lucas, who is not seeking reelection. An Edmonds resident, Grant is a veteran of the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office who has spent the last several years prosecuting…
Snohomish County recycling and transfer stations — including the southwest county station in Mountlake Terrace — are functioning under new service guidelines and hours of operation put into effect this week. The changes have brought some confusion to visitors, but the biggest challenge is expected to come on Saturday when county officials are warning of…
Due to the financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Snohomish County Treasurer Brian Sullivan and Executive Dave Somers have extended the first-half 2020 property tax deadline to June 1, 2020. This Executive Order only applies to residents who pay their individual and commercial property taxes themselves, rather than through their mortgage lender. Banks and…
Snohomish County will open a COVID-19 isolation and quarantine site next week at the Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett. This facility will provide a site for temporary isolation and quarantine for those who may not be able to recover in their own home or who are among the county’s unsheltered population. Such…
In response to the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Snohomish County Public Works Department announced Thursday it will close all of its solid waste facilities and programs starting March 28. The transfer stations will reopen to mechanical-unload customers only on weekdays starting March 30, as curbside service is considered essential and will reopen on…
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers Sunday announced the closure of Snohomish County park gates and bathrooms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Play structures in parks were closed last week. According to a county announcement, these steps are being taken to better enforce social distancing and ensure all appropriate steps are being taken to prevent…
In another shutdown related to the COVID-19 outbreak, Snohomish County Superior Court Presiding Judge Bruce Weiss has suspended all criminal jury trials until at least April 24, and all civil jury trials until at least June 1. Edmonds and Lynnwood Municipal Courts earlier this week also announced closures. A full list of all closures statewide is…
Snohomish County on Tuesday announced the restriction of public access to select county facilities, primarily those in the Administration Buildings on the county campus in Everett, effective Tuesday, March 17. These county facilities will be closed to the public until further notice, with limited exceptions. “COVID-19 is impacting our daily lives, and we must adapt…
Mountlake Terrace Mayor Kyoko Matsumoto Wright is one of three candidates who have been nominated to fill the Snohomish County Council District 4 seat vacated by Terry Ryan, who resigned to become the county’s aerospace economic development director. Other candidates nominated in addition to Wright were State Rep. Jared Mead of Mill Creek and City of…
Snohomish County’s Complete Count Committee has announced the final phase of actions in preparation for the 2020 United States Census, which includes trainings, locations for assistance completing the survey, and other details. Starting March 12-20, 2020, every household in Snohomish County will receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau, inviting them to fill out…
Snohomish County is currently seeking volunteers for one open position on the Boundary Review Board. Board members are residents of the county they serve. They serve for a four-year term and are not allowed to hold other local government elected or appointed positions or jobs. For over 50 years in Washington state, boundary review boards…
