November 24, 2020

Dear Friends,

Can you believe that we have already made it to Thanksgiving? Celebrating this holiday looks a lot different this year as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are still ways we can connect with loved ones safely. You can read more on that later in this email newsletter.

As the Holiday season continues, our work at the King County Council remains to be very busy. Just last week, we approved the King County budget for 2021-2022.

Keep reading to learn more about the approved budget, upcoming road construction, an update from the King County Department of Local Services, and more!

As always, thank you so much for everything that you are continuing to do limit the spread of COVID-19 in our region.

Stay Healthy!

Kathy Lambert

In this Issue:

      1. A new King County budget
      2. COVID-19 update
      3. State Route 203 closure
      4. Celebrate Thanksgiving safely!
      5. Snoqualmie Valley Trail closure
      6. An update from the Department of Local Services

1. A new King County budget

On November 17, the King County Council officially approved the 2021-2022 King County $12.58 billion budget.

Finalizing and adopting this two year budget was certainly a challenge this year, as we continue to adapt and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the region. However, I believe that this budget reflects not only our commitment as the local government for the residents of unincorporated King County, but the importance of our role as a regional leader as well.

The budget includes additional funding to maintain and repair critical roads and bridges (including the Upper Tokul Creek Bridge near Snoqualmie, the Ames Lake Bridge near Redmond, and the Baring Bridge near Skykomish), restores proposed cuts to the King County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit which provides critical search and rescue work, establishes a new de-escalation program within the Sheriff’s Department, and so much more.

Learn more about the budget here.

2. COVID-19 update

As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, it very important that we keep following guidance from public health experts to limit the spread of this disease.

Earlier this month, Governor Inslee announced a new set of restrictions in response to the recent spread of the virus in Washington. These restrictions include a prohibition on indoor social gatherings with people outside of your household unless you quarantine prior, the closing of indoor service for restaurants and bars, limiting in-store retail, grocery stores, and personal services to 25% of occupancy, the closing of indoor operations for fitness facilities and gyms, and more. These new restrictions will remain in effect until Monday, December 14. Read more here.

3. State Route 203 closure

Beginning on Tuesday, December 1, State Route 203 will be closed south of Stillwater Hill Road so that crews can install drainage under the highway. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, “due to the nature of this work, this closure is expected to be in place until mid-January.” There will be a signed detour in place during the closure, which is shown in the picture above. Learn more about the road closure here.

4. Celebrate Thanksgiving safely!

Thanksgiving is great time to connect with loved ones and celebrate traditions, but this year requires some extra precautions due to COVID-19. It is important that we connect with family and friends safely this year!

Public Health – Seattle & King County has written an article with some suggestions on how to celebrate the holiday and stay healthy, and you can read more here.

The Washington Department of Health also has some ideas for Thanksgiving and other winter holidays this year, and you can learn more by clicking here.

5. Snoqualmie Valley Trail closure

Beginning Monday, November 23, a portion of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail will be closed so that the bridge over NE 32nd St can be replaced. The construction will continue through March 2021. Learn more about the trail here.

6. An update from the Department of Local Services

The King County Department of Local Services has been serving the residents of unincorporated King County for nearly two years now. Here is some helpful information from their November email newsletter:

“Are you ready for winter weather?



Remember Snowmageddon? We don’t see that every winter here in the Pacific Northwest, but we do get snow, and we often see heavy rains, freezing temperatures and high winds. Get yourself, your family and your home ready now.

Preparedness can be as easy as following a checklist. Here are easy-to-follow steps, created to support your personal winter preparedness.

• Freezing Temps & Snow Checklist
• High Winds Checklist
• Heavy Rains Checklist
• Home Maintenance Checklist
• Winter Weather Driving Checklist

To see these checklists in additional languages, visit takewinterbystorm.org/checklists.

Businesses in unincorporated King County can get free technical assistance and coaching through the end of this year

Did you know you can get help applying for grant funds or dealing with other business issues from King County's Small Business Coaching and Technical Assistance program?

Visit kingcounty.gov/LocalBusinessHelp for more information (available in English plus Amharic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese).

Or you can call 206-331-3275 and leave a voicemail with your contact information, the type of assistance you're requesting, and the language you prefer to speak (if not English). A technical services coach will call you back within two business days. Alternatively, you can fill out and submit the Technical Assistance/Coaching Request Form under "Coaching" on the King County Small Business Assistance web page (linked above).

Reducing run-off-the-road crashes in northeast King County

Many of the roads King County manages are winding, two-lane roads—like NE Lake Joy Road in northeast King County (north of Carnation), where too many drivers go too fast, slide off the road, and end up in nearby Mary's Pond.

In October, Road Services improved old guardrail and added new guardrail on NE Lake Joy Road and more than a dozen others to reduce run-off-the-road crashes. In 2018, Road Services used a new anti-skid High Friction Surface Treatment on NE Lake Joy Road to increase traction on the curve by Mary's Pond. Together, the surface treatment and improved guardrail and are making this curve significantly safer.

Road Services will continue installing guardrail in areas with high accident rates, and have already identified 16 places (countywide) to receive the High Friction Surface treatment in the future.

New funding for behavioral health services in rural King County

A new funding opportunity is available to increase access to behavioral health services in rural and unincorporated parts of King County, by meeting community members ‘where they are’ – both physically and in their recovery journeys.

Each funded program should be designed to respect and support the rural community it serves, with intended outcomes that match the community’s priorities. These grants are meant to support local community-based organizations, small organizations, and grassroots coalitions to address community-identified needs that relate to behavioral health prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, or service access in rural unincorporated King County.

The grants will be funded through the county’s MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund.

Learn more and find a link to apply at the Department of Community & Human Services blog post.”