King County Councilman Reagan Dunn will go traveling across his district during the month of June, hosting town halls in various locations.
For southeast King County — namely Black Diamond, Enumclaw, and the surrounding unincorporated areas — Dunn plans to hit up the Enumclaw Expo Center Field House from 7 to 9 p.m. on June 25.
There are a number of issues he and his staff will be prepared to talk about.
First, and arguably most pressing, is any updates about Drainage District 5 and the investigations into one of its commissioners, Allan Thomas, and his alleged misuse of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
A Washington State Auditor’s report was published in late May appears to confirm Thomas pocketed $413,000, and questionably spent another $66,000, according to the report.
But as of June 10, no charges have been filed against Thomas.
The controversial Enumclaw Recycle Center could be another topic Dunn discusses before the Q&A session begins.
The Enumclaw Recycle Center has been working through the King County permitting process since 2017, trying to open up a land-debris and construction material recycling business just outside the Enumclaw city limits off Enumclaw-Franklin Road.
Several local conservation groups have come out against the Enumclaw Recycle Center and its owners, Ron Shear and Ronda Sterley, in part due to that Shear operated an unpermitted, illegal dumpsite in Buckley through the 1990s and 2000s. The dump site was eventually added to Pierce County’s “Dirty Dozen” illegal dumpsite list in spring 2002, and then shut down by the county courts.
Most recently, Shear has been alleged to be working on his land without the proper King County permits. In conversations with the county, Shear has said any work done to his land is allowed by county code, but both neighbors and the county believe he’s exceeded county limitations.
Other topics Dunn could speak about could revolve around land use and zoning, restructuring flood planes, and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
After he’s through with any prepared presentations, he and his staff will be available to answer questions from residents.
