OPT-ED: by Todd Elvig, Editor Snohomish Times,
Seattle-Snohomish Mill ends operations and 160+ family wage jobs. Its true that there were only 60 employees at closing but at the point when the spikes were driven in to the cross, there were over 160 employees.

That point was in 2005, when FEMA, in a rush to remap the Snohomish flood plain, lumped together the industrial area known as South Snohomish UGA in with all their other changes. This caused irreversible damage to the businesses and property values located in the newly designated area.

The South Snohomish UGA appealed the FEMA decision sighting flawed analysis and wrongly assigned requirements that didnt apply. FEMA responded positively to the requests of the businesses and land owners. The only thing standing between a reverse in FEMAs map designation was the Snohomish County Council and the Snohomish city council.

The Snohomish County Council was lead by Dave Sommers when the request for relief from the new restrictions came under fire by environmental activists, the same activists that helped get Dave Sommers elected in the first place.

The council found itself in a quandary, on one hand they knew the economic value of the South Snohomish UGA meant over 30 million dollars to the region every year. On the other hand they had promises to keep to those that would like the Snohomish valley returned to swamp land.

The City of Snohomish through a vote of 4-3 in 2007 decided to recommend that the businesses and land owners be left to sort out their FEMA map dilemma on their own and as far as the City was concerned, let the FEMA designation stand. At that time councilman Thorndike could not understand the mentality of the four members that voted against helping their fellow citizens gain their property rights back and help maintain economic stability.

Despite warning from businesses about the inability to grow, potential for layoffs and closures, the county council turned down the relief the South Snohomish UGA needed. Many in the community scoffed at the claims that business owners and property owners couldnt make any improvements to their property under the current regulation saying that cant be true.

The Mill found that to be more then true when they tried to submit for a permit for a simple office modification. The county didnt say no to the modification, they simply refused to accept the planning request.

A large automotive facility has suffered also, unable to cover their alignment rack to keep their employees dry when it rains or modernize their building.

There are many more stories that show that the industrial area in Snohomish could be offering more jobs and keeping more jobs in Snohomish County if the map designation were to revert back to what it was originally. The South Snohomish UGA is still officially designated as industrial despite the inability to improve.

All that said; the Mill has no way to improve their bottom line with new equipment to replace whats outdated or inefficient. They cant protect what they have and they cant even make the modifications at their head office to accommodate one more person let alone improve the working environment.

I have worked with most of the business owners in Snohomish, north and south of the City and Ive seen most vested Snohomish resident-owners go to great lengths protecting their community and giving back in ways that most of us only wish we could.

Think about that the next time you become quick to judge whats best. Put yourself in the position to employ 160 people earning a family wage and the ability to give back in ways that make a difference. Now, through no-fault of your own and after years of sound business decisions, youre told you can no longer improve, protect or expand to accommodate for todays economy.

Small business jobs are what we need to grow our economy and the short-sighted action by the Snohomish County Council has manifested itself in continued job losses all over the county said Rep. Mike Hope.

The Snohomish city council has shown little regard for South Snohomish UGA businesses and is in lockstep with Aaron Reardon and the county council making the probability of continued business losses in the South Snohomish UGA a real danager.

Snohomish Mill Info:

Years in Business: 1941-1212 (71yrs)

Employees: 160+

Specialty Timber: Yes

Green Douglas Fir or Hem-Fir - Cut to widths: 4x4 to 24x24 - Cut lengths: 8' to 40'

Dimensional Products:

Green and Kiln Dried Douglas-Fir or Kiln Dried Hem-Fir 2x4 to 2x12, 8' to 20'

Note: The South Snohomish UGA land and business owners have filed a claim against Snohomish County for their actions that have damaged so many peoples livelihoods.