Vashon Maury Island Community Council
 
Public Safety Committee
 
Minutes of Meeting September 8, 2006
 
Among the eleven attending were: Mike Kirk Vashon Fire and Rescue Service
                                 Jim Didricksen, Vashon Roads and Highways
                                 Isaac Patino, King County Sheriff's Department
                                 Also attending briefly at the beginning of the meeting
                                                        was Walter Washington, Director of King County 
                                                        Animal Control
 
Walter Washington, who had been the speaker at the August 4th meeting concerning problems
with out of control dogs, spoke briefly at the beginning of the meeting to apologize for not following through on his promise to write an article for both newspaper to give advice to Islanders on how to get help with serious problems due to animals, particularly dogs. He had been on vacation.
 
The rest of the meeting was divided half to the possibility of and how to prevent wildfires on the Island, and half to road problems.
 
Emma Amiad expressed her concern about dry timber stands on the Island, especially the numbers of dead trees which could burn rapidly.  Derek Churchill, Island forester, had supplied a report describing his assessments of how much of a threat we face and giving settings and situations which invite problem fires and what to do to prevent then around residences.  His report
including web sites with further information was distributed.  Mike Kirk had several helpful pamphlets to distribute as well.  The Fire And Rescue Service will make assessments of the fire danger to your woods and grounds and make specific suggestions for prevention.  We were told that the L.D.S. Church will help remove problem trees for folks who can't afford it and will distribute the resulting firewood to someone who needs it.
 
Regarding road problems, a letter from Cathy Rogers, who was unable to attend in person, concerning problems on Beall and Bank Road where it joins Bank was distributed and discussed.  In a related issue the difficulty of pulling out of Soper Road where it joins Bank was raised. Susan
Wolf who lives on 103rd brought a large diagram to show why there are real dangers on her street.  It was agreed that the concerns she raised deserve attention.  Also noted were cross walk problems, the intersection of Thorsen and Westside Highway being a blind intersection, and the perennial problem of folks speeding to the ferry.
 
Traffic problems will again be the topic of the November meeting.  The October meeting will be Friday the 6th at 10:00 in the Courthouse.  The topic will be safety problems posed by wildlife , 
especially deer, their over abundance and the hunting thereof.  
 
Jennie Hodgson, Chair