Councilman Nehring's May Newsletter

Dear North County Neighbors,

April was a busy month for my office and Snohomish County. In this month’s newsletter I will cover some of the highlights including The State of the Station address, our 2019 budget retreat, the TradeUP! Event at MPHS, and the arrival of the USS Ralph Johnson to Naval Station Everett.

On April 12th, 2018, I attended the State of the Station address where Captain Mark Lakamp (Station Commander) gave an update and shared important information about Naval Station Everett. Captain Lakamp detailed the innovative ways that the station and its fleet are saving energy as well as their commitment to clean water. He also announced the arrival of a sixth guided-missile destroyer, the USS Ralph Johnson, which arrived at port in Everett on Friday, April 27th. This was Captain Lakamp’s last State of the Station address. We are thankful to Capt. Lakamp for his service in Everett since 2015.

Capt. Lakamp giving the State of the Station address

 
As I have written before, we are getting an early start on the 2019 budget process. Last Tuesday, the Council joined the Executive and finance staff for a budget retreat. At this retreat we discussed and set some guiding principles for the 2019 budget. These parameters include a focus on cost savings, new revenue sources (without raising taxes), and prioritizing spending. I am encouraged by the thoughtful discussion and true willingness to consider the long term impacts of our yearly budget decisions. As we move forward, I will continue to fight for responsible budgets that properly fund our essential county services without increasing the tax burden on hard-working residents.

I had the privilege of attending the TradeUP! event at Marysville Pilchuck High School last Thursday, April 26th. TradeUP! is an event that brings construction, emergency services, utilities, and transit workers out to local high schools to demonstrate what a day in the life of a trades worker looks like. Students are able to participate in hands-on activities including operating a backhoe, spraying a fire hose, and working with electrical equipment, to name a few. Over 75 students participated at the MPHS event. The event is intended to show high school students different career options that do not require a college degree but are just as important for a productive workforce. With the Arlington-Marysville MIC being designated as a regional job center, we are projected to see 25,000 local, family-wage jobs in the manufacturing and industrial sectors in the next couple of decades. Events like TradeUP! are important in ensuring that we have trained men and women ready to take those local jobs.

Students at the TradeUP! event had the opportunity to get hands on experience with construction equipment

As I mentioned, the USS Ralph Johnson arrived at its homeport at Naval Station Everett on April 27th. I was honored to attend the homecoming, joining navy families and other officials to welcome the sailors home. I had the opportunity to meet Commander Jason Patterson, Captain of the USS Ralph Johnson. Everett has hosted the US Navy at NSE since 1994. Our communities have been gracious hosts to our sailors and their families and we benefit greatly by their presence here. Keep an eye out in the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times for my recent op-ed about our relationship with the military in Snohomish County. 

County Councilman Nate Nehring, Commander Jason Patterson, County Councilman Terry Ryan, and Snohomish County Veteran's Liaison Josh Dugan at the USS Ralph Johnson homecoming

I send out newsletters on a monthly basis to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing the residents of North Snohomish County on the County Council. Please feel free to reach out to me at 425-388-3494 or Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.

Sincerely,

Nate Nehring
Councilman, District 1

Snohomish County Council 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609 Everett, Washington 98201 8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building Phone: 425-388-3494 E-Mail: Nate.Nehring@snoco.org  Russell Wiita, Legislative Aide