By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor
Community councils are back in session for fall, and last night, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council resumed its meeting schedule at NH Fire District HQ in White Center.
NEW MEMBER: The council has a new member! Since it is no longer county-sanctioned, its past process of community at-large elections no longer applies. For the first time since that change, a proposed new member appeared: Dr. Elizabeth Gordon from Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ in White Center asked to join, and was approved by unanimous vote. She talked about her business’s concerns with the community’s well-being and said she perceived that NHUAC was a place to voice concerns and get things done. She believes it’s “important to be part of the council that carries …concerns” to county government, since North Highline has no direct government representation. Gordon took a seat with the council at the start of the meeting, participating immediately after she was voted in. Before the meeting ended, president Barbara Dobkin reiterated that they’re interested in adding other community members to the council – if you’re interested, contact her at bdobkin@northhighlineuac.org.
HEALTH-INSURANCE CHANGES: Erika Nuerenberg from the Seattle-King County Public Health Department came to talk about the coming changes in health insurance – that department is leading enrollment efforts in the area. There aren’t specific rates for the unincorporated area but they estimate somewhere between 20 and 30 percent are uninsured – area rates for cities range from 15 percent in Seattle to 30 percent in Seatac. They are hoping to get the uninsured percentage down to four percent countywide, but are worried about people who will choose not to enroll even though the costs will be low, such as people under 30. There are two ways to become insured under the new system that starts open enrollment next month: One is Medicaid, which will be expanding eligibility. The other is through the “exchange” system, which will include subsidies for people whose income is up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (currently around $11,000/person).
Right now, they’re working on education; next, “targeted enrollment,” which will focus on people with barriers such as culture or income that might keep them from getting enrolled. You can read all about the upcoming changes by going to this special county webpage.
COMMUNITY HEALTH INFO: Zachary Howard from the Puget Sound Regional Council talked about another aspect of health – trying to support healthier lifestyles through information that will be provided in an online toolkit meant to be especially useful for planners. A $120,000 grant is being used for this; it’s part of a bigger Community Transformation Grant program. The “grant intervention area” includes North Highline as well as South Park, Georgetown, Beacon Hill, and Southeast Seattle inside Seattle city limits, plus Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, Renton, Seatac, and Tukwila. New member Gordon suggested that the toolkit include information specifically helpful to community volunteers, as well as elements that will ensure the information is presented in a lively manner, and reflects the community.
CRIME TRENDS: “Crime continues to be high as we often see in the summer,” began Deputy BJ Myers. Burglaries and car prowls have been running high all summer long, he noted. “We have more than usual going on in the Top Hat area, particularly,” 
so if you live there, you will want to make extra sure there’s nothing in your car, and you might also want to be sure that there are no overgrown bushes or ladders that would provide access to your house. “We think we know some of the suspects,” he added, and they are checking them out, “and we’re also trying some other more proactive methods to catch these burglars in the act or before they commit these crimes.” He believes numbers will start dropping soon since summer’s over, among other factors. Taking questions from the council and attendees, Deputy Myers was presented an item that he explained was a security cap from a liquor bottle.”There’s been a high dollar value of liquor theft since it’s been in the grocery stores,” he noted. When you find one, contact the store – which will usually be mentioned on the device – and law enforcement. There was also a discussion of evidence of drug use and camping at some local parks. Deputy Myers said KCSO detectives are looking closely at increased heroin use in the area.
SW ROXBURY SAFETY: Chris Stripinis visited from the Westwood-Roxbury-Arbor Heights Community Council and talked about their request to the Seattle Department of Transportation for a study. They’re still awaiting a response from SDOT and expect it sometime this month. Their original announcement of the request can be seen on the WWRHAH website. Council members and attendees asked about the 16th/Delridge/Roxbury intersection in particular, and noted the crash two years ago in which a woman was hit by a bus.
NORTH SHOREWOOD PARK GRAND OPENING: The new play equipment will have an official ribboncutting on September 17th. NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin joked that it’s so busy now, she can’t play on the equipment any more!
FIELDHOUSE’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY: As reported earlier this month on WCN, a big event is coming up on September 14th to mark the 75th anniversary of the Fieldhouse at Steve Cox Memorial Park.
HICKLIN LAKE: Dick Thurnau from Friends of Hicklin Lake was asked for an update now that the first “floating islands” have been installed. He says another grant is being sought, and the deadline is September 15th, but otherwise, it’ll take a while before they know for sure what the newly installed floating islands are doing to help the water-quality help.
NEXT MEETING – PUBLIC-SAFETY FORUM: That’s the next NHUAC-presented community meeting, set for Thursday, October 3rd, 7 pm, at the North Highline FD HQ. Sex offenders will be one topic, because residents have voiced concerns about how many offenders are living in this community, and how they are monitored. KCSO’s new Major for the area as well as a local Metro Transit deputy are expected, as well as Community Service Officer Peter Truong.
