Find out the facts early

Talk of incorporating Silverdale is again wafting in the local breeze. But for it to be more than just talk, it’s going to be up to the residents of Silverdale who live in the Urban Growth Area to jump on this bandwagon.

Sixty percent of voters were against incorporation in 2000, but that was seven years ago. Will it be different this time around? There’s only one way to find out and that’s for the stakeholders to get together and discuss whether or not incorporating Silverdale is feasible and logical.

Longtime Silverdale resident Hank Mann-Sykes is getting the ball rolling with an initial meeting, but it’s important everyone understands the facts before this process begins. Tonight’s meeting, to gauge the community’s interest and to get the legal facts out there, is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Silverdale Beach Hotel in the ballroom.

Transparency is key, especially on a matter as convoluted as incorporation. It’s a long process that’s going to take input from the community, especially those who will be directly impacted by such a large change. All too often people gripe and moan about what’s going on in the community, but rarely do they actually take an active stance on local issues. More seats are empty than filled at Central Kitsap Community Council meetings and it’s one of the few forums for public comment.

Should Silverdale become a city and have a mayor and a decision-making city council, this could change, but we’ll never know unless an attempt is made to begin the process.

Active community involvement is going to be essential in incorporating Silverdale if that’s the will of the voters. But sitting around watching the process from afar isn’t going to do any good, whether you’re for or against incorporation. If you live in Silverdale’s UGA, get in on the process from the beginning. Should this effort go forth, the more you know the better to help you make an informed decision about the future of our community.

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