Builders reward Sims for his billion dollar Brightwater plant to sustain development into the future

I think this could have been titled more accurately, "Sims recognized as 2005 Developer Champion". The billion or more taxpayer dollars it will cost to build his Brightwater plant might as well be checks written to subsidize the profits of the region's largest builders. If only Sims and King County had an equal concern that roads are built ahead of development? Unfortunately the state can't threaten to halt growth simply because the roads are inadequate, or they might. But why should Sims be concerned when DOT planners have demonstrated their ability and willingness to simply cook the books to make any road show available capacity; even roads gridlocked during commutes?

How many billions of dollars in road impacts will result from Brightwater and the subsequent growth it will support? And who will pay for those roads now that history shows how willing King County has been to cheat to help the growth industry avoid funding the roads necessary to support its development?

Jan. 26, 2006

Executive Sims recognized as 2005 'Economic Development Champion' for Brightwater-related work

For his leadership role in moving the Brightwater treatment system project forward, King County Executive Ron Sims earned the 2005 Public Sector Economic Development Champion award from enterpriseSeattle at the annual Economic Forecast Conference in Seattle last week.

Sims was nominated for the award by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. At the presentation ceremony Jan. 20, Master Builders Association Chairman Jim Potter referred to Sims as a "champion for the economy and the environment." (I'd go so far as to crown Sims the Builders' champion!)

Potter expressed appreciation for Sims' extraordinary effort in working cooperatively with multiple jurisdictions, permitting agencies and tribal governments on getting the project sited and ready to start construction in early 2006.

The business community (Generic term casually used to refer to the profiteers of growth) had expressed concern that without Brightwater there would not be enough wastewater treatment capacity to support and sustain economic growth over the short-term and long-term. And the state had threatened the possibility of a building moratorium throughout much of King and Snohomish counties if Brightwater is not built and operating by 2010.

Brightwater will create nearly 4,000 building-trade jobs during construction (That's a billion dollars in work for the growth industries), generating over $250 million in payroll. The facility will provide the necessary infrastructure that will support long-term job creation and economic growth in our region over the next several decades. (Will Sims ever focus on the roads necessary to support this and past growth in the region?)

[Snipped]