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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-08-11 Special Minutes - Valley Industrial CommissionNEWS RELEASE 11 August 1959 VALLEY INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING The newly formed Valley Industrial Commission held its first meeting on the evening of Wednesday, 5 August, in the Kent City Hall. Kent Mayor Alex Thornton was host. Other mayors present were Charles 0. Baker of Tukwila, Jack Denise of Auburn, and Joe Baxter of Renton. Mayor Thornton organized the meeting by noting the members from the four municipalities. Each mayor was to appoint six men to serve on the commission. Mayor Baker of Tukwila was chosen to chairman the first meeting. He began by noting that his primary reason for creating this new commission was to keep the leadership where it belonged in the hands of the four municipalities who control the land. Baker visualized the commission doing the following jobs. 1. Select two members from each city's group to comprise a "facilities location and appraisal committee." We must know what we have to offer: size, location, and features of each parcel of industrial property within the four municipalities. Such an overall catalog will be invaluable when we make contact with interested companies. 2. Work towards co- operation in zoning between the four municipalities, particularly in boundary areas. For example we wouldn't want one municipality to establish a 1st residence zone alongside a neighboring town's heavy industry zone. 3. Be eager to work with other outside groups (such as the S.A.I.C., P.S.I.C., etc.) whenever a mutual benefit can be realized 4. Help publicize our valley and its tremendous potentialities. 5. Help interested new industries to locate within our valley. 6. Help existing industries expand. Following a discussion period the commissioners from the four municipalities caucused and elected two members from each group to serve as Directors. (names attached). The Directors will also serve as a nominating committee to bring in to the next meeting suggested names for the permanent offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary Treasurer. The next meeting will be held on the evening of 2 August in the Renton City Hall at 8:00 P. M. John B. Strander Acting Secretary THE PDGET SOUND REGION MUST HAVE NEW INDUSTRIES NOW "The repent Washington State Supreme Court decision overthrowing the plans of the Port of Seattle to industrialize the Duwamish Valley comps as a challenge to the Officials of the area," stated Tukwila Mayor Charles O. Baker today. "We have always held that private industry should do the develop- ing, not the taxpayers, and that the property should remain on the tax rolls," he continued. 1'I am taking the first step forward today," said Mayor Baker. "By urging Mayor Alex Thornton of Kent to join with us in Tukwila in creating a,Valley Industrial Commission. I think that each of us should appoint three- people to plan together for quick action. We must =mom fa$t, other States seem to be outstripping Washington." "'-first thing to do is to meet with the Seattle Area Industrial Council for the purpose of pooling our strength. The men of the SAIC just returned from a trip to the east we want to know how many new industries they were Able to interest. We've got the land, only in- direction can pause further delays. We know the land is suitable because two large groups have already disclosed plans for industrial development: The Andover Corporation and the Great Northern Railway. Together they control over a thousand acres. The Container Corpor- ation of America is operating now, and others are hinting." "Kent,,Tukwila the'other valley municipalities, will play a big role in our State's industrial future, we know our responsibility and we intend to act," concluded Mayor Baker.