Yielding to the inevitable

By JACK HOPKINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Police are handling an increased number of domestic violence, vandalism and disturbing-the-peace incidents. They even had a recent hint of gang activity. But major crime has avoided the area so far and the town is still relatively peaceful, Luther said.

"This is still a great place to live," Botts added. "Hopefully, we can keep much of what we have now."

Ellingson, who has lived in Black Diamond for 16 years and is a training coordinator for The Boeing Co., isn't so sure that's possible.

"They want to aggressively and actively pursue business growth and bring in companies like Intel," she said. "But the infrastructure -- the roads and the sewer lines and the water system -- isn't capable of handling that."

Ellingson fears new businesses and residents won't provide enough revenue to pay for needed improvements, and she worries that the burden will be put on current residents.

But city officials say the city's water system already needs $2 million to $3 million in improvements and new residents can help carry the financial burden.

Black Diamond Councilman Mario Sorci says about 35 percent of the town's residents live in poverty, and that's exactly why the community must grow. "We need ore people and more houses," he said.

But Ellingson thinks the town needs to devote its energy to promoting tourism, not to building industrial parks and encouraging massive population growth.

"Our setting and our history lend themselves well to tourism," she said.