North Sound News

Lake Serene homeowner plan to sue Snohomish County over flooding

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — A homeowner along Lake Serene in Lynnwood has filed paperwork showing he intends to sue Snohomish County over flooding concerns.

Marc Bhend has lived in his home for 37 years. Though the water has receded, it’s still almost 2 feet higher than it should be.

The county’s emergency bypass, finished less than two weeks ago, hasn't done much to help homeowners.

“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Bhend said. “Unfortunately, Snohomish County is not cooperating very well.”

Bhend said he believes the county is 100 percent responsible for the flooding because it approved the new development in the lake's watershed that sends more water into the lake.

Bhend, along with several of his neighbors, gave the county council an earful today.

“I would just like service,” Debie Bly-Olsen said.

“We want this fixed, one way or another,” Mark Fussell added.

But they disagree with Snohomish County on who should pay for the fix.

The county says the problem is an outflow pipe, on private property, that isn’t properly draining the lake.

So - officials have proposed building a new drain, but want the 95 lakefront homeowners to help foot the bill.

“If fairness is considered, and if you'd be willing to charge everyone in watershed equally who is contributing water to the lake, I'd accept this,” Joe Drazich said.

The proposal would cost an estimated $2,000 dollars to the lakefront homeowners, but Bhend says it's not about the money.

That’s why he has filed paperwork intending to sue Snohomish County, the State of Washington and the Army Corps of Engineers.

“We're being held hostage, let's put it this way,” Bhend said. “For us, it's more the principle of it.”

Snohomish County said a recent survey shows a majority of the lakefront homeowners support the cost-sharing proposal.

The county council will take up this issue again next Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.