Seniors press council for part‑time driver; community leaders preview events site after successful log show

During the public‑comment portion of the Buckley City Council meeting, multiple speakers highlighted community services and events. Janice James, who identified herself and spoke during the second public‑comment slot, asked council to consider funding a part‑time driver for the senior center (three to four days per week). She said volunteer drivers are largely retired and many are fatigued; senior participants rely on the meal and social contact the center provides. Staff and a councilmember earlier noted the senior center’s participation figures for Jan–Jun 2026 (244 unduplicated visits; 8,953 duplicated check‑ins) and that director Snodgrass has repeatedly applied for grant funding for a driver but been denied.

Council member Bergerson had earlier outlined a $15,000 part‑time driver proposal for the next budget cycle as one potential solution and encouraged interested residents to contact the senior center. Janice James emphasized the operational need and said 3–4 days would make a meaningful difference for members who depend on the center’s meal and social services.

In other public comments, Taylor Stark, Buckley Chamber president (joining by Zoom), thanked staff, police and fire for support of the successful log show and noted a wine‑walk event and permit work coming in September. Megan Rhodes announced a new community events website, plateauevents.org (linked with an Enumclaw site), designed to allow free event postings for cities, nonprofits and businesses and to provide weekly email event reminders to subscribers. Rhodes also said nearly 800 people visited the Foothills Museum over the log show weekend.

The council did not take immediate action on funding a senior‑center driver during this meeting; council and staff noted tight budgets and encouraged further staff follow‑up and inclusion of the need in upcoming budget discussions.