Bonney Lake Council to vote on renaming Sumner-Buckley Highway in honor of veterans

The goal of Veterans Day may have come and gone, but the Bonney Lake City Council tomorrow night is expected to vote on an ordinance officially renaming in honor of veterans and first responders the portion of Sumner-Buckley Highway that passes through the city.

If the ordinance passes, the stretch of road from state Route 410 to Angeline Road will be named Veteran Memorial Drive East.

The idea was initially proposed by the Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society in 2008, but no action was taken. Earlier this year, as the 10th anniversaries of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the start of the Afghanistan war approached, Councilmember Mark Hamilton re-opened the matter.

The council was generally receptive to the idea, but longtime residents and owners of businesses along the road balked at changing the name and asked the council to reconsider the change.

After tabling the idea for several weeks, the issue is back on the agenda for Tuesday's council meeting and appears to have the support of enough members of the city council to pass.

According to council agenda bill, Sumner-Buckley Highway was chosen because its name is "no longer relevant as the roadway has been mostly replaced by [state Route] 410 and neither the cities of Sumner nor Buckley currently have a portion of Sumner-Buckley Highway East within their city limits.

"The city council desires to add to its local identity and build public support for a Veterans Memorial Park," it reads. "Thus, Sumner-Buckley Highway East appears an ideal candidate for renaming."

Hamilton has also in the past said the road is a good choice to honor veterans because of its historic nature as a military road between Fort Walla Walla and Fort Steilacoom.

The city this month also signed a letter of understanding with the Greater Bonney Lake Veterans Memorial Committee establishing the triangle at the intersection of SR410 and Main Street as the location for a future memorial site.

The council is expected to vote on the matter during Tuesday's council meeting, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Justice Center, 9002 Main Street.

Contact Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald Reporter Brian Beckley at bbeckley@courierherald.com or 360-825-2555 ext. 5058.

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