The city contracted with Tacoma for enough water for 1,400 new connections, since Enumclaw straddles a Tacoma city water line. Having gotten that guarantee, Enumclaw officials are preparing to open up 500 of those connections, pending state approval of changes in the city sewage-treatment plant designed to accommodate the growth. Hearings will be held, and the city expects to discuss the water allocations until early September, when officials hope to obtain state approval for the additions. The additional water would serve most of the projected population increase of about 3,000 residents in the coming 14 years, Bauer said. The second step is to rejuvenate Enumclaw as a shopping center and a desirable destination.
Tourists come from all over the country for a glimpse of the mountain.
Making central Enumclaw more attractive may be a bigger job. Many of the historic brick downtown storefronts have been hidden by modern, lighter-colored facings. The chamber also has taken over sponsorship of the annual mid-July street fair. Green River Community College, which recently established a branch here, has begun offering computer and marketing courses to help local businesses streamline and better promote themselves. And Sears has broken ground for a new store.