A slate of King County officials, including Councilmember Joe McDermott, will visit Vashon this evening for an annual open house for the county’s Community Service Area program. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at McMurray Middle School.

Representatives at the meeting will give an overview of the Community Services Area (CSA) program, which began a year ago, and discuss county issues relevant to Vashon and the CSA grant program.

Alan Painter, who manage’s the CSA program, said there would be updates on several county projects, such as a loan program for residents in the Marine Recovery Area to upgrade their septic systems and the county service center’s move into Vashon town. Representatives from several agencies, including the sheriff’s office, the Department of Transportation and Public Health – Seattle & King County, will be on hand to talk and answer questions.

The county introduced the CSA program a year ago as the new model for engaging residents of unincorporated King County. The program was piloted on Vashon, and there are now five other CSAs. Painter said he thought the new model was working well.

“The good folks on Vashon are very active in the community and with elected representatives as well. We’re just another forum for making it easier for folks … to be heard on issues of conversation,” he said.