The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

There's nothing like property assessments to pique people's interest in local government.

The Wahkiakum County Assessor's office recently mailed property owners their revaluation notices. One person from western Wahkiakum County commented his property value went down.

However, the value of our property on Puget Island went up.

As Island property owners, we weren't alone. Several have told of increases of 8.5 percent, 11.8 percent and 22.5 percent.

Meanwhile, local real estate agents have wondered how property values have gone up. One pointed out that a sale is pending on a nice house outside the dike near my residence. The place has been on the market for a couple of years, and the sale price may be only close to half the previous sale price.

Some friends went to the Internet for research and found a real estate market site, http://www.zillow.com/local-info/WA-home-value. The site reports that although the Los Angeles market went up 5.7 percent in the past year, Seattle's declined 6.5 percent; Portland's was down 3.2 percent, and Salem declined 4.2 percent.

So, many of my Island friends and neighbors are planning to appeal their assessments.

The revaluations have handed a political bouquet of roses to real estate agent Bill Coons, who is candidate for county assessor. Coons is advertising that he'll be available in the Puget Island Fire Hall basically Monday through Saturday at various times to answer questions and help people file appeals.

Good luck to all.