The city of Bothell and the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board nearly made it through the 30-day appeal period before unincorporated Snohomish County resident Jeff Berg stepped forward.

On Aug. 12 — the 30th day — according to Snohomish County Superior Court documents, Berg filed an appeal that challenges the board’s unanimous decision that Bothell’s annexation proposal met all factors, objectives and planning goals required by Washington State law. The June 27 decision — followed by the board’s final written decision July 13 — cleared the way for citizens to vote in November on whether or not to be annexed into Bothell.

The area known as NEWBA (North, East and West Bothell Annexation) consists of 5.6 square miles of unincorporated Snohomish County territory with a population of 22,283.

Boundary Review Board Chief Clerk Marsha Carlsen said the appeal is in the hands of the court and attorneys and was sent to the auditor’s office Aug. 16.

Berg wasn’t available for comment at post time.

“The city is currently evaluating the appeal against the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board’s unanimous approval of the city of Bothell’s proposed annexation,” said City Manager Bob Stowe. “The process of annexation was originally initiated by citizens who submitted over 1,000 signatures petitioning for annexation election, and we have been looking forward to the opportunity for 22,000 residents to decide their own destiny in terms of local government representation.”

For more information about the Bothell annexation process, go to www.ImagineBothell.com.