CLE ELUM, Wash. — The city of Cle Elum has declared bankruptcy, leaving the small Kittitas County town grappling with uncertainty about its future.
The town, named by the Kittitas Tribe after the nearby “swift water,” now finds itself financially underwater.
“It’s a wonderful rural town, just a wonderful place,” said Shawn Daly, a resident who expressed disbelief at the situation. “To tell you the truth, it’s like a bad dream.”
Cle Elum Mayor Matthew Lundh told KOMO News the city declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy this week, citing insolvency.
“We felt like we had to take this step in order to, you know, stop the clock,” Lundh explained.
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