King County deputies are already lining up for the White Center storefront deputy position only days after County government said it was coming back, and days before the job has even been officially posted.

That’s the word from KCSO Capt. Joseph Hodgson, addressing the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council on Sept. 1.

“Thanks to some great work by the community and some help from the (King County) council and executive’s office we are getting our storefront deputy back – it’s going to be tremendous,” Hodgson said.

While details are still being ironed out for the position, Hodgson said the successful candidate will have a lawful eye dedicated to White Center 40 hours a week, and hopefully be in place by Oct. 1 (although delays are possible).

The storefront deputies in West Hill and Boulevard Park currently work four 10-hour days from Tuesday to Friday, and he said White Center’s deputy will likely do the same, sharing information and resources with the storefront deputy at the Greenbridge housing complex and White Center’s community service officer.

The question was raised as to whether White Center’s last deputy, Jeff Hancock, might be headed back to town. Hodgson said Hancock will be a strong candidate if he’s interested, but he works closer to home now and may want to stay in his current position.

Shifting to what’s happening on the streets of White Center, Hodgson said he was pleased with the arrest of Anthony Haroldlee Smith, who pleaded not guilty on Sept. 1 to second degree murder in the shooting death of Sweetheart Failautusi, but they are still actively searching for the two men who accompanied Smith on Aug. 16, the night of the shooting.

“They have certainly gone into hiding and are trying to avoid us and possibly some other individuals,” he said.

North Highline Fire District Chief Steve Marstrom addressed the council as well, doling out the latest on the future of the station located on S.W. 112th St.

Marstrom came out of retirement about 12 months ago to right the district he described as a “ship full of holes” with “nobody holding onto the rudder.”

And a year later, he said things seem to be headed in a good, albeit uncertain, direction.

There are four options for the future of the one-station fire district that services 19,000 people living in North Highline, according to Marstrom.

Ideally, he said, North Highline gets annexed – either by Seattle or Burien.

“It would be a great benefit to this community when it comes to fire and life-saving services,” he said.

If annexation doesn’t happen, the second best option in his mind is a contract renegotiation with King County District #2 (covering Burien and Normandy Park), and that is what he’s trying for now. Marstrom said the in-the-works contract with District #2 would eliminate his position as chief of the North Highline district, leaving District #2’s chief at the helm of both districts. Ultimately, he said the new contract would save North Highline $200,000 a year in 2012. Marstrom said the new contract could be in place by Oct. 1.

The third option was signing a contract with Seattle Fire, which Marstrom said is far too expensive.

And finally, the North Highline district could become independent, but he said the $2 million in revenue they accrue yearly would lead to “service levels akin to 25 years ago,” and therefore not an ideal route.

For those interested in speaking up on the future of the fire district, there are two meetings coming up. Both are held at the North Highline Fire District building at 1243 S.W. 112th St at the following times: Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. and Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.