Accepting the unacceptable
Towne Road is a symptom of a larger problem
The county wants you to know what an incredible job they have been doing on the Dungeness Levee Setback Project. As proof, they're touting six awards the project has received from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, three awards from the American Council of Engineering Consultants, and one from the North Olympic Land Trust.
Commissioner Mark Ozias, whose district the restoration project and resulting relocation of Towne Road are occurring, was so confident about the County's performance during a 2020 interview with the Charter Review Commission that he said our elected officials are punching above their weight. He cited the Dungeness Levee Setback Project as an example of the county's overachievement.
Towne Road was never planned to be closed for even one day, but it has entered its third year of closure. As an explanation for the prolonged delay in reopening the vital link between communities, in May, the Board of Commissioners revealed for the first time that "From the very beginning, the trail was a given; the road was not."
It was surprising to learn that a $20 million taxpayer-funded infrastructure project, built twice as wide as needed to accommodate a road, was never intended to have a road on top of it. A week after the commissioners' admission, people began asking reasonable questions, but the commissioners’ response provided no clarity and only added confusion. A week after that, the commissioners circled the wagons and refused to discuss if Towne Road was ever intended to be atop the Towne Road Levee.
A group of regular meeting attendees submitted the following letter over a week ago:
Dear Clallam County Commissioners,
The current meeting format prevents commissioners from answering questions or engaging with the public. We want to facilitate an opportunity for commissioners to answer questions and have conceived a mechanism to allow this.
We believe that a 'question session' during a Monday work session could be beneficial. If included in the agenda, this session would provide a platform for short, direct questions, with the duration determined by the length of the responses.
Allowing this during a work session will also benefit those who cannot attend the meetings in person. Constituents won't be excluded if they aren't privy to the conversations that happen after meetings or are unable to make an appointment during the commissioners' office hours. Not only would this format be more inclusive and honor the commissioners' first mission of providing "effective communication," but it may also save the commissioners time by not having to answer the same questions repeatedly, thereby enhancing the efficiency of meetings.
Commissioner Ozias, on your campaign's Facebook page, you promised "increased transparency in local government." We respect and appreciate this commitment.
Commissioner French, in the 2022 voter's pamphlet, you wrote, "I will prioritize robust public engagement." We support you in making this a priority.
Commissioner Johnson, during a recent debate, your opponent criticized the commissioners and said, "Commission meetings aren't conducive to public engagement." You and your co-commissioners can change this stigma.
We kindly request your consideration of our proposal for a question session. We look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.
Appreciatively,
Erick Fehrmann, Denise Lapio, Kärin Cummins, and Jeff Tozzer
The commissioners have not acknowledged the letter.
The following comment was left on the Clallam County Watchdog website this week:
Locals may recognize the commenter as a former Department of Community Development Director. Mary Winborn, who headed the department that managed the project, says the road was intended to be atop the levee.
Someone isn't telling the truth to Clallam County. If a 0.6-mile stretch of county road is so riddled with deception, cost overruns, and coverups, how can we trust our leaders to tackle upcoming projects like the Dungeness River Off-Channel Reservoir? The commissioners’ Mission Statement promises “effective communication” delivered in a “prompt, responsive manner,” but they won’t even honor their campaign promises and answer rational questions.
Some would say that’s unacceptable, but it’s only unacceptable when we quit accepting it.
Updates
First, the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society Board of Directors has issued an official statement regarding the closure of its canine campus. You can read it by clicking here and scrolling to the end of the article “Humane Society hits ruff patch.”
Second, the North Olympic Land Trust sent an email to current and past supporters after a recent CCWD article; however, it does not address Wendy Clark-Getzin’s role or the organization’s stance on planning a workshop that supported the involuntary confiscation of land from residents and preparing for the arrival of refugees. The statement can be read by clicking here and scrolling to the end of the article “North Olympic Land (dis)Trust.”
People’s Forum reminder
Meet two candidates running for State Senate. Tomorrow (Thursday), July 18th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Fairview Grange Hall, 161 Lake Farm Road, Port Angeles
They can start being transparent, by disclosing what "global input" they requested. Was it the tribe saying we are global and thanks for requesting our input? Who was this "global" entity that they requested input from? Or Is Wendy Clark Getzin just plain senile or loco, and just writes letters to people thanking them for things they don't do?
The reeds give way in the wind and give the wind away. -Anonymous.