"If we ignore them, maybe they'll go away"

Towne Road still awaits approval from Tribe

The County has submitted its fifth draft of a stormwater monitoring plan to the Jamestown Tribe and is hopeful this one will be accepted. The monitoring plan, insisted upon by the Tribe, outlines how runoff will be monitored over the next several years and ensures that the County will pay for it. Such a plan is an anomaly for any county road in this state, but the Tribe has deemed it necessary for this 0.6-mile stretch of Towne Road. Once the Tribe is satisfied with the County’s plan, the Army Corps of Engineers will approve the permit modification.

“As you know, the work has already begun. We’re operating under the existing permit,” explained Department of Community Development Director Bruce Emery at Tuesday’s Commissioner meeting. “We will not embark on any of the additional items that are covered in the permit modification request until that modification is issued, so we are proceeding. Minor risk, but our expectation is that the remaining issues are so minimal, we believe we’re already there. There should be a pretty quick turnaround, we believe, to getting that modification request issued from Army Corps.”

Public comment

The following was given as public comment at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting.

At the beginning of the Towne Road debacle, the questions were easy. The microphone at the podium was defective, and people online couldn't hear some of the testimony. Eight months ago, we asked if it could be fixed, and we were told that it was being looked into. The microphone still cuts out.

We asked that the tables be positioned like they are for other meetings in this room so that those presenting to the Commissioners don't have their backs to the gallery. This simple change would allow us to fully hear and understand what is being said.  However, we were informed that these public meetings are for the commissioners, not the public. This exclusion, with presenters continuing to speak with their back to the gallery, leaves us feeling disconnected and struggling to hear the softer voices.

We have persistently requested an opportunity to receive answers to our questions, hoping to prevent the same issues from being raised week after week.  The commissioners, however, have reiterated that public comment is designed for them to "listen, not respond." This lack of response has left us feeling unheard and our concerns unresolved.  

We've asked if an agenda item could be added that allows commissioners to address public comments. This would be similar to how other meetings in this county are conducted. We were told that the commissioners would consider it, but nothing has changed.

We asked if Commissioner Ozias' comment that Towne Road was never intended to be built atop the Towne Road Levee was true. This was never communicated to the public, and after a $20 million taxpayer-funded project, it seemed like a reasonable question. The commissioners didn't clarify or refute the statement; they remained silent.

It could be that it's an election year or that in a depressed economy, locals are interested in how you are spending our money.  For whatever reason, people are becoming more engaged.  This increased public engagement, as evidenced by the first Clallam County Watchdog article to pass 4,000 views in a single day and the website having more than 900 subscribers, is a clear sign that the public wants change and more transparency in local government.

The 2nd vision of the Commissioners' mission statement is: "Providing comprehensive and exemplary public service levels in a prompt, responsive manner."  

It should be changed to read, "If we ignore them, maybe they’ll go away."

Jeff Tozzer, Sequim