74 Comments
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Harold Crossley's avatar

Such a shame...a worthwhile endeavor is ruined by secret deals engineered by aristocrats who think they have no responsibility to their donors to be transparent. What happened to the folks who were demanding no kings recently? Apparently that doesn't apply to local king makers.

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Greg O.'s avatar

It keeps getting clearer and clearer. Anything JTKT touches has corruption written all over it.

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No One Important's avatar

Organized crime under our noses?

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Greg O.'s avatar

Pretty sure that is the definition of government.

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Denise Lapio's avatar

Sadly, this type of abject pandering by H4H will lead to many people not donating to it. People have good hearts and want to help, but non-transparency, favoritism, and greed sour those good intentions. Again, look at those involved and ask yourself, "Do I trust these people with my money?" The answer is probably NO!

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Chris Clark's avatar

You are correct. I no longer donate or shop there anymore. I feel 4PA is more transparent and helpful

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No One Important's avatar

Ditto. HFH was my go-to charity, once upon a time, until I saw how much corruption was within the organization.

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MK's avatar

Yes, a fantastic organization to support if one is inclined to donate.

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Jacob Seegers's avatar

OPM and lack of ethics: the fuel for nearly all agency issues in the public, private and non-profit spaces. Only invested stakeholders can the moderate the impact. Thanks for your efforts here, CCW.

A level (and lower) playing field for all! We need pre-permitted small housing options that can be completed by landowners for under $75k.

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No One Important's avatar

As I said earlier: A shed, large enough for a bed, heater, and chemical toilet can be built for $1000, or purchased from Home Depot or Costco for $5K INSTALLED. How much tax money and donations are spent on a HFH home? https://www.costco.com/installed-sheds-by-gorilla---prime-shed.product.4000257644.html

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Jacob Seegers's avatar

Absolutely. Also, containers are economical, water-tight and structurally sound. Most local engineers are not interested, but someone designing and selling plans and working with the county to pre-approve them could build a nice business while providing a truly affordable entry-level housing option.

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

where is the money for the nonprofit with that idea?

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No One Important's avatar

Habitat for Humanity, if they would stop squandering their money and use it for the intended purposes.

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MK's avatar

Might be a good offshoot for 4PA to initiate?

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Chad Young's avatar

Sadly these non for profits start with good intentions. And in time it seems as and aveenue of legal corruption. Id like to see the pay structure of the management level at the local habitat.

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Lawrence Martin's avatar

A project this size I'm sure is very complicated. I have to think that the Director is way over her ski's on this. I'd have to think you need to hire an engineering firm with plenty of expertise in larger developments. Now she has a failed $40k attempt and the optics are not good. I'll be interested to see if she's competent enough to recover or moves on to another "opportunity".

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Billy T Wilson's avatar

I have to get on an NGO and go visit exotic places, vacation, good food, at YOUR expense. Damn what a deal.

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No One Important's avatar

Don't forget skimming off the top to support a lavish lifestyle that grossly exceeds what your salary can provide.

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John Worthington's avatar

Have lunch with Trudeau.

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jeff swegle's avatar

Clallam county has a big problem with misappropriation of public funds,$$$ that gets sent and used for other countries to squander why?maybe there is freebies if certain givers travel to where $$$ is given.Now we see mass $$$ probably going to private housing projects.Hopefully voters will be educated to see how some elected are abusing tax $$$.Habitat for humanity needs another admin or just boycott it.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Boycott HFH? The real issue is how the Tribe gets their hands on everything without competition or due diligence. Why wouldn’t they get the contracts? If any of us could run “TAX FREE, SELF AUDITING” projects, that playing field would start to even out. Oh, they won’t lose any money, the federal grants will reward them.

For a people I held in high esteem, through out the country and most of my life, that “new car” smell has turned into 5 day old fish. (another free for all if you are a member). So painfully obvious that they care so little about relationships in this town with non-tribal people. I will never go in the longhouse again. I give them a personal salute as I drive by to competitors. Just when I think they won’t sink further down in the slime they believe is theirs anyway, they do! Congrats to the tail wagging the dog.

Good native name: Tail Wags Dog.

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jeff swegle's avatar

The HFH issue is according to resources is they have given at least $ 400,000 of donated $ to other countries, which is probably not what people expect them to do nor is it acceptable.

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John Worthington's avatar

Sharing the wealth. Equity...

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John Worthington's avatar

"Restorative justice" for 300 please Alex.

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No One Important's avatar

Typical corruption, a specialty of Democrats, especially local ones.

HFH has become a scam soon after its inception.

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MK's avatar

Does anyone know whether all phases of a project have to comply with state law and county grant guidelines if it accepts/uses any of those monies, or just the specific phase/s the monies are spent on?

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Jeff Tozzer's avatar

I wish I could, and hopefully someone will. These Opportunity Funds come from a sales tax here in CC. I believe they are remitted to the state and then returned to us, so I think they are state monies.

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MK's avatar
1dEdited

I recall one of our BOCCC, or Mielke (sp?), make a statement that for the monies to be appropriated for a project that the project has to comply with the state/county bidding requirements. My assumption is that CC HFH wanted to avoid that requirement for the excavation work and took a pass on those monies at that time electing to re-apply for them later when other work that JST doesn't engage in would be opened up for bid. But did CC HFH shoot themselves in the foot by allowing any portion of the project to be performed without following the state/county bidding requirements if the requirements are that all phases must comply? Can the county actually release those monies to them because of the actions they took?

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Jeff Tozzer's avatar

If the deputy prosecuting attorney signed off on it, they must have found a way to work around it.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Which is also code for “our money”!

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

Open Secrets shows that Habitat for Humanity "affiliates" donate to lobbying groups and political campaigns. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/habitat-for-humanity/summary?id=D000043783

It's grown into a huge foundation. Its origin was an ecumenical Christian ministry. Its run like a franchise, though. Each group, is a different chapter. So, some are better than others. The corporate, and their affiliates do spend a good chunk of $ on lobbyists, and toss money at political campaigns, mostly Democrats).

One big complaint is the lack of transparency. A family might buy into the program invest hours and hours of "sweat equity" and if they are lucky enough to be chosen to receive a home, the cost of the mortgage or the terms are vague. Some people have complained bitterly that their mortgage increased (because of land assessment/property taxes, insurance, etc.) and they couldn't afford it. Sometimes a local Habitat will negotiate, and cut the mortgage payments, only for the new homeowner to find a balloon payment notice at the end of the year. There have been allegations of discrimination, harassment/bullying, sexual exploitation and abuse, bribery/kickbacks.

It's a topic frequently discussed on Reddit. There are people who worked for the organization, moved up in the ranks, but claim that only 20% of any profits go to building. The remainder go to the corporate pockets. That the organization chooses the "most photogenic" to build for, and not the people who need help the most. Some treads talk about the income requirements are more middle-class than lower. That people get sucked in by the carrot of "a home" and are used like indentured servants. The quality of materials is low, and/or used (appliances) and, the buildings are not made to last.

But the biggest complaint, and I understand it greatly: they infill in a lot in an urban center. Up to 100 cars show up, with all the volunteers driving there individually (unlike a real construction crew) and take up all the parking for blocks. Trashed the neighborhood (discarded food wrappers, screws, nails). The neighbors get pissed off. Petty crime goes way up. Then the family moves in and absolutely does not fit into the character of the neighborhood, and becomes a disruptive force.

It's a great idea.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Mimi: how did you get so smart?

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

I was always labeled as "learning disabled" in school and put into the slow classes....

it was a motivator for me.

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Kathy Bare's avatar

President Carter must be rolling in his grave. Habitat for Humanity was a home which the receiver of that home helped with the process of building. That way they were invested in their home and would care about it. This is not even close

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

Don't kid yourself. Carter may have been "involved" in 1984, but in the years since, he was there for the photo-ops. (He donated "one week of his time" every year.) The organization HE was involved with for years, changed greatly in the early 90's.

The organization began in 1976 (Millard Fuller and his wife). He was the unwavering corporate leader until he was forced out after nearly 30 years (claimed unfounded allegations of sexual misconduct with former employees). He was ousted with no pension.

The guy was a "hugger and kisser" as Carter wrote in a letter defending Fuller (March 26, 1990). He admitted to "some similar kinds of relationships". And, John Wieland, on board for during the change-over said that "our conclusion was that Millard was a hugger and was misinterpreted, and some people went out of their way to make something bigger out of something that wasn't really that big"

Fuller maintained it was false, and a way to change the foundation. Carter declined to comment on the new group. His involvement became largely a photo-op one.

Everyone, at the time, saw it as an excuse to change the board get rid of Fuller, and expand Habitat's operations, and budgets, salaries and focus.

Same old thing: hostile takeover to make way for the new boys in town.

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No One Important's avatar

A shed, large enough for a bed, heater, and chemical toilet can be built for $1000, or purchased from Home Depot or Costco for $5K INSTALLED. How much tax money and donations are spent on a HFH come? https://www.costco.com/installed-sheds-by-gorilla---prime-shed.product.4000257644.html

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Garry Blankenship's avatar

Regardless of the discriminating to end discrimination and sending our taxes to other countries, once this housing development is completed we will no longer have homelessness - - - right ?

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MK's avatar

Yea, as far as I'm concerned these entities can't fix the underlying problem(s). Biggest one I see is opportunity through gainful employment.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

You are precious! Yes Gary, there is a Santa!

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Cindy Robins's avatar

A person still needs to qualify for a HFH home. Income guidelines, have the down payment, proof of being able to pay monthly, better than good credit score, ect., and be able to put in sweat equity. It’s a difficult process. Many homeless people don’t qualify.

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John Morton's avatar

If you work for H4H, don’t ask questions.

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m b's avatar

How many of the Carlsburg homes have been committed or sold?

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Donna Barr's avatar

I'm still waiting for any of you to offer solutions to the unhoused situation. Any ideas? Glad to hear them.

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Lloyd's avatar

1. Deport all the illegal foreign invaders.

2. Stop coddeling the drug addicts. They will either go back to where they were bussed here from or get jobs and become contributing members of society.

3. Stop importing liberals here to diversify the area from other cities. Yes, we know they are doing it.

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Steve O.'s avatar

Lloyd are you indicating that "diversity" is not our greatest strength? LOL The social experiment has failed everywhere yet our local leaders still promote it. I learned a very important lesson when I attended a "diverse" high school. All of the adults lied to me about the benefits it offered. The Boomers living here still live in a false world.

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Donna Barr's avatar

All humans are from Africa. Child abuse by parents is a major contributor to drug abuse. And as for us liberals - Blue AND RED all know up here that we're socialists or we're dead. Selfishness doesn't work in the woods. And.... now give some realistic answers, instead of copying QAnon.

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Lloyd's avatar

You may be from africa. Not me. My roots hail back to the garden of Eden. You are a socialist/communist. No such thing as a red liberal and we are not socialist. If you cant handel it in the woods, go back to the city. And stop thinking you are speaking for us all. We dont think like you. Never will.

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Mark Swanson's avatar

We start by barring homeless people from camping on public land. Either go to a shelter or go to another county that afford to help you.

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No One Important's avatar

First, shelter should be offered TEMPORARILY for someone genuinely down on their luck, not for people who knowingly made bad choices and addicted THEMSELVES to narcotic. For the latter, completely shunning them, letting them suffer the consequences of their choices, are the best motivators for them to seek rehab, during which TEMPORARY housing would be reasonable.

The problem is that our politicians make the addicts' life choices "okay" and support them, at our expense, which is total bullshit. If Oziass [sic] wants to provide the addicts with shelters, pizza, and boofing kits, he should open his own home and pay out of his own pocket.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

You know addicts are victims. Someone must force them to be high all the time, which costs money. What can you do? Steal money from family, friends and strangers. It’s not their fault, that’s why we must provide those clean pipes and drug gear. If you know me, you realize this is my message sent with sarcasm and irritation. Must be getting easier to be homeless!

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No One Important's avatar

Spoons made me fat! I am a victim too. I want tax money to pay for gym membership to send me a fat farm. :-) :-) :-)

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

I think I should sue Hersheys. It’s really their fault, not the consumers !

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Steve O.'s avatar

I might support a program that would offer free fentanyl to the vagrants but only if Narcan becomes illegal. That might be the only solution to the homeless problem.

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Lawrence Martin's avatar

The Salvation Army operates on a ZERO tolerance CHRISTIAN model for the addicted. They pretty much make every dollar count. This goes against the leftist ideology of faux dignity, equity, inclusiveness and all the other bull shit talking points. Some will exclaim that we should be our brothers keeper. Then my "brother" steals the copper wiring from home, steals my propane tank and kids bicycle and bathes in my neighbors hot tub when they are at work. Do I feel sad for the addicted? Sure. But its ridiculous to enable bad behaviour. As a society we have a social contract to care for those that truly cannot care for themselves. We are failing at that. The Reagan, Bush, Clinton era saw many State and Federal funded mental facilities closed. But this homelessness crisis isn't homelessness. Its drug addiction. Arrest them. Let them go through "dope sickness withdrawal" every time. People don't seek sobriety when they are drunk or high. They seek it when they are sick. They seek it when they can think somewhat clearly which is what happens when you are coming down. Zero ,zero, zero tolerance.

Read the link.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salvation_Army

Look at the expenditure versus the amount of people they serve. How do bring fiscal responsibility to Government? Don't let Government run the program.

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No One Important's avatar

Why, Steve? Do you support tax money being spent on ice cream for fat people? Alcohol for alcoholics? Cash for gambling addicts? Why in the HELL should tax money be spent to provide a high for someone who addicted THEMSELVES, knowing what all of us non-addicts know? I have no doubt that a syringe full of heroin feels as good or better than an orgasm, but we know the downside, same as those who CHOSE to ignore it.

Now, if someone overpowered them, injected them, and repeated it to get them addicted, I would have some compassion, but for the morons who did it to themselves, not one damned bit!

The "homeless problem" is because our tax money is being spent to make life easy for them, giving them shelters, pizza, boofing kits, and passers by, handouts for their next fix. If they were arrested for using illegal drugs, put in jail and forced to go through the miserable withdrawal, the "homeless problem" would all but disappear. If water trucks hosed off sidewalks and a NO CAMPING WITHIN CITY LIMITS ordinance was enacted, the "homeless problem" would disappear. I read yesterday that Spokane discovered that their "homeless problem" were mostly from non-Spokane bums, gravitating to where they handouts were. Do you think Clallam County is any different? They go where they get handouts and freebies.

Now, some people, who maybe lack skills and lose their jobs, cannot find work and become truly homeless. People like that may deserve a TEMPORARY helping hand to get on their feet. The money wasted on the "homeless problem" would be better spent hiring real homeless to clean up graffiti, pick up litter, and other menial tasks so that they can get back on their feet. But the bums and addicts that choose this way of life? Not a penny!

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

If it’s free, wouldn’t that put Mexico out of business? I saw it on Discovery Plus, it must be true!

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

the "unhoused" are not one big happy cohesive group. There are four main groups: hidden (those who find ways to cope by couch surfing, saying with friends and family, living in unconventional places -- garages/sheds, and those most likely to live in RVs and cars)

Transitional are the people who are there because of significant life events: job loss, eviction, domestic violence, trauma, grief.

Episodic are people who cycle in-and-out of homelessness, because of chronic health issues, mental illness, often disadvantaged (lack of education, borderline functioning, dyslexic/challenged)

And, Chronic, the group that are the most obvious. Long term, repeated homeless, often disabled by chronic conditions and drug abuse. This is often an older group, unable to sustain a stable existence. This includes those with cancer, heart conditions crippling mental defects, severe mental illness.

So, when we talk about "them homeless" lets single out which we are referring to. Some can be helped. Some rather easily. And, for the record: we grow our own homeless locally. The bulk of these groups do not have any desire to leave what is familiar, for foreign terrain.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

I dont really see the elderly as a major population of street people/unhoused. You may know we spend 1/3 time in Vancouver, right by Portland. The majority are younger, unkept, panhandling, to support drug habit etc. , in intersections and using downtown planters as portapotties. So your four categories are reasonable, but the percentage of each group may vary. Shelters are available here, but by golly, addicts can’t abide by those darn curfews!

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

Elderly don't survive very long.

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Lawrence Martin's avatar

"Homelessness" is a large tent no doubt. Shellenbergers book San Fransicko should be required reading for everyone in Goverment making fiscal decisions to address this issue. Understanding a problem is key to developing solutions. I think you have to accept that there is no solving it completely. But managing the problem is possible.

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

excellent book "Down and Out in America" book by Peter H. Rossie (1998) is a really interesting book. We've always had homelessness in America.

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MK's avatar

Try reading the article.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Changing attitudes about working for a living. Unhoused is a choice, not for all but for many. There are several safety nets in between. Has anything in life changed for you that didn’t take effort, determination, hard work and commitment? You as in general, but still most of us didn’t get a free ride . Actually, I do not know the stats on family wealth being passed on, but I bet it’s less than the number of people that worked for a living.

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Mimi Smith-Dvorak's avatar

I spent time homeless during the Carter Admin recession.

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Susan C Bonallo's avatar

Those were awful times for everyone especially young adults. Later in life I guess he was okay, but not so much as president!

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John Worthington's avatar

Run your campaign on the bond issue. Don't be afraid to get bonded. None of the current City council members are bonded.

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paula graham's avatar

First you have to get them in a condition to be housed…. Create a desire etc …. We had this conversation 100’s of times… people hated seeing the 'unhoused’ in institutions and being treated… there was that conversation 100’s of times and we are back to here… there is no grass roots movement coming from them… you you go first!!!!

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jeff swegle's avatar

This housing project in carlsborg has brought concerns because HFH has not been transparent about who will qualify for housing.Who owns property and buildings and who financed project may answer who will live in brand new carlsborg housing project.JKT was given the excavation work without a public bid because this project is said to be privately funded therefore no bid process is legally required which raises the question why was JKT awarded for project.Now there is some county talk by certain commissioners wanting to donate public tax $$$ for this project.This was probably figured in before project started so a specific excavation co did not have to bid.County records may explain some of these Who issues. This project has tribal influence all over it and looks like clallam co taxpayers will most likely be drug into it for endless support.Tribal housing issues are supposed to be handled by the dept of federal govt 'BIA'bureau of indian affairs and clallam county should not be involved spending taxpayers $$$ on a privately funded project.Certain compromised county commissioners should be getting very negative feedback for their costly reckless unnecessary tribal involvement.

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