The blame game
Who's responsible for breaching the dike?
If you think that progress in government is slow, or that bureaucratic change happens at a glacial pace, you're wrong. Demands can be made, demands can be met, documents can be manipulated, and history can even be rewritten in less than 24 hours. Offering a half million dollars may help smooth things over.
You're also wrong if you think Clallam County quits working at 5:00 pm — emails after midnight, phone calls in the wee hours, and a flurry of newly published emails show that this county never stops working… for some of us.
In the spring of 2022, earlier than expected, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe breached the original 1960s-era dike that kept the Dungeness River within its banks. Clallam County, the tribe's project partner in floodplain restoration, was forced to close Towne Road and accelerate the completion of its nearby levee to protect downriver communities from flooding later that year.
The county succeeded in building its levee before flood season, but the resources to build that levee faster — additional trucks, added work crews, overtime — came at a considerable cost. Without time to send the increased project cost out to bid, the county declared a budgetary emergency and drafted a resolution that bypassed the required competitive bidding process which likely would have saved taxpayer money.
Supporters of Towne Road may remember how commissioners crafted a resolution. In Towne Road's case, about 60 concerned constituents packed the boardroom and begged the commissioners to keep their promise of returning a road to the taxpayers who had funded it. Two commissioners embraced the resolution but one filibustered before reluctantly supporting it. Seven months after the resolution was adopted, the filibustering commissioner, Mark Ozias, broke his promise to the people and abandoned his commitment to finish the road.
That's not how the resolution process unfolded two years ago.
The tribe first saw the resolution on July 28th, 2022, after it had been publicly posted. They seemed to take issue with the phrasing, "removal of this levee section prior to completion of new levee construction was beyond the control of the county." That wording seemed to indicate that the Jamestown Tribe's deliberate removal of the old dike was the cause of the emergency. The tribe must have expressed dissatisfaction because a county employee sent this email to their natural resources director:
"The resolution has already been posted, we have to go with it as currently worded. I think both the County and the Tribe bear some responsibility for how things happened, communication could have been better on both sides. The best thing we can do now is what we are doing, communication has improved greatly in the last couple weeks. This resolution has received edits from various staff members. I think what was meant by “was beyond the control of the County” was that this levee removal was on sovereign tribal land, which the County does not have jurisdiction over. However, we could have communicated better or more or sooner our concerns about this. In presenting this to the BOCC, I am planning to express that both the County and the Tribe bear responsibility."
Days later, tensions were high at the August 1st commissioners work session. Commissioner Ozias provided an account of the events that had led to the 60-year-old dike’s early removal — it was all a misunderstanding. Inexplicably, despite the two project partners practically working within shouting distance of each other, the tribe didn't say, "We are breaching the old dike today," and the county didn't say, "Wait, we haven't built the new levee yet."
At the work session, Jamestown Tribe's Natural Resources Director, Hansi Hals, found Ozias' narrative acceptable and said that the tribe was willing to offer the county $500,000 if terms were agreed upon. She then presented how the tribe would like the resolution rewritten.
The tribe's immediate request was that the resolution be changed to read, "the county had influence over the levee removal actions." In other words, a simple edit absolving the tribe of fault and reassigning blame to the county. After that request, Director Hals laid out the tribe's priorities: First, construct the flood return channel. Second, install engineered logjams and move utilities. Third, remove the old Towne Road. Lastly, the tribe supported a full postponement of the Towne Road rebuild. Everything seemed agreeable until the county's attorney chimed in.
The changes suggested by the Jamestown Tribe no longer fulfilled the county's policy for declaring a budgetary emergency. The county's attorney was adamant that, to declare an emergency, the resolution must state that events were outside the county's control. With that, negotiations between the county and tribe became gridlocked.
"I think what I'd like to do here," interjected Commissioner Ozias. "Is rather than wordsmith this particular item, I think if we can ask our team to work to come up with language that is sufficient, maybe there's another way to describe this."
The work session ended with Commissioner Ozias assigning wordsmithing duties to the county's team, county attorney, and the tribe's natural resources director. It can be viewed by clicking here and advancing to timestamp 24:40.
Emails show that after the work session, the tribe's attorney was not satisfied: "Legal team agrees with the Tribe. This isn’t acceptable as drafted. We don’t approve it is accurate."
The county's director of risk management emailed a proposed resolution to the tribe just after midnight. Director Hals replied, "I don’t love it – it’s not actually reflective of reality. In 2021, Clallam Co asked the Tribe to postpone and we did! Let me read it another two times pls before you call…."
It's unknown what was discussed in that phone call during the early hours of August 2nd. However, by the commissioners meeting later that morning, a resolution was adopted that both sides found satisfactory: The Army Corps of Engineers was blamed.
The partnership between the county and tribe during the floodplain restoration is tiny compared to an upcoming joint effort— the Dungeness River Off-Channel Reservoir. The county and tribe will collaborate to build a 42-acre raised reservoir. Its waters will be held back by a dike.
In the shadow of the future reservoir, just downhill from the 30-foot-tall earthen wall that will hold back a season’s worth of water, is a community of over 350 people living in Dungeness Meadows (indicated by the red circle in the map above). For years, those residents have been voicing concerns about safely living next to a reservoir. If they’re watching how the county and tribe collaborated on the Towne Road Levee Project, they have reason to worry.
Compared to the Towne Road project, the stakes are much higher with the off-channel reservoir. If project partners don't communicate and the dike is breached, it won’t just result in a closed road — an entire neighborhood could be swept into the river.
The county’s Towne Road informational meeting at Carrie Blake Park in September of 2023 emphasized the recreational advantages of a closed road while safety concerns were overlooked. There was no mention of spiking home insurance rates for Dungeness if the road were to remain closed. The county didn’t disclose that emergency response times would increase by 3-7 minutes. And county leaders neglected to tell the public that the closure had greatly contributed to the loss of one family whose home burned while the firetrucks had to detour five miles.
The community meeting was more propagandistic than informational, and that appears to be the same approach the county is taking in its video about the reservoir. After watching Commissioner Ozias and Jamestown Tribe’s CEO Ron Allen explain the collaboration, one might think there isn’t a single concern regarding the county and tribe’s upcoming infrastructure project.
Many lessons can be learned by observing how the county and tribe partnered in the floodplain restoration/Towne Road levee project. If past behavior predicts future behavior, the reservoir project may be riddled with complications. For instance:
The reservoir, which is currently crisscrossed with a network of trails, could be planned, designed, funded, and constructed only to be scrapped in the 11th hour by something as benign as a Trail Advisory Committee’s preference that walkers, equestrians and cyclists recreate in the empty basin.
Past events have shown that when the $40 million reservoir nears completion, a petition of less than a hundred signatures could halt the entire project.
Once filled with water and ready to serve its intended purpose of irrigating crops and charging aquifers, the Jamestown Tribe could decide that the reservoir would better serve the community as an “outdoor classroom” and impose a 3-year moratorium on usage.
The two projects share striking similarities. Both are touted to benefit fish, farms, and recreation. Both are in Commissioner Ozias' district. Both are supported by and in partnership with Ozias’ top campaign donor, the Jamestown Tribe. Both have been planned for decades. And both cost tens of millions of tax dollars.
If Commissioner Ozias considers the Jamestown Tribe to be Clallam County’s most important partner in local governance, perhaps the county should focus on improving their communication with the tribe instead of composing a letter of apology to them.
The off-channel reservoir will require communication, leadership, and an establishment of protocol that was absent during the floodplain restoration. After watching the Towne Road blame game unfold, can Clallam County and the Jamestown Tribe be trusted to successfully cooperate on such a large endeavor while prioritizing public safety?
Below are emails that shed some transparency on the August 2022 resolution. For the dedicated reader who reaches the bottom of the email chain, May’s special guest for the CC Watchdog meetup will be revealed. Subscribers will receive details of next month’s event.
From: Mahan, Rebecca
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 4:11 PM
To: 'Hansi Hals' <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; LaTrisha Suggs (lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org) <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; path@wavecable.com; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org; 'Moore, Kathryn (RCO)' <kathryn.moore@rco.wa.gov>; 'Gerlach, Matthew (ECY)' <mger461@ECY.WA.GOV>; Winborn, Mary Ellen <maryellen.winborn@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'frances.morris@usace.army.mil' <frances.morris@usace.army.mil>; 'Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil' <Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'Brian Reznick' <Brian.Reznick@shanwil.com>; Tyler Stephens <Tyler.Stephens@shanwil.com>; 'Amy Summe' <Amy.Summe@shanwil.com>; Cline, David <David.Cline@hdrinc.com>; 'zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil' <zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil>
Subject: Dungeness emergency planning meeting
Good afternoon,
I am putting together an emergency planning meeting for the Dungeness levee project path forward this season. Could you please let me know your availability for either 2:00pm tomorrow (7/28) or 10:30am Friday (7/29). I will follow up with a meeting link.
Thank you all being available!
Cheers,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
From: Mahan, Rebecca
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2022 10:16 AM
To: 'Hansi Hals' <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; 'LaTrisha Suggs (lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org)' <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; 'path@wavecable.com' <path@wavecable.com>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org; 'Moore, Kathryn (RCO)' <kathryn.moore@rco.wa.gov>; 'Gerlach, Matthew (ECY)' <mger461@ECY.WA.GOV>; Winborn, Mary Ellen <maryellen.winborn@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'frances.morris@usace.army.mil' <frances.morris@usace.army.mil>; 'Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil' <Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'Brian Reznick' <Brian.Reznick@shanwil.com>; 'Tyler Stephens' <Tyler.Stephens@shanwil.com>; 'Amy Summe' <Amy.Summe@shanwil.com>; 'Cline, David' <David.Cline@hdrinc.com>; 'zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil' <zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil>
Subject: RE: Dungeness emergency planning meeting
Importance: High
All,
The meeting will be at 2:00 pm today July 28th. The Zoom link is below. Agenda to follow.
Thank you,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
From: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:57 PM
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; 'path@wavecable.com' <path@wavecable.com>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; 'Moore, Kathryn (RCO)' <kathryn.moore@rco.wa.gov>; 'Gerlach, Matthew (ECY)' <mger461@ECY.WA.GOV>; Winborn, Mary Ellen <maryellen.winborn@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'frances.morris@usace.army.mil' <frances.morris@usace.army.mil>; 'Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil' <Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'Brian Reznick' <Brian.Reznick@shanwil.com>; 'Tyler Stephens' <Tyler.Stephens@shanwil.com>; 'Amy Summe' <Amy.Summe@shanwil.com>; 'Sanguinetti, Pamela A CIV USARMY CENWS (USA)' <Pamela.Sanguinetti@usace.army.mil>; McElroy, Patrick <patrick.mcelroy@clallamcountywa.gov>; 'Cline, David' <David.Cline@hdrinc.com>; 'alison.agness@psp.wa.gov' <alison.agness@psp.wa.gov>; 'zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil' <zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil>; 'Brian.J.Stenehjem@usace.army.mil' <Brian.J.Stenehjem@usace.army.mil>
Cc: Baumann, Cheryl <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: RE: Expediting Dungeness Floodplain Restoration planning meeting
All,
I have attached an informal agenda for our meeting at 2:00 pm today.
Thank you,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
From: Hansi Hals [mailto:hhals@jamestowntribe.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2022 4:02 PM
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: RE: Expediting Dungeness Floodplain Restoration planning meeting
Rebecca,
May I please have a copy of the emergency declaration that will be in front of BOCC on Monday?
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2022 4:54 PM
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: RE: Expediting Dungeness Floodplain Restoration planning meeting
Hi All,
It’s Agenda Item 8, this would be the final version after editing by Loni Gores.
Work Session, Monday, August 1 at 9 a.m.
Regular Agenda, Tuesday, August 2 at 10 a.m.
Agendas and packets can also be found at this link: http://www.clallam.net/bocc/public_meetings.html
Loni Gores
Clerk of the Board
Commissioners Office
From: Baumann, Cheryl <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2022 6:08 PM
To: Gores, Loni <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: Towne Road Closure
Loni, We need your help understanding what the situation is regarding the closure of Towne Road. I thought the Commissioners previously agreed in public session to the closure of Towne Road related to work on the Lower Dungeness Floodplain Restoration project. I believe they agreed to close the road as of July 5th. But maybe I don't have that correct.
Can you please do some checking & hit Reply All & let us know what the status of this is?
Thanks very much!
Cheryl Baumann
DCD & North Olympic LE for Salmon
From: "Gores, Loni" <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>
To: "Baumann, Cheryl" <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Mon, 01 Aug 2022 06:54:27 -0700
Subject: RE: Towne Road Closure
Cc: "Donisi, Joe" <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>, "Mahan, Rebecca" <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>, "Green, Joel" <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Attachments:
r2022-005.pdf
Cheryl,
You can discuss the closure of Towne Road with Joe Donisi. He’s the one that brought the attached resolution to the BOCC for approval.
LG
From: Green, Joel
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2022 8:42 AM
To: 'Hansi Hals' <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org; Lauren Rasmussen <lauren@rasmussen-law.com>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
Hi Hansi,
The resolution has already been posted, we have to go with it as currently worded. I think both the County and the Tribe bear some responsibility for how things happened, communication could have been better on both sides. The best thing we can do now is what we are doing, communication has improved greatly in the last couple weeks. This resolution has received edits from various staff members. I think what was meant by “was beyond the control of the County” was that this levee removal was on sovereign tribal land, which the County does not have jurisdiction over. However, we could have communicated better or more or sooner our concerns about this. In presenting this to the BOCC, I am planning to express that both the County and the Tribe bear responsibility.
Best Wishes,
Joel
Joel Green
Pronouns: he/him
Streamkeepers Coordinator
Clallam County Dept. of Community Development
From: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2022 8:55 AM
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; Lauren Rasmussen <lauren@rasmussen-law.com>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
Just talked with Rebecca and Cheryl, we are just presenting on the path forward and not looking back unless asked.
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2022 10:45 AM
To: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org; Lauren Rasmussen <lauren@rasmussen-law.com>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
Joe, Rebecca, Joel, Cheryl,
I am writing for the benefit of Jamestown team not present at BOCC work session this morning. I am acknowledging the BOCC directing County staff to work with JST staff to assure final resolution language workable. Tom Reyes (sp?) and I had a quick conversation in the hall and he proposed a version that is workable for JST. I will look forward to seeing a courtesy copy this afternoon. Thank you everyone!
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 14:03:48.000000000 UTC
Subject: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
To: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; Lauren Rasmussen ; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Thank you Joel!
I notice that paragraph 4 of the Resolution does not represent actual occurrences. I have provided an edit that the Tribe requests to correctly characterize situation.
RESOLUTION declaring an emergency related to the Dungeness Levee setback project paragraph 4 be changed –
FROM:
4. Whereas, removal of this levee section prior to completion of new levee construction by County was beyond the control of the County, and said removal creates a real danger, and significant and unacceptable flood risk for the community neighboring the lower Dungeness River until construction of the new levee and other work (removal of the northern section of the levee, etc.) is completed; and
TO:
4. Whereas, partial removal of the River’s Edge section of the levee – as authorized by federal corps of engineers (USACE), and in coordination with Clallam Co Dept of Community Development, creates a real danger, and significant and unacceptable flood risk for the community neighboring the lower Dungeness River until construction of the new levee and other work (removal of the northern section of the levee, etc.) is completed; and
Tracked version:
4. Whereas, partial removal of the River’s Edge section of the levee – as authorized by federal corps of engineers (USACE), and in coordination with Clallam Co Dept of Community Development, this section of levee prior to completion of new levee construction by County was beyond the control of the County, creates a real danger, and significant and unacceptable flood risk for the community neighboring the lower Dungeness River until construction of the new levee and other work (removal of the northern section of the levee, etc.) is completed; and
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 15:56:10.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
To: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; Lauren Rasmussen ; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Hi Joel,
I understand the resolution is drafted and posted. However, it is not yet approved. The current version does not reflect actual occurrences. This will not do in my opinion to present a Resolution that is factually incorrect. The County did have influence of the levee removal. In fact, the tribe earlier delayed removal because the County was not fully prepared to move forward.
The level removal that occurred was not on sovereign tribal land. That is also incorrect. It was/ is on Co right of way on Beebe land.
Communication was frequent and ongoing. It all went through Project Mgr Cathy Lear and Shannon and Wilson consultants.
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2022 3:58 PM
To: Reyes, Tom <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: meeting and call today - Resolution for tomorrow
Tom,
It has been a pleasure to meet you today. Here is my email and contact information.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Lauren Rasmussen
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 16:46:24.000000000 UTC
Subject: Re: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Legal team agrees with the Tribe. This isn’t acceptable as drafted. We don’t approve it is accurate.
From: rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 17:53:52.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; lauren@rasmussen-law.com ; lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Hansi and JST Team,
We will get a copy over to you as soon as I get it.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 17:56:55.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: BOCC - Work Session Aug 1
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; 'Lauren Rasmussen' ; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Perfect – thank you. I’ll turn around quickly so that it can be posted on public link and incorporated into packet, etc… Hansi
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
On Aug 1, 2022, at 5:57 PM, Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org> wrote:
Sounds good. However, Resolution must be accurate statement.
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 01, 2022 22:58:08.000000000 UTC
Subject: meeting and call today - Resolution for tomorrow
To: tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>
Tom,
It has been a pleasure to meet you today. Here is my email and contact information.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 00:25:30.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: meeting and call today - Resolution for tomorrow
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Hello Hansi,
It was a pleasure meeting you today as well. Attached you will find the changes made to the Declaration of Emergency language as a result of today’s meeting, specifically to Item 4. I hope you find these changes acceptable. I apologize that I couldn’t get this to you sooner. Dee had to do further research so as to ensure the document as written would survive an audit process. To that point, we feel good about the language changes. I’ll follow-up with a phone call to you here shortly.
All the best, J
Tom
PS: Hannah is wonderful person. I always enjoyed working with her and the conversations we had. You have a great friend in her!
Tom Reyes – Deputy County Administrator
CLALLAM COUNTY
Human Resources - Risk Management
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 00:29:29.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: meeting and call today - Resolution for tomorrow
To: Reyes, Tom <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>
Thanks Tom. I’m available. I don’t love it – it’s not actually reflective of reality. In 2021, Clallam Co asked the Tribe to postpone and we did!
Let me read it another two times pls before you call….
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Gores, Loni
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 10:36 AM
To: Boughton, Dee <dee.boughton@clallamcountywa.gov>; Reyes, Tom <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>; Baumann, Cheryl <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: Resolution 83 - Dungeness Levee Setback Project
Attached is a copy of the attached resolution.
Joel,
Please send a copy to the Tribe.
LG
Loni Gores
Clerk of the Board
Commissioners Office
From: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 11:30 AM
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; Randy Johnson <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Gores, Loni <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>; Boughton, Dee <dee.boughton@clallamcountywa.gov>; Reyes, Tom <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>; Baumann, Cheryl <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>; Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Donisi, Joe <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: FW: Resolution 83 - Dungeness Levee Setback Project
Good Morning,
The County has revised the emergency resolution before passing it this morning, with consideration of recommendations from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. I have attached the revised and final resolution.
Best Wishes.
Joel Green
Pronouns: he/him
Streamkeepers Coordinator
Clallam County Dept. of Community Development
From: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:32 PM
To: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: DRAFT MOU JST and Clallam Co Rivers Edge Levee Setback 8-01-2022_Updated30Mar21
Importance: High
Hi Hansi and LaTrisha,
Hansi is the draft I am working on and I have made comments/changes that are tracked. I also have not included JST’s Aug.1 offer yet because I had not gotten full permission as of yesterday afternoon. Along with the items we discussed I need (RE levee suitability and sovereign immunity ?) I also wonder if you had an cost estimate of items associated with the construction of the 6 log jams? Am I right in assuming that they will be constructed to the County’s design?
Thank you for your help and clarification!
Cheers,
Rebecca
From: Hansi Hals
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:55 PM
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: RE: DRAFT MOU JST and Clallam Co Rivers Edge Levee Setback 8-01-2022_Updated30Mar21
Hi Rebecca,
For the ELJs --- JST has flagged suitability of design with the cobble onsite. We expect real challenges with the pile drive design. We’d like to sub buried rock anchors. We are prepared to replace engineer of record. I can get a cost estimate. Will do that!
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 1:06 PM
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Subject: RE: ELJ estimate
Rebecca,
The 6 ELJs cost estimate is ~$200,000 built. This is for the buried rock design. We have just installed this same design upriver at Railroad Bridge Park reach, so our costs are current. The invoices that Jamestown would pass onto Clallam Co would be for the materials and the installation. Jamestown will comp the engineer and construction oversight.
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 18:29:55.000000000 UTC
Subject: FW: Resolution 83 - Dungeness Levee Setback Project
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>; dee.boughton@clallamcountywa.gov <dee.boughton@clallamcountywa.gov>; tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov <tom.reyes@clallamcountywa.gov>; cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>; rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Good Morning,
The County has revised the emergency resolution before passing it this morning, with consideration of recommendations from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. I have attached the revised and final resolution.
Best Wishes.
Joel Green
Pronouns: he/him
Streamkeepers Coordinator
Clallam County Dept. of Community Development
From: joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 19:15:38.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: Resolution 83 - Dungeness Levee Setback Project
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
You’re welcome Hansi.
Joel
From: rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 19:31:41.000000000 UTC
Subject: DRAFT MOU JST and Clallam Co Rivers Edge Levee Setback 8-01-2022_Updated30Mar21
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Hi Hansi and LaTrisha,
Hansi is the draft I am working on and I have made comments/changes that are tracked. I also have not included JST’s Aug.1 offer yet because I had not gotten full permission as of yesterday afternoon. Along with the items we discussed I need (RE levee suitability and sovereign immunity ?) I also wonder if you had an cost estimate of items associated with the construction of the 6 log jams? Am I right in assuming that they will be constructed to the County’s design?
Thank you for your help and clarification!
Cheers,
Rebecca
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 19:55:03.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: DRAFT MOU JST and Clallam Co Rivers Edge Levee Setback 8-01-2022_Updated30Mar21
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Hi Rebecca,
For the ELJs --- JST has flagged suitability of design with the cobble onsite. We expect real challenges with the pile drive design. We’d like to sub buried rock anchors. We are prepared to replace engineer of record. I can get a cost estimate. Will do that!
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 18:44:17.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: Resolution 83 - Dungeness Levee Setback Project
To: Green, Joel <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>
Joel, Received – thank you. Hansi
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: Hansi Hals <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 20:06:13.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: ELJ estimate
To: Mahan, Rebecca <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>; LaTrisha Suggs <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Rebecca,
The 6 ELJs cost estimate is ~$200,000 built. This is for the buried rock design. We have just installed this same design upriver at Railroad Bridge Park reach, so our costs are current. The invoices that Jamestown would pass onto Clallam Co would be for the materials and the installation. Jamestown will comp the engineer and construction oversight.
Hansi Hals
Natural Resources Director
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
From: rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 20:45:41.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: ELJ estimate
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>
Cc: cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Hi Hansi and LaTrisha,
Rich Meier is the interim DCD director and I sent all of this info to him and he is going to look it over and be in touch. He also will be on the call at 2pm.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
From: rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov <rebecca.mahan@clallamcountywa.gov>
Sent: Aug 02, 2022 20:52:30.000000000 UTC
Subject: RE: Expediting Dungeness Floodplain Restoration planning meeting follow-up
To: hhals@jamestowntribe.org <hhals@jamestowntribe.org>; lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org <lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org>; path@wavecable.com <path@wavecable.com>; rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org <rjohnson@jamestowntribe.org>; kathryn.moore@rco.wa.gov <kathryn.moore@rco.wa.gov>; mger461@ECY.WA.GOV <mger461@ECY.WA.GOV>; frances.morris@usace.army.mil <frances.morris@usace.army.mil>; Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil <Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil>; joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov <joe.donisi@clallamcountywa.gov>; cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>; joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov <joel.green@clallamcountywa.gov>; Brian.Reznick@shanwil.com <Brian.Reznick@shanwil.com>; Tyler.Stephens@shanwil.com <Tyler.Stephens@shanwil.com>; Amy.Summe@shanwil.com <Amy.Summe@shanwil.com>; Pamela.Sanguinetti@usace.army.mil <Pamela.Sanguinetti@usace.army.mil>; patrick.mcelroy@clallamcountywa.gov <patrick.mcelroy@clallamcountywa.gov>; David.Cline@hdrinc.com <David.Cline@hdrinc.com>; alison.agness@psp.wa.gov <alison.agness@psp.wa.gov>; zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil <zachary.p.corum@usace.army.mil>; Brian.J.Stenehjem@usace.army.mil <Brian.J.Stenehjem@usace.army.mil>; mike.w@SCARSELLABROS.com <mike.w@SCARSELLABROS.com>; mario.s@SCARSELLABROS.com <mario.s@SCARSELLABROS.com>
Cc: cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov <cheryl.baumann@clallamcountywa.gov>
All,
Her is a copy of Clallam County’s Emergency Declaration.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Rebecca Mahan
Clallam County DCD
Habitat Biologist
Special guest at May’s meetup
No stranger to asking tough questions of elected leaders, Brandi Kruse will be joining a Watchdog Meetup event the evening of Saturday, May 11th (Irrigation Festival Parade Day). CC Watchdog subscribers will get event details once plans are finalized.
Well I knew when I started reading it would/could become a serious headache for me, again. Still, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Jeff, for all the time it took and the mental stamina spent to see this thing through. What a record you have presented! I have loved the people I have known to be the Jamestown Tribe. Whatever problems in their leadership, the regular folks don’t need this kind of headache either. I want transparency in government. I want to build honest relationships with the folks who represent me and my family. I have loved Sequim for decades, first as a vacationer and then where I have lived full time for over a decade. I am so sorry no one can read about this story in the local news! What kind of newspaper refuses to even print a rebuttal to a letter to the editor? And they wonder why they are dying? Wow. I have shared this story or most of it with a couple of dozen friends in this County who are wondering why they pay for a subscription to a so-called news paper that has failed to inform its subscribers about such a huge matter. I am truly amazed after reading this latest installment.
At least 350 people's lives and property were put at risk to further the Ozias agenda. If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about Ozias... He must go!!! Come next election the Tribe will put everything they can into re-electing him. That you can be sure. If he's willing to drown a community to further other interests beyond the people living in Dungenesss, he's their man. This will take money and time to finally boot this useful idiot from office. Be prepared, there will be a group asking for YOUR help to fund his removal. As great as these pages are to expose his agenda, the majority of people around us do not read this and will not understand the issues at the last moment when it's time to vote. Not without a funded effort to get the word to EVERY voter that sadly must take a side that the tribe will not satisfy the tribe. The new commissioner replacing Ozias must work with the tribe but NOT at the expense of the people living in Dungeness.