I have lived in Dungeness on 3 Crabs for 32 years and have watched how we band together when challenged by the County. They disrespect, ignore, and then tell us what they will do to us. They wanted to put in 3 Crabs for the sewer system because the bay had fecal matter, and it was all of us. It was coming from all the septic systems along the river. But we had to stand up to make it go away.
It is past time we formed the Dungeness Village Council, including Dungeness, Jamestown, Brigadoon, Woodland Heights, and Main's Farm/Marine Drive areas.
This council would be advisory only but would get respect from the county and the district commissioner.
Other areas which have less influence, such as Seiku, have councils. Because we are close to Sequim, we get lumped in with them without the say or benefits.
Significant changes are coming to the Dungeness Recreation area that we should be privy to, but they have not been discussed publicly.
We would deal with facts, not rumors.
Neither the tribe nor the county are our enemies; we must encourage them to work with us and not do to us. And we can only do that from a position of strength.
I tell you, I have been trying for over 20+ years to get some attention at my intersection. Unsafe at best, the first of what has been a nightmare when an accident left a car up against my home with a dead driver and his passenger a broken neck. And several times a year my fence broken, heirloom trees destroyed, and this past September a car doing over 80 came through my fence, hit my tractor (1949 Ferguson) and launched it on my deck narrowly coming through my front window. County has done nothing petitions were signed, Bob Clark, a former commissioner grand pioneer, and well respected man was wholly ignored, when he tried on my behalf to get some relief for a deadly and dangerous intersection. They did put up a stop sign with flashing red lights, two accidents happened a week afterwards. I’ve stopped calling, but I did raise hell after I got my new tax assessment, and managed to get my taxes lowered when I sent a video montage of the years of carnage. I have lived here my entire life, I am shocked by all the new housing developments with no attention paid to traffic increases and road safety. The hand that takes never tires, until there is concerted effort to vote these tyrants out, at the very least expose them, we will get more of the same.
I believe the Grange even sent in a letter supporting changes to that dangerous intersection. I'm sorry to hear what has happened to your home and yard, Patricia. It is interesting (and troubling) so see what our county leaders prioritize ahead of safety.
I think that's a consequence of lack of leadership. I really think the commissioner's administrator, Todd Mielke, should have reminded all departments that the promised update was due.
My husband remarked this evening that these people are probably pretty surprised and angry that ye old little citizens here have the GALL to call them out and to hold them accountable. We have seen this whole brouhaha before. They always act so surprised! And outraged! How dare little nobodies question their motives; their tactics.
You know, I have to add something. It seems that Clallam County has a tradition of deceiving the public. Remember the MAT Clinic that they pubic only learned about after it was a done deal? Like you point out, The county knew this but did not tell us.
Great expose, Jeff! Keep up the fight! I don't get on Substack often enough (too many rabbit holes) so please send me email if there is a meeting or time to comment.
Well said. It will be a real eye opener to some people as Sequim begins their "remodel" on the traffic circle at Sequim-Dungeness and Old Olympic. Overflow and backups from commuters that might have used Towne Road to bypass the construction on their way to work or school will have to find alternatives. Did Sequim plan the timing of this work expecting the opening of Towne Road in the fall of 2023?
Not really. Good people with ethics and morals just have a hard time seeing how dishonest people live. We know we would not, could not, take advantage of opportunities not aligned with those values. So we don’t naturally see it. Until it is brazen and in our face.
I have lived in Dungeness on 3 Crabs for 32 years and have watched how we band together when challenged by the County. They disrespect, ignore, and then tell us what they will do to us. They wanted to put in 3 Crabs for the sewer system because the bay had fecal matter, and it was all of us. It was coming from all the septic systems along the river. But we had to stand up to make it go away.
It is past time we formed the Dungeness Village Council, including Dungeness, Jamestown, Brigadoon, Woodland Heights, and Main's Farm/Marine Drive areas.
This council would be advisory only but would get respect from the county and the district commissioner.
Other areas which have less influence, such as Seiku, have councils. Because we are close to Sequim, we get lumped in with them without the say or benefits.
Significant changes are coming to the Dungeness Recreation area that we should be privy to, but they have not been discussed publicly.
We would deal with facts, not rumors.
Neither the tribe nor the county are our enemies; we must encourage them to work with us and not do to us. And we can only do that from a position of strength.
Thanks for a great insight to what is going on with the Commisioners and the Towne Rd. project.
You're welcome! Thanks for keeping up with all the new information that is coming to light.
Keep documenting this malfeasance, Jeff, so we can share it far and wide at the next commissioner election.
Doesn't it just make you sick to know what we missed (and are missing)?
Amen!
I tell you, I have been trying for over 20+ years to get some attention at my intersection. Unsafe at best, the first of what has been a nightmare when an accident left a car up against my home with a dead driver and his passenger a broken neck. And several times a year my fence broken, heirloom trees destroyed, and this past September a car doing over 80 came through my fence, hit my tractor (1949 Ferguson) and launched it on my deck narrowly coming through my front window. County has done nothing petitions were signed, Bob Clark, a former commissioner grand pioneer, and well respected man was wholly ignored, when he tried on my behalf to get some relief for a deadly and dangerous intersection. They did put up a stop sign with flashing red lights, two accidents happened a week afterwards. I’ve stopped calling, but I did raise hell after I got my new tax assessment, and managed to get my taxes lowered when I sent a video montage of the years of carnage. I have lived here my entire life, I am shocked by all the new housing developments with no attention paid to traffic increases and road safety. The hand that takes never tires, until there is concerted effort to vote these tyrants out, at the very least expose them, we will get more of the same.
I believe the Grange even sent in a letter supporting changes to that dangerous intersection. I'm sorry to hear what has happened to your home and yard, Patricia. It is interesting (and troubling) so see what our county leaders prioritize ahead of safety.
Multiple times Clallam County Officials promised to communicate with constituents and utterly failed.
I think that's a consequence of lack of leadership. I really think the commissioner's administrator, Todd Mielke, should have reminded all departments that the promised update was due.
It is apparently not a priority to keep their word to their constituents. Or maybe a bad habit and no one noticed……
My husband remarked this evening that these people are probably pretty surprised and angry that ye old little citizens here have the GALL to call them out and to hold them accountable. We have seen this whole brouhaha before. They always act so surprised! And outraged! How dare little nobodies question their motives; their tactics.
I guess we are guilty of trusting too much.
Spring is coming and so is the rivers flow. So is the community.
I can feel it too, Paula.
You know, I have to add something. It seems that Clallam County has a tradition of deceiving the public. Remember the MAT Clinic that they pubic only learned about after it was a done deal? Like you point out, The county knew this but did not tell us.
Great expose, Jeff! Keep up the fight! I don't get on Substack often enough (too many rabbit holes) so please send me email if there is a meeting or time to comment.
We are overdue for a Towne Road update, so maybe next week? I'll keep an eye on the agenda and let watchdoggers know.
Well said. It will be a real eye opener to some people as Sequim begins their "remodel" on the traffic circle at Sequim-Dungeness and Old Olympic. Overflow and backups from commuters that might have used Towne Road to bypass the construction on their way to work or school will have to find alternatives. Did Sequim plan the timing of this work expecting the opening of Towne Road in the fall of 2023?
Excellent point! You are always thinking a few steps ahead.
Not really. Good people with ethics and morals just have a hard time seeing how dishonest people live. We know we would not, could not, take advantage of opportunities not aligned with those values. So we don’t naturally see it. Until it is brazen and in our face.