I think they watch what is being posted and try to counter that at the hearings. If we find they spent road money on trails or anything else, the County road division violated RCW 36.82. I see they have restarted the process, so this is not a done deal. The chances are a lawsuit is going to have to be filed on wasted tax dollars. Next week I will figure out how to get my stuff on the screen.
Please, John. I wish the county attorneys would have a sit-down conversation with you so you could lay it out like you did for us. Unfortunately, I think they are pretty busy investigating one commissioner's critics.
I think the attorneys have seen. They are just keeping up appearances. The new permitting will allow opposition to come in. That is why one of the pro closure people sniveled about records requests and law suits. They know very well what I have done in the past and know I challenge policy and liability in court. They know they are going to have to pay an attorney to defend the wasted funds. The other step is to ask the county to sue the tribe then sue in their stead when they do not. The tribe HAD immunity before they signed the ICLEI charter. Now they chose to work outside of Congress. They are no longer wards of the federal government. They are sworn International government members. A foreign government interfered with the Towne Road project. As a foreign government, they have no immunity or a treaty with the United States. This may end up in International court. I am excited about what lies ahead. I am cornering the globalists' and using this Towne Road incident to bolster my case. I already have the legislature talking about NGO's.
Did anyone else hear Commissioner French mouth "Build Back Better," the old slogan for "One World Order?" Even Biden doesn't use that old phrase anymore. Get with it Mike!
They have no idea what they are parroting...neither do parrots...we need to replace these minions with actual critical thinking people...but it does tend to be a thankless job and so easy to just go along to get along...and become corrupted by the insular nature of committees...what are we to do? I would participate in ethics committee if it had teeth. So would many others I suspect. We need a tsunami of public support...what will that take? Nothing will change as long as enough people are comfortable enough!
Exactly right. I have to believe they are ignorant of the dangers to giving up our freedoms to the WHO and WEF. Do they really believe they will come out on top after?
They don't really come from here. This is their park. All Mike French can talk about is where the elk herd is today. He is content in his park, getting 80 percent of everything he needs from 6-8000 miles away. They are spoiled environmental frauds.
Mr. Worthington, this is exciting! I cannot help you directly in this endeavor but I can cook and send over dinner, or mop your floors. I have been waiting years to hear someone speak of checking the Tribe’s growing power.
The article you posted on ND about how the leftist groups used the Tribes to defeat the bill that would have made rural housing more available had my blood boiling. Why should a sovereign nation have a say in how our rural counties use our own land? It is happening all over the country. State and Federal governments using their local tribes to be able to undermine the will of their constituents.
I should add, I am part Native American. My grandmother was and we are still tracing her lineage and from what Tribe she came. I have many Native friends, in many different Tribes, scattered around the Country. I have loved watching the local Tribe build their enterprises, and am hopeful for their future and their partnership with Sequim and Clallam County. I always think maybe it is miscommunication that gets opposing sides at odds. I wish that was all it could be. I’ve not been involved in any controversy for many years as my health cannot afford it. But I still love justice and honesty and transparency in everything because those are the values that work for everybody. A level playing field, in all endeavors.
The closure of Towne Road benefited one homeowner in particular that also campaigned for Commissioner Ozias by placing a large banner on their property.
The safety of having full access to Towne Road doesn’t impede Clallam Fire, EMS of the Road Commission from driving around the closure.
Following the money from the beginning of the process should be very enlightening.
Full access for vehicle traffic as well as human traffic should solve all problems.
Complete transparency between the County and the taxpayers should be a priority.
Jeff - you do an amazing job of presenting the facts and, to another watchdogger's point, remaining quite calm in the face of all this.
Can someone tell me if I misheard the public comments....Did Mr. Eberle allude that opinions of those that live on 3 Crabs Road shouldn't really count because that area is "unsustainable" anyway? The audio was sketchy so I may have misheard. I think it was when he was doing his dog and pony show. If that was what was said and I didn't misunderstand, these are the kinds of statements that help divide a community. *sigh*
Has the county asked the private landowner if he would 100% support a Towne Road that is closed to EVERYONE. I don't want that. I want Towne Road open to all. If they close it, though, it must be closed to all. This nonsense about a "historical driveway" that serves one land owner is just that, nonsense. What about historical Towne Road that has been there longer and serving way more taxpayers and commerce / county revenue? (I'm pretty sure it's been there longer or it would've been named Eberle Road).
The woman that spoke during the public comments period and lives on the south side of the blockage seemed in favor of keeping Towne Road closed BUT she seemed to have pointed out that her neighborhood south of the blockage, will get MORE traffic (and, IMHO, more people loitering) if they keep the road closed to vehicular traffic and leave it open for human and dog traffic. People will be parking on the south side of the blockage, too, and won't that be fun for her neighborhood? Keeping the road closed does not automatically mean less traffic to those on the south side.
If they keep the road closed except for the privileged few, the county will very likely be sued in some form or fashion and I think they know that. If they keep the road closed to everyone, they will also likely be sued. If they open the road, as originally intended, there will be some upset people and they might try to sue but I doubt that a lawsuit will go far unless it's a private land owner suing his friendly commissioner for reneging on the private gates. EIther way, if it comes to lawsuits, our tax dollars will be dumped into lawyers pockets and we won't get the road finished as promised.
If DLTA tries to bring in State Rep Tharinger (like the DLTA claimed), it will be disappointing IF Tharinger tries to intervene in a county road situation. If he does, then I'd like to talk to him about paving my little neighborhood's lane and putting a private gate at the end of the lane with key codes just for me and my neighbors. No charge to me. Just to all the other taxpayers.
Has anyone shared this website with Tharinger? If he's been contacted by DLTA (as I suspect they've tried), perhaps he should be enlightened to facts and data in the matter vs the emotional greenwashing.
The commissioners have done a fine job of getting themselves between a rock and a hard place. Clallam County is growing fast and they are in an unenvious position of keeping up. That's understandable. Being honest, forthright, transparent would work better for us all.
Thank you, again, Jeff for pushing for transparency.
A.J., thanks for the support... I'll keep doing this as long as you are interested in staying engaged (thank you).
I think he was hinting at a point he made to Director Emery in a letter last year: "Bullet two: Does maintaining regional access with a two-lane paved road "makes sense" as your office reports? Is your office the authority on what makes sense in the world, in the County, in our environment? When we think of the future what are we building for? With changing climate and tsunami fears, reconnecting a road seems to encourage greater buildup/development in a vulnerable area near the water. It could appear that your office is proposing to prop up unsustainable future development. I think that our neighbors to the north have wonderful residences and businesses that they and their future generations should be able to continue to enjoy. But I don't think infrastructure should be expanded (like putting in the new road that your office is recommending) to accommodate development in what could be considered an ecologically perilous region."
I can only guess it may mean everything north of his farm is at risk of rising water levels and there should be no development in Dungeness, but I wasn't entirely certain.
Good points about Kate Houk's comments. I know she has lived on Meadowbrook Creek for decades and she keeps an eye on the county goings-on.
I don't see Tharinger getting involved if just DLTA asks him, however, there is an entity that has heavily funded Tharinger's campaigns for years... they may have more influence with him, but I don't see how Tharinger of the County could come out of that looking good. I haven't sent this website to him (and I don't know if anyone else has.)
No one expects that every county action is going to go off without a hitch but honesty, transparency, accountability, and leadership could have prevented much of this disaster from ever happening.
The fact that millions of dollars were spent constructing a levee to prevent flooding of the Eberle property (including the Creamery and Nash’s property) would suggest that those properties were built in an ‘unsustainable’ area. I thought you might appreciate the irony.
Thanks for clarifying the source of that. Out of context it was striking. The more I learn about this private property owner, the less I like.
He appears to be anti-development. There may come a time when he will sell off more of the property for development, just like his grandma did. Some of it is surely in the "unsustainable" area.
"....Is your office the authority on what makes sense in the world, in the County, in our environment? ....." I'd say that Emery's office, with the full time experts, has a bit more going for it than he does. Eberle's a Landscape Architect working in and living (most of the time) in Tacoma.
Excuse the repetition but the hypocrisy at play is mind boggling...The wetlands on his property have standing water in them right now. You can see it from New Towne Road (aka "the levee"). Trumpeter swans will stop and enjoy these wetlands from time to time. Ducks and geese too. Hawks and eagles hunt around the perimeters. These wetlands are bound to grow if our seasons stay wetter or maybe even because the levee has moved.
"Environmentalist" Eberle routinely decimates these wetlands in the dry season by mowing and running heavy vehicles over them. The tire pollution and fumes from his vehicles (it's not just farm vehicles) end up in the aquifer. Water that mingles with the river. Water that provides his neighbors drinking water. It would be challenging to find an environmental scientist that would say that's good for wetlands or for the river.
Publicly he's stated he and his family enjoy seeing all the birds. If he likes birds, he probably shouldn't duck hunt and host duck hunting parties on his property (all witnessed while walking on the levee during the right seasons - no stalking involved).
The barn has a historical lien on it (public county records). Shortly after applying for and receiving a large grant, he spent the grant restoring the barn (as is appropriate). Beautiful, picturesque barn. No doubt about it. Following that grant-funded restoration he and his wife started their barn party hosting business. Indirectly, then, it could be that taxpayers helped fund that business, too.
It is outrageous that he believes that he deserves private-but-tax-payer funded access that trumps the life and death needs of hundreds of his neighbors. The tribe is in league, of course, but the private landowner is the face we see at the commissioners meetings.
I support private property rights. I don't support blatant hypocrites.
Incredible... fascinating points you make there, AJ. Somehow the duck hunting is what intrigues me. So does the grant for the barn. I've found all your comments intriguing.
I'm still trying to decide if it's Sherlock Holmes intrigue or Scooby Doo intrigue. Either way, we do get some interesting fog along the banks of the river.
“Can someone tell me if I misheard the public comments....Did Mr. Eberle allude that opinions of those that live on 3 Crabs Road shouldn't really count because that area is "unsustainable" anyway? The audio was sketchy so I may have misheard. I think it was when he was doing his dog and pony show. If that was what was said and I didn't misunderstand, these are the kinds of statements that help divide a community. *sigh*”
That statement sounds to me that maybe he is privy to conversations about swaths of land changing drastically.
On my calendar, March 4th at 9:00. Great summation with very informative comments (as always). I understand peoples' concerns about the amount and pace of growth in Sequim. Growth is inevitable, so we as a community must hold our elected and non-elected officials accountable. They have a great responsibility to the public to maintain open communication and dialogue regarding the county's growth. Coming from San Diego, I understand the fear and frustration of new construction projects, especially when the developer is from outside the county/area. If we stand together to ensure things are done right, this community will have a well-planned, well-developed, prosperous life with established longevity. Thank you Jeff and all other supporters for your tireless, thankless commitment to making Sequim and Clallam County a place I want to call home.
Find me one endangered species that they continue to let be harvested once the endangered distinction is made. Then keep commercial fishing. It is madness. These tribal guys pull money out of the river and that is all they see. Most of my tribal friends are dead or on drugs drying out at Oxford house. They could not see the farming value of the Dungeness. In short, they cut their farming nose off to spite their greed for salmon.
Since 1999 over 66 miles of ditch have been piped, reducing Dungeness River water withdrawals by about 50 percent. Clallam Conservation District contributed ..
There is a direct correlation with the conversion of ditches to pipes and flooding events. I am sorry, when you pipe 66 miles of ditch you get flooding. Simple as that. You also prevent the spread of alluvium to the ditches and allow more sediment to build up which leads to more major flooding event.
These people know 66 miles of piping replacing the ditches do not have the capacity to handle both stormwater and alluvium, and they admit they seek the historic Dungeness before the 1964 levee and 1890 ditches. Its a joke. Its the systematic flooding out of a community.
Focusing on the Towne Road comments over the last few meetings, here are some repeated things I've heard and how I think we can counter them.
In the past one particular landowner stated re-opening the road only benefitted 100 people,. (aiming at 3 crabs whom I think he sweetly stated were not substantial last week). Based on the Clallam Country Property site I counted 217 properties in 3 Crabs neighborhood, and 878 properties total that are north (and west) of the levy. And that's not counting Mains Farm or properties that are still north or the levy, but on the east side of the School House. Add Mains Farm and the east side and odd properties I missed and possible visitors to the inns and B&B's, on Marine, that's closer to 1000 properties than to 100 properties by an order of magnitude.
In a county that is considered rural that's a whole lot of constituents to ignore the safety of.
I heard the fallacy of how Sequim Dungeness is an adequate alternative route and didn't take much more time to traverse. I can't pinpoint it but somewhere I recall a statement that early on in the project that it would add an additional amount of time that was much greater than the gentleman last Tuesday stated. Another pro-Towne Road speaker at a meeting said it took 10 minutes for an EMS to arrive during a cardiac event at their house. so, Let's say an increase of 10 minutes but if anyone remembers the actual impact time please tell us and the source.
Anyone tried going down Sequim Dungeness lately? The circle by Hardy's is a mess. Now imagine 1000 additional residents trying to exit the area on that road.
In our country, heart disease is the largest cause of mortality. Here is a list of links that address that additional 10 minute impact on the outcome of medical emergencies:
Not so hot, huh? In my neighborhood, we have few households with ages below 50. There are a number of my close neighbors (including me) who have medical issues. Is that extra time still aok? I guess it's good for the housing shortage to carry us out in boxes.
One of the DLTA statements was how EMS could access the levy road. I pointed out in an earlier post with a batch of emails that there was one interesting email from
Christina St. John,
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2023 11:55 AM
It said the Fire Department's key was not working in the gate.
So I checked news media for when the fire occurred that destroyed the house across from the old school house. It was on August 30 - the day BEFORE they were alerted the gate wasn't working for the FD. I guess that's when they figured it out, This was amidst a plethora of emails regarding the issues with the gating of the road. The fire killed 2 pets (I consider pets family) and almost killed the human residents as well as destroying the house.
This particular item seemed to be omitted when discussing why the FD tried going down Towne Road.
Other strange comments from DLTA:, mostly about environment:
- A claim our tax dollars paid for the cleanup of the prior toxins from the 80 year old road and rebuilding a road would add toxins back in.
(Amazing! no progress in road construction over the last 80 years while robots are ready to rule us now) as well as the fact that DOE paid for that cleanup, not the county
The most recent design for the new road has taken environment into consideration and the original project would have had to meet any environmental regulations and studies before being approved
- No other place like this trail exists in our region.
Honestly, these people need to get out more. Robin Hill Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (5,3 miles) and 8 minutes (6 miles) from Washington and Sequim (for those not living on or near Towne who commented)
Dungeness National Wildlife is 11 minutes from the Creamery (5,6 miles) and 16 minutes (9.4 miles) from Washington and Sequim
Railroad Bridge Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (4.7 miles) and 8 minutes (2.7 miles) from Washington and Sequim and is actually EXACTLY like the levy trail down to the same river.
AND Port Williams beach (Didn't get the stats on that one) if you can make it past the circle at Hardy's.
I see a National Forest from my backyard and a National Park in the mountains close by.
All from my view are much more scenic and have more than 1 trail that is not much longer than 1/2 mile.
And for the woman claiming this from Port Angeles, she has faster access to something those of us in Sequim do not: Salt Creek Recreation Area 18 minutes 11 miles which is closer than even Sequim is to her and is the jewel of Clallam County!
Lastly a complaint about car's emissions and oil and tires on the road. Personally my car has not 1 drop of oil, no emissions and everyday when I go to town I see more and more cars like mine. I suspect the farm vehicles allowed on the levy aren't exactly EVs. For the non-EV delivery trucks and service vehicles that now have to traverse to our neighborhoods they will be emitting more noxious fumes, using more carbon based fuel.
I will fully disclose here that I am leftist leaning and tend towards environmental decisions. And I still want Towne Road open for the sake of my own health and longevity and that of my neighbors in the other 999 houses. I also think it would be worthwhile when publicly speaking or writing letters to effusively praise and thank the 2 commissioners that voted to complete and open the road. as planned.
Thanks for pointing out that email and the fire date... another reason I read every comment.
Now, how to get your information into those folks who were given misinformation? It won't be me; the "Stop Towne Road" rally didn't leave those folks with a good impression of me.
Hi Mary, I just updated the article "Towne Road Timeline" and wanted to paste the dates around that house fire here. I have the fire and the lock incident happening about a week apart:
23 Aug 2023 An early morning fire destroyed a family’s home north of the Towne Road closure. A mother and her two daughters were saved from the blaze before responding fire vehicles arrived, but their two dogs were lost. Multiple responding units attempted to arrive via Towne Road but were forced to detour five miles when they found a locked gate closing the road north of the Dungeness Creamery.
23 Aug 2023 Clallam County Fire District 3 emailed PenCom (911 dispatch) with attached “Road Closure Notice.”
24 Aug 2023 A supervisor at PenCom (911 dispatch) replied via email that the road closure had been entered into the system.
31 Aug 2023 A county employee emailed the DCD, “I was out on the Dungeness levee this morning and at the gate off Anderson Rd, someone incorrectly locked the gate so that the Fire Department’s lock will no longer open the gate.”
Left, Right, or Center we are all here for one purpose: To get what was promised and payed for, and to hold those accountable for trying to take it away.
THEY HAVE WHOLE RAW MILK ICE CREAM!!!!! No wonder the Lord and Lady want the road closed. If word gets out there will be a perpetual traffic jam on that levee!!!
Wonderfully written. Something similar has been niggling around in my brain but you said it so well:
"Honestly, these people need to get out more. Robin Hill Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (5,3 miles) and 8 minutes (6 miles) from Washington and Sequim (for those not living on or near Towne who commented)
Dungeness National Wildlife is 11 minutes from the Creamery (5,6 miles) and 16 minutes (9.4 miles) from Washington and Sequim
Railroad Bridge Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (4.7 miles) and 8 minutes (2.7 miles) from Washington and Sequim and is actually EXACTLY like the levy trail down to the same river.
AND Port Williams beach (Didn't get the stats on that one) if you can make it past the circle at Hardy's."
I was thinking something very similar while I was walking at VOA. Of course you do have to leash up and pick up after your dog at all those places.
Thank you for the synopsis Jeff. I appreciate how you call out that 2/3 of the supporters live south of the blockage - its especially interesting given the fact that the DLTA website has a talking point taking issue with the 1 mile radius the county used in speaking with homeowners.
I think another point of confusion for some is that while they maintain that 'the levee trail is the levee trail' their very own website's FAQ page includes a map with the portion in question clearly marked as 'New Towne Rd'
As for myself, I've commited to now referring to this as 'New Towne Road' so as to not add any confusion (for others)
I think they watch what is being posted and try to counter that at the hearings. If we find they spent road money on trails or anything else, the County road division violated RCW 36.82. I see they have restarted the process, so this is not a done deal. The chances are a lawsuit is going to have to be filed on wasted tax dollars. Next week I will figure out how to get my stuff on the screen.
Please, John. I wish the county attorneys would have a sit-down conversation with you so you could lay it out like you did for us. Unfortunately, I think they are pretty busy investigating one commissioner's critics.
I think the attorneys have seen. They are just keeping up appearances. The new permitting will allow opposition to come in. That is why one of the pro closure people sniveled about records requests and law suits. They know very well what I have done in the past and know I challenge policy and liability in court. They know they are going to have to pay an attorney to defend the wasted funds. The other step is to ask the county to sue the tribe then sue in their stead when they do not. The tribe HAD immunity before they signed the ICLEI charter. Now they chose to work outside of Congress. They are no longer wards of the federal government. They are sworn International government members. A foreign government interfered with the Towne Road project. As a foreign government, they have no immunity or a treaty with the United States. This may end up in International court. I am excited about what lies ahead. I am cornering the globalists' and using this Towne Road incident to bolster my case. I already have the legislature talking about NGO's.
Did anyone else hear Commissioner French mouth "Build Back Better," the old slogan for "One World Order?" Even Biden doesn't use that old phrase anymore. Get with it Mike!
Really?!? I have to clean the wax out of my ears.
They have no idea what they are parroting...neither do parrots...we need to replace these minions with actual critical thinking people...but it does tend to be a thankless job and so easy to just go along to get along...and become corrupted by the insular nature of committees...what are we to do? I would participate in ethics committee if it had teeth. So would many others I suspect. We need a tsunami of public support...what will that take? Nothing will change as long as enough people are comfortable enough!
The waves are getting bigger, a tsunami of public support isn't too far off. "Transparency and Accountability" are the great uniters.
Apathy is the enemy.
Pathologic and pathetic!✨️
Mike is bad globalist medicine. He came from the Port Angeles International government. Those guys hid the ICLEI Charter for 1 year and a half.
Exactly right. I have to believe they are ignorant of the dangers to giving up our freedoms to the WHO and WEF. Do they really believe they will come out on top after?
They don't really come from here. This is their park. All Mike French can talk about is where the elk herd is today. He is content in his park, getting 80 percent of everything he needs from 6-8000 miles away. They are spoiled environmental frauds.
Mr. Worthington, this is exciting! I cannot help you directly in this endeavor but I can cook and send over dinner, or mop your floors. I have been waiting years to hear someone speak of checking the Tribe’s growing power.
Wow, John...you certainly have my attention!
The article you posted on ND about how the leftist groups used the Tribes to defeat the bill that would have made rural housing more available had my blood boiling. Why should a sovereign nation have a say in how our rural counties use our own land? It is happening all over the country. State and Federal governments using their local tribes to be able to undermine the will of their constituents.
I should add, I am part Native American. My grandmother was and we are still tracing her lineage and from what Tribe she came. I have many Native friends, in many different Tribes, scattered around the Country. I have loved watching the local Tribe build their enterprises, and am hopeful for their future and their partnership with Sequim and Clallam County. I always think maybe it is miscommunication that gets opposing sides at odds. I wish that was all it could be. I’ve not been involved in any controversy for many years as my health cannot afford it. But I still love justice and honesty and transparency in everything because those are the values that work for everybody. A level playing field, in all endeavors.
They have pushed my PRA requests out to past March 6, 2024. The "Global" input and other stuff to the Sheriff.
I'm waiting until June! Don't you dare cut in line Mister W.
Thanks for the update and all you do every week.
Thank YOU ;)
Yes. Thanks. You do a great job. I get too angry too quickly. You are so calm about things.
The closure of Towne Road benefited one homeowner in particular that also campaigned for Commissioner Ozias by placing a large banner on their property.
The safety of having full access to Towne Road doesn’t impede Clallam Fire, EMS of the Road Commission from driving around the closure.
Following the money from the beginning of the process should be very enlightening.
Full access for vehicle traffic as well as human traffic should solve all problems.
Complete transparency between the County and the taxpayers should be a priority.
Transparency, yes!
Oh SPICY!!! What do you MEAN I can't have my private driveway??
THANK you Jeff Tozzer for staying pesky!!
If you want a private driveway, go sit in Oprah's studio audience. "You get a driveway, You get a driveway!"
I'm an optimistic cynic. I believe all will end well but it won't have much to do with the human race! Did I type that out loud?🤣
Jeff - you do an amazing job of presenting the facts and, to another watchdogger's point, remaining quite calm in the face of all this.
Can someone tell me if I misheard the public comments....Did Mr. Eberle allude that opinions of those that live on 3 Crabs Road shouldn't really count because that area is "unsustainable" anyway? The audio was sketchy so I may have misheard. I think it was when he was doing his dog and pony show. If that was what was said and I didn't misunderstand, these are the kinds of statements that help divide a community. *sigh*
Has the county asked the private landowner if he would 100% support a Towne Road that is closed to EVERYONE. I don't want that. I want Towne Road open to all. If they close it, though, it must be closed to all. This nonsense about a "historical driveway" that serves one land owner is just that, nonsense. What about historical Towne Road that has been there longer and serving way more taxpayers and commerce / county revenue? (I'm pretty sure it's been there longer or it would've been named Eberle Road).
The woman that spoke during the public comments period and lives on the south side of the blockage seemed in favor of keeping Towne Road closed BUT she seemed to have pointed out that her neighborhood south of the blockage, will get MORE traffic (and, IMHO, more people loitering) if they keep the road closed to vehicular traffic and leave it open for human and dog traffic. People will be parking on the south side of the blockage, too, and won't that be fun for her neighborhood? Keeping the road closed does not automatically mean less traffic to those on the south side.
If they keep the road closed except for the privileged few, the county will very likely be sued in some form or fashion and I think they know that. If they keep the road closed to everyone, they will also likely be sued. If they open the road, as originally intended, there will be some upset people and they might try to sue but I doubt that a lawsuit will go far unless it's a private land owner suing his friendly commissioner for reneging on the private gates. EIther way, if it comes to lawsuits, our tax dollars will be dumped into lawyers pockets and we won't get the road finished as promised.
If DLTA tries to bring in State Rep Tharinger (like the DLTA claimed), it will be disappointing IF Tharinger tries to intervene in a county road situation. If he does, then I'd like to talk to him about paving my little neighborhood's lane and putting a private gate at the end of the lane with key codes just for me and my neighbors. No charge to me. Just to all the other taxpayers.
Has anyone shared this website with Tharinger? If he's been contacted by DLTA (as I suspect they've tried), perhaps he should be enlightened to facts and data in the matter vs the emotional greenwashing.
The commissioners have done a fine job of getting themselves between a rock and a hard place. Clallam County is growing fast and they are in an unenvious position of keeping up. That's understandable. Being honest, forthright, transparent would work better for us all.
Thank you, again, Jeff for pushing for transparency.
A.J., thanks for the support... I'll keep doing this as long as you are interested in staying engaged (thank you).
I think he was hinting at a point he made to Director Emery in a letter last year: "Bullet two: Does maintaining regional access with a two-lane paved road "makes sense" as your office reports? Is your office the authority on what makes sense in the world, in the County, in our environment? When we think of the future what are we building for? With changing climate and tsunami fears, reconnecting a road seems to encourage greater buildup/development in a vulnerable area near the water. It could appear that your office is proposing to prop up unsustainable future development. I think that our neighbors to the north have wonderful residences and businesses that they and their future generations should be able to continue to enjoy. But I don't think infrastructure should be expanded (like putting in the new road that your office is recommending) to accommodate development in what could be considered an ecologically perilous region."
I can only guess it may mean everything north of his farm is at risk of rising water levels and there should be no development in Dungeness, but I wasn't entirely certain.
Good points about Kate Houk's comments. I know she has lived on Meadowbrook Creek for decades and she keeps an eye on the county goings-on.
I don't see Tharinger getting involved if just DLTA asks him, however, there is an entity that has heavily funded Tharinger's campaigns for years... they may have more influence with him, but I don't see how Tharinger of the County could come out of that looking good. I haven't sent this website to him (and I don't know if anyone else has.)
No one expects that every county action is going to go off without a hitch but honesty, transparency, accountability, and leadership could have prevented much of this disaster from ever happening.
The fact that millions of dollars were spent constructing a levee to prevent flooding of the Eberle property (including the Creamery and Nash’s property) would suggest that those properties were built in an ‘unsustainable’ area. I thought you might appreciate the irony.
Zing!
Thanks for clarifying the source of that. Out of context it was striking. The more I learn about this private property owner, the less I like.
He appears to be anti-development. There may come a time when he will sell off more of the property for development, just like his grandma did. Some of it is surely in the "unsustainable" area.
"....Is your office the authority on what makes sense in the world, in the County, in our environment? ....." I'd say that Emery's office, with the full time experts, has a bit more going for it than he does. Eberle's a Landscape Architect working in and living (most of the time) in Tacoma.
Excuse the repetition but the hypocrisy at play is mind boggling...The wetlands on his property have standing water in them right now. You can see it from New Towne Road (aka "the levee"). Trumpeter swans will stop and enjoy these wetlands from time to time. Ducks and geese too. Hawks and eagles hunt around the perimeters. These wetlands are bound to grow if our seasons stay wetter or maybe even because the levee has moved.
"Environmentalist" Eberle routinely decimates these wetlands in the dry season by mowing and running heavy vehicles over them. The tire pollution and fumes from his vehicles (it's not just farm vehicles) end up in the aquifer. Water that mingles with the river. Water that provides his neighbors drinking water. It would be challenging to find an environmental scientist that would say that's good for wetlands or for the river.
Publicly he's stated he and his family enjoy seeing all the birds. If he likes birds, he probably shouldn't duck hunt and host duck hunting parties on his property (all witnessed while walking on the levee during the right seasons - no stalking involved).
The barn has a historical lien on it (public county records). Shortly after applying for and receiving a large grant, he spent the grant restoring the barn (as is appropriate). Beautiful, picturesque barn. No doubt about it. Following that grant-funded restoration he and his wife started their barn party hosting business. Indirectly, then, it could be that taxpayers helped fund that business, too.
It is outrageous that he believes that he deserves private-but-tax-payer funded access that trumps the life and death needs of hundreds of his neighbors. The tribe is in league, of course, but the private landowner is the face we see at the commissioners meetings.
I support private property rights. I don't support blatant hypocrites.
Incredible... fascinating points you make there, AJ. Somehow the duck hunting is what intrigues me. So does the grant for the barn. I've found all your comments intriguing.
I'm still trying to decide if it's Sherlock Holmes intrigue or Scooby Doo intrigue. Either way, we do get some interesting fog along the banks of the river.
“Can someone tell me if I misheard the public comments....Did Mr. Eberle allude that opinions of those that live on 3 Crabs Road shouldn't really count because that area is "unsustainable" anyway? The audio was sketchy so I may have misheard. I think it was when he was doing his dog and pony show. If that was what was said and I didn't misunderstand, these are the kinds of statements that help divide a community. *sigh*”
That statement sounds to me that maybe he is privy to conversations about swaths of land changing drastically.
Pretty much that is what he said. And he underestimates the number of people impacted. See my comments below.
On my calendar, March 4th at 9:00. Great summation with very informative comments (as always). I understand peoples' concerns about the amount and pace of growth in Sequim. Growth is inevitable, so we as a community must hold our elected and non-elected officials accountable. They have a great responsibility to the public to maintain open communication and dialogue regarding the county's growth. Coming from San Diego, I understand the fear and frustration of new construction projects, especially when the developer is from outside the county/area. If we stand together to ensure things are done right, this community will have a well-planned, well-developed, prosperous life with established longevity. Thank you Jeff and all other supporters for your tireless, thankless commitment to making Sequim and Clallam County a place I want to call home.
I'm still just thrilled I get to see you on Tuesdays, thank you for staying so engaged, Denise.
Find me one endangered species that they continue to let be harvested once the endangered distinction is made. Then keep commercial fishing. It is madness. These tribal guys pull money out of the river and that is all they see. Most of my tribal friends are dead or on drugs drying out at Oxford house. They could not see the farming value of the Dungeness. In short, they cut their farming nose off to spite their greed for salmon.
Since 1999 over 66 miles of ditch have been piped, reducing Dungeness River water withdrawals by about 50 percent. Clallam Conservation District contributed ..
https://clallamcd.org/irrigationwatermngt#:~:text=Since%201999%20over%2066%20miles,majority%20of%20the%20ditch%20piping.
There is a direct correlation with the conversion of ditches to pipes and flooding events. I am sorry, when you pipe 66 miles of ditch you get flooding. Simple as that. You also prevent the spread of alluvium to the ditches and allow more sediment to build up which leads to more major flooding event.
These people know 66 miles of piping replacing the ditches do not have the capacity to handle both stormwater and alluvium, and they admit they seek the historic Dungeness before the 1964 levee and 1890 ditches. Its a joke. Its the systematic flooding out of a community.
Where is your website, John? I'd be the first subscriber.
Focusing on the Towne Road comments over the last few meetings, here are some repeated things I've heard and how I think we can counter them.
In the past one particular landowner stated re-opening the road only benefitted 100 people,. (aiming at 3 crabs whom I think he sweetly stated were not substantial last week). Based on the Clallam Country Property site I counted 217 properties in 3 Crabs neighborhood, and 878 properties total that are north (and west) of the levy. And that's not counting Mains Farm or properties that are still north or the levy, but on the east side of the School House. Add Mains Farm and the east side and odd properties I missed and possible visitors to the inns and B&B's, on Marine, that's closer to 1000 properties than to 100 properties by an order of magnitude.
In a county that is considered rural that's a whole lot of constituents to ignore the safety of.
I heard the fallacy of how Sequim Dungeness is an adequate alternative route and didn't take much more time to traverse. I can't pinpoint it but somewhere I recall a statement that early on in the project that it would add an additional amount of time that was much greater than the gentleman last Tuesday stated. Another pro-Towne Road speaker at a meeting said it took 10 minutes for an EMS to arrive during a cardiac event at their house. so, Let's say an increase of 10 minutes but if anyone remembers the actual impact time please tell us and the source.
Anyone tried going down Sequim Dungeness lately? The circle by Hardy's is a mess. Now imagine 1000 additional residents trying to exit the area on that road.
In our country, heart disease is the largest cause of mortality. Here is a list of links that address that additional 10 minute impact on the outcome of medical emergencies:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7718983/
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.120.017048
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK321505/
Not so hot, huh? In my neighborhood, we have few households with ages below 50. There are a number of my close neighbors (including me) who have medical issues. Is that extra time still aok? I guess it's good for the housing shortage to carry us out in boxes.
One of the DLTA statements was how EMS could access the levy road. I pointed out in an earlier post with a batch of emails that there was one interesting email from
Christina St. John,
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2023 11:55 AM
It said the Fire Department's key was not working in the gate.
So I checked news media for when the fire occurred that destroyed the house across from the old school house. It was on August 30 - the day BEFORE they were alerted the gate wasn't working for the FD. I guess that's when they figured it out, This was amidst a plethora of emails regarding the issues with the gating of the road. The fire killed 2 pets (I consider pets family) and almost killed the human residents as well as destroying the house.
This particular item seemed to be omitted when discussing why the FD tried going down Towne Road.
Other strange comments from DLTA:, mostly about environment:
- A claim our tax dollars paid for the cleanup of the prior toxins from the 80 year old road and rebuilding a road would add toxins back in.
(Amazing! no progress in road construction over the last 80 years while robots are ready to rule us now) as well as the fact that DOE paid for that cleanup, not the county
The most recent design for the new road has taken environment into consideration and the original project would have had to meet any environmental regulations and studies before being approved
- No other place like this trail exists in our region.
Honestly, these people need to get out more. Robin Hill Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (5,3 miles) and 8 minutes (6 miles) from Washington and Sequim (for those not living on or near Towne who commented)
Dungeness National Wildlife is 11 minutes from the Creamery (5,6 miles) and 16 minutes (9.4 miles) from Washington and Sequim
Railroad Bridge Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (4.7 miles) and 8 minutes (2.7 miles) from Washington and Sequim and is actually EXACTLY like the levy trail down to the same river.
AND Port Williams beach (Didn't get the stats on that one) if you can make it past the circle at Hardy's.
I see a National Forest from my backyard and a National Park in the mountains close by.
All from my view are much more scenic and have more than 1 trail that is not much longer than 1/2 mile.
And for the woman claiming this from Port Angeles, she has faster access to something those of us in Sequim do not: Salt Creek Recreation Area 18 minutes 11 miles which is closer than even Sequim is to her and is the jewel of Clallam County!
Lastly a complaint about car's emissions and oil and tires on the road. Personally my car has not 1 drop of oil, no emissions and everyday when I go to town I see more and more cars like mine. I suspect the farm vehicles allowed on the levy aren't exactly EVs. For the non-EV delivery trucks and service vehicles that now have to traverse to our neighborhoods they will be emitting more noxious fumes, using more carbon based fuel.
I will fully disclose here that I am leftist leaning and tend towards environmental decisions. And I still want Towne Road open for the sake of my own health and longevity and that of my neighbors in the other 999 houses. I also think it would be worthwhile when publicly speaking or writing letters to effusively praise and thank the 2 commissioners that voted to complete and open the road. as planned.
Mary -- I don't know your going rate, but you're hired. First, check out this post and scroll down to the 2015 meeting notes... I think that might be the information you need: https://www.ccwatchdog.com/p/dungeness-residents-may-see-insurance
Thanks for pointing out that email and the fire date... another reason I read every comment.
Now, how to get your information into those folks who were given misinformation? It won't be me; the "Stop Towne Road" rally didn't leave those folks with a good impression of me.
Hi Mary, I just updated the article "Towne Road Timeline" and wanted to paste the dates around that house fire here. I have the fire and the lock incident happening about a week apart:
23 Aug 2023 An early morning fire destroyed a family’s home north of the Towne Road closure. A mother and her two daughters were saved from the blaze before responding fire vehicles arrived, but their two dogs were lost. Multiple responding units attempted to arrive via Towne Road but were forced to detour five miles when they found a locked gate closing the road north of the Dungeness Creamery.
23 Aug 2023 Clallam County Fire District 3 emailed PenCom (911 dispatch) with attached “Road Closure Notice.”
24 Aug 2023 A supervisor at PenCom (911 dispatch) replied via email that the road closure had been entered into the system.
31 Aug 2023 A county employee emailed the DCD, “I was out on the Dungeness levee this morning and at the gate off Anderson Rd, someone incorrectly locked the gate so that the Fire Department’s lock will no longer open the gate.”
Thanks for the date corrections, Jeff. I need to be more conscientious about assumptions.
It comes with the territory, Mary. Too much to keep track of. Thanks for pulling all those counterpoints together.
Left, Right, or Center we are all here for one purpose: To get what was promised and payed for, and to hold those accountable for trying to take it away.
And to get the shortest route to buy ice cream at the Creamery. Don't forget the ice cream part.
THEY HAVE WHOLE RAW MILK ICE CREAM!!!!! No wonder the Lord and Lady want the road closed. If word gets out there will be a perpetual traffic jam on that levee!!!
Can you imagine? I scream, you scream, we all scream... it would be chaos.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your observations and summary--very enlightening and helpful. Nice job!
You are very welcome... as long as people like you read and stay engaged, we will keep moving forward :)
Wonderfully written. Something similar has been niggling around in my brain but you said it so well:
"Honestly, these people need to get out more. Robin Hill Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (5,3 miles) and 8 minutes (6 miles) from Washington and Sequim (for those not living on or near Towne who commented)
Dungeness National Wildlife is 11 minutes from the Creamery (5,6 miles) and 16 minutes (9.4 miles) from Washington and Sequim
Railroad Bridge Park is 10 minutes from the Creamery (4.7 miles) and 8 minutes (2.7 miles) from Washington and Sequim and is actually EXACTLY like the levy trail down to the same river.
AND Port Williams beach (Didn't get the stats on that one) if you can make it past the circle at Hardy's."
I was thinking something very similar while I was walking at VOA. Of course you do have to leash up and pick up after your dog at all those places.
For those who like to call us racists:
niggling
[ˈniɡ(ə)liNG]
ADJECTIVE
causing slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety:
"niggling aches and pains"
Causing slight but persistent annoyance: like manually opening gates?
Let me expose the timeline.
2013, They put out a study saying there was not enough water on the Dungeness. They start eliminating ditches and installing PVC.
2022 the area floods.
I am saying the area was flooded intentionally.
😳
Thank you for the synopsis Jeff. I appreciate how you call out that 2/3 of the supporters live south of the blockage - its especially interesting given the fact that the DLTA website has a talking point taking issue with the 1 mile radius the county used in speaking with homeowners.
I think another point of confusion for some is that while they maintain that 'the levee trail is the levee trail' their very own website's FAQ page includes a map with the portion in question clearly marked as 'New Towne Rd'
As for myself, I've commited to now referring to this as 'New Towne Road' so as to not add any confusion (for others)
Ever since I read this, I've been calling it the "New Towne Road." Thanks DLTA for clearing that up!
I I live within that mile and didn’t get any county person ask me anything so which side was it?