||| from Susan Mustard |||
Think globally, act locally. County government on our island has a huge impact on our lives. Recently Rick Hughes promised to be an “Environmental Warrior” in a third term in office.
Below is a photo of an ever expanding auto junkyard on the very edge of Otters Pond.
Over the years, more cars have been added, as well as mounds of discarded trash. Many of you pass this illegal dump almost daily driving on Olga Road. Some years ago, I wrote letters to County officials because I was concerned leaking automobile fluids would not only affect Otters Pond (a designated wetland) but would pose pollution risk to the drinking water source for many island residents. The Pond drains into Cascade Lake near the drinking water intake for Rosario and the Highlands. Residents in both Rosario and the Highlands have written letters of concern to the County including the late Richard Jordan. Within this past year, the neighbors abutting this property wrote a letter voicing concerns to the County. No action has ever been taken by the County.
Isn’t it high time to enforce the rules? The race for County Council District 2 is between Rick Hughes and Cindy Wolf. Although Cindy won the primary, she faces a big battle; unseating an incumbent. In 2012, Hughes vowed to serve only two terms; he is now running for a third. I am endorsing Cindy because I believe she will provide much needed responsive new leadership for our County.
People always promise to be that which they have yet to be… during elections.
This is pretty stunning. Who is enforcing the Critical Areas Ordinance? Is this not considered a protected wetland? I don’t understand why repeated letters to the county haven’t worked. Time for a change on the county level.
Maybe someone should let Travel and Leisure and the NY Times know that there is trouble in paradise.
Out of curiosity, what is Cindy Wolf’s plan as a commissioner to deal with this specific issue?
Given that the issue of enforcing this issue(s) falls to the Code Enforcement and the independently elected Sherriff and Prosecuting Attorney, perhaps you should be looking there first.
As I’m sure Ms. Wolf knows, she also would have absolutely no authority under her legislative powers to direct those agencies (and frankly any department within the county) to do anything about the alleged issue. If the law is already in place to address this, then the council has done its job.
Great question, Justin. I would like to know what Cindy Wolf’s plan would be also. But as you aptly point out, the Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney are also elected county officials appointed in the voting booth.
I just am not understanding why such a visible problem remains after apparently been called to the county’s attention multiple times by multiple citizens. As an ordinary citizen, it’s difficult to understand the complexity of knowing exactly who to contact and I think it’s fair to assume that a letter to the county council would be passed to the right people.
I certainly would expect if I wrote a letter to say Rick Larsen or Jay Inslee or Chris Reykdal that there would be follow-up.
First of all, Rick Hughes has been Orcas Island’s representative on the County Council for a long time. With the threat of possible contamination of drinking water for a substantial number of folks on this island, why hasn’t he responded to this issue over the years? Why hasn’t he called for action on this issue? Over this long period of time, wouldn’t it have made sense to expect to be represented by our “representative”? Again, think globally, act locally.
I believe both County Health and Code Enforcement have looked into this issue. They are the correct entities to investigate and take action on issues such as this. It would be both unethical and a violation of authority for either Rick or Cindy acting in a legislative capacity to take action on this.
Unsightly and even potentially dangerous as this may be, these people have the same right to due process that we all enjoy. If anyone wants information on this, I’d encourage a call to the Community Development Office. They can provide you with all legally available information.