— from Bill Thompson —
OPALCO Co-op member/owners along Victorian Valley Dr. (Orcas) were first in line in the summer of 2013 when OPALCO began trenching up and replacing the first of over 100 miles of defective cables, yet no one expected the wash-boarding, pot-holing and dust clouds resulting from this fast tracked project. Residents had expected immediate restoration by OPALCO as per the OPALCO easement, plus, our one mile road had just been completely rebuilt, a very pricey project, was now in ruins.
In response to this mess, OPALCO asked for patience as winter rains were due. That was over a year ago. We have waited long enough for this continuous buck-passing to end. With no sense of responsibility exhibited by OPALCO, it is time to invite the other OPALCO member/owners to bear witness to this mess.
For those OPALCO member/owners expecting, or having experienced such trenchwork, we urge you to come visit Victorian Valley. We’re less than two miles north of the landing, off Orcas Hwy. Where you don’t see severe wash boarding or pot holing the road is covered with a dirt/clay mix. When the road is thoroughly wet, it’s like a muddy slurry, when it’s dry it’s as dusty as a desert. Road oil such as DUSTAC has proven useless on this slurry. If you visit, note as you come up the first grade how part of the road is sliding off like a bad toupee. The winter wash boarding is also a first. Drive carefully.
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