Citizen Letter Number One...

Fri. Oct. 31, 2003

F. Gregory Wilder
Public Works Director
Town Of Eatonville

Dear Sir:

The council meeting on October 27, unnerved us greatly.  So many things occurred contrary to rational thinking, as to boggle the mind.  For instance, spending well over $10,000.00 for a recorder, but having some lawyer say it might be illegal to pay the interim mayor a small salary to cover her baby sitting.  No one from the council spoke up, nor did they say a word about the obvious wrong done by the town to the owner of Aaron's Ark restaurant.
The whole council was in a daze the whole meeting.

*The lawyer for Litzenburger did his best to intimidate the council.  Too bad the council never looked up the record of how many lawsuits Litzenburger and Grins Pierce have been involved with, all against them that I saw.

Then for Grins Pierce to get up and say it would be better to reduce the fire flow requirements and raise our insurance, so as to line his pockets with that money in additional ERUs.  He has the same idea with his conservation plan.  He wants us to use less water and pay more so he can sell more little
houses.

Now, Steve Lind is in the act.  He wants to reduce the fire flow to the state required minimum.  We should not have allowed the fire flow to be reduced.  We should have improved the distribution system instead.  Years ago, the mill pumped the town’s water for free and could provide 4000 gallons/ minute into the lines.  The town was given these wonderful Fairbanks Morse pumps, but decided they were not needed later on.  If the motel needs 3000 gal./minute, we should have provided that.  The Assoc. Petroleum plant is directly behind the motel.  How much water might that need in a fire? There is also a retirement apartment complex. It appears we  have three Planning Commission members, including the chairman, in bed with the developers.  At least two were appointed by Cliff Murphy after he was defeated for a second term.  Mr. Lind’s proposal is not in compliance with the state or the town’s plans.  Changes to the fire protection standards should be well publicized and subject to public hearings.

This foolishness about the millions of gallons of mistakes in the meter readings or billing, is just that; foolishness.  Nobody has paid for a million gallons they didn’t receive.  In most cases, it wasn’t a leak either.  The meters are old and hard to read. What matters is how much water is in the tanks in the summer. They have to be full .

No matter how the election comes out, we must not allow Grins Pierce or Steve Lind, who have violated the trust of their positions, to influence what is the actual truth.

I believe one of the most important things we need to do is raise the water hookup fees substantially.  This should have been done several years ago.
We also need to enforce all the regulations we previously adopted in regards to storm water and landslide areas and grading.  Eatonville has allowed all but one wetland to be obliterated.

Eatonville has only had three public work’s directors before you came.  I never enjoyed any of them.  We know you are on the right track and will  support you.  Please stay and help us.


Charles and Jaquelin McTee    

*Publisher's Note: This letter, and the one below,  was included in the latest  planning commission packet as well as the town council packet. The lawyer in question made it pretty clear to the council, at least four times, that the town would be sued if the Litzenberger warehouse approval was not expedited. 

Citizen Letter Number Two...

Sat, Nov. 1, 2003

F. Gregory Wilder,

I am totally upset that every development I am familiar with, has not come under the SEPA rules.   For years they have been getting away with a check list of non- significance.  This has got to change.  It is too late to save the wetlands.  All but two wetlands within the Town limits have been completely obliterated.  Of the ones that are left, one has been bisected with a fill for an access road.  The other is about to nearly disappear from encroachment.

The wetlands I am talking about have standing water all year long.  I own 130 acres of forest land in Pierce and Lewis County.  The present forest practice rules mandate I stay at least 50 feet away from a trickle or seep, which may not even be seen every year.  A stream which runs year round requires 170 feet on each side.
Of course, these rules are ridiculous and environmental overkill, but filling all the wetlands in?  If I filled in a wetland outside of Eatonville, I would be fined and maybe jailed.

I demand a full SEPA on anything that may affect wetlands, traffic, roads, utilities, or anything else required by law, especially our water recharge area.

If anybody thinks they can further reduce the fire flow requirements for our water storage, I believe that should  require a SEPA.  I am not comfortable living in an environment which may burn up due to negligence or political or financial gain.

Charles  McTee

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