The previous posting was titled, "Low Standards Come from Higher Places." Now the County Commissioners, at the behest of the Charter Review Commission, want to explore the possibility of taking back some more local control in setting low standards...
It’s
time for Clallam County to take a good, hard look at how its forests are being
managed, county commissioners say. The
three-member board plans to grant a request from the Charter Review Commission
to form a trust lands advisory committee to study the forces that influence
timber harvests and the possibility of reconveyance from state management back
to the county.
“We’re
going to be putting our foot on the accelerator in getting the committee
established in the proper way and get them underway so that they can do their
work,” said board Chairman Jim McEntire, who also serves on the state Board of
Natural Resources.
Timber
that DNR was authorized to sell but didn’t sell is known as arrearage. According
to DNR numbers, the Olympic region had 247 million board feet of arrearage from
2004 to 2014. That’s enough wood to keep any one of the shuttered West End
mills running for years, Forks City Attorney and Planner Rod Fleck has said.
Commissioner
Bill Peach, a retired Rayonier forest manager, said the recent closure of the
Allen Logging Co. mill south of Forks, coupled with the closure of the Interfor
mills in Beaver and Forks and the Green Creek Wood Products mill in Port
Angeles, represents the loss of about 300 jobs.
Peach
said he hopes the subcommittee will answer the question of why the arrearage is
occurring.
DNR
officials have said staff shortages, legal challenges and the protection of the
threatened marbled murrelet have contributed to a statewide arrearage since the
last sustainable harvest calculations were made in 2004.
McEntire
sits on an arrearage subcommittee of the influential state Board of Natural
Resources. He said the DNR will be making “very significant, even momentous”
decisions on arrearage and the marbled murrelet in the coming year.
Commissioner
Mike Chapman, the dean of the board with nearly 15 years’ experience, said the
county has spent millions of dollars on salmon recovery, water issues, land-use
planning, social services, tourism and infrastructure but “virtually nothing in
support for the timber industry. So
the county’s been derelict in our duty, in my opinion, over the last 15 years
in looking at the issue of timber harvest.”
“We’ve
got a tremendous asset base here in this county and others...(with) a potential to provide a renewable, constant stream of
revenue that offsets the need for property taxes, sales taxes, a plethora of
other revenue sources,” McEntire said. “So
let’s go get it.”
So let's first ponder the fiscal sanity and stability, in general, of the existing board of County Commissioners. Have they been good and thoughtful and forward-thinking stewards of the tax dollars in their care? Do you trust their fiscal judgment? Their honesty?
Second, let's look at those County Commissioners individually, shall we? First (at the trough) and foremost (with the money grabs) is Dim King Jim, who never met a dollar he didn't want to take home, no matter who it belonged to. This kind of move allows him to, at the very least, play up to his very debased base, which helps in future elections. If he were actually able to bring home this kind of bacon, and follow through with the tax cuts he speaks of here, well that's right wing pandering Heaven, isn't it? And if he were able to help push this kind of thing through at a State level, well gosh, that would give him all sorts of new friends that could help in future elections, too - especially for higher offices.
Then we've got Commissioner Bill Peach, retired from Rayonier's logging division...Hmmm...Think he's got an unbiased view on this issue? Hmmm...Think he still has any connections at his old company? Hmmm...Think he should recuse himself from this sort of discussion? Ha!
And finally, we've got good ol' boy and senior Commissioner Mike Chapman, who points out that the Commissioners, including himself, have been "derelict in their duty" on this issue. While that may be true, it's not exactly the kind of statement that inspires confidence. If you 've been checked out for 15 years, Mike, I don't have much faith in your ability to look, think and/or plan ahead on this, or any issue. You're filling a chair, and padding your resume and bank account, and that's about it. You're not even an ambitious scoundrel like Dim King Jim. No, you're content to fill a chair, and occasionally admit to your own shortcomings, then go back to sleep.
So again...Do you trust these guys with your money? Do you trust them to make informed, unbiased decisions? Do you trust them to be environmental stewards? Is this trio of nitwits capable of any one of these things, yet alone linking them all together to make an informed, fiscally and environmentally sound decision on anything?
And what are we to make of the Charter Review Commission's 10-4 vote to send this issue along to the Commissioners? Is logging really both the past and the future for Clallam County? Or is that group closer to the Charter Rewind Commission, hoping against hope to bring back the "glory days"?
CK, there are two sides to this issue, there really are. But you're correct in saying that this crew is not to be trusted. On that subject, the issue is irrelevant. These guys just can't be trusted, period.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see what happens. Fortunately, the Three Stooges are not in control of all the elements involved.
ReplyDeleteBut, just to run the scenario even further into crazy land, imagine Donald Trump getting elected with Sarah Palin, and them putting the likes of Ann Coulter in as head of Homeland Security. Then, you have the Three Stooges here locally, trying to cut everything in sight, etc.
Then you'll see the country go into REAL Rewind Regression.
Imagine what the rest of the world must be thinking!
Clinging to "timber, timber, timber" is THE preeminent way for locals to deny reality. That desire is out of touch with modern laws, modern culture, and looks backwards, not forward. It's a myth that keeps kids dropping out of school for mill jobs that don't exist, and won't exist ever again.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, the timber people got here first, made gobs of money, and still control the levers of power. They will not admit that right across the strait British Columbia has more timber than we and can sell it cheaper to the same market we do. So, now it is a race to cut all the trees and sell them for the cheapest price we can get so the timber guys can sop up the gravy while still clinging to the reins of power via dim Jim and "yessir Mr. McEntire" Peach. By the way, did anyone hear Chapman recently at the CC meeting when he said the county's strategy has, for the past 15 years, has been to "tax 'em all we can and put it in the bank."?
ReplyDeleteGo watch the movie "Idiocracy" and tell me we aren't already there!
ReplyDeleteThe first five minutes of that movie are GENIUS. I would show that clip to every school child in America, every year, from kindergarten through high school.
DeleteThat couldn't have been a Daily News article. Some of those paragraphs had more than one sentence and they just don't do that. It confuses too many of their readers if they put too much information out at once.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for the shocking act of making actual newspaperish paragraphs. I realize such things might be shocking to those accustomed to the one - sentence - at - a - time - so - called - style - of - the - PDN. Again, my apologies.
DeleteCan't we come up with other ways to live and work? Can't we do more than sit back and wait for these nimrods to come up with yet another hare-brained self-serving stupid proposal?
ReplyDeleteYes, we could provide alternatives to the status quo but only if there was funding available to get up and running. The 1 percent will not allow alternatives to get a toe hold lest their monopoly lose power.
DeleteThere is a lot of money "out there". We can fund things.
DeleteI'm not against the timber industry per se, as long as it's managed properly. But I seriously question this attitude of the Commissioners and the EDC. The timber industry has fluctuated wildly, but the long term trend has been down. Are we really putting all our eggs in that basket?
ReplyDeleteOf course, they continue to blame the libruls. Endangered species are destroying our timber industry! Yes, the spotted owl impacted the industry greatly. But you know, I have a feeling the Japanese market crash might have impacted them more.
The industry is important to this area, but it's also subject to some massive market fluctuations. To focus solely on forestry, or to ignore the market and yell "it's all libruls fault!" is self-defeating. We need diversity in jobs. Blue-collar and white-collar both. We need an economy that can weather storms and the usual market forces.
What are the Commissioners and EDC's plans for THAT?
Speaking of expensive blunders...
ReplyDeleteFormer Clallam County prosecutors highlighted in Associated Press report on misconduct, repercussions
A report that highlights how the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney's Office suppressed evidence from convicted double-murderer Darold Stenson's defense 21 years ago — ultimately resulting in a retrial that cost $1 million — underscores the need for prosecutors to “conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach,” current prosecutor Mark Nichols said.
The state Supreme Court in May 2012 overturned Stenson's 1994 conviction for the shooting deaths of his wife and business partner because prosecutors “wrongfully suppressed” an FBI file and photographs of ungloved former Sheriff's Detective Monty Martin wearing Stenson's blood-spattered jeans.
The Associated Press moved an investigative story Monday that used the Stenson case to accentuate a rash of prosecutorial misconduct that has led to convictions being overturned while prosecutors skirt discipline.
...while prosecutors skirt discipline.
...while prosecutors skirt discipline.
It's only other people's money, right?
DeleteEven more money is at risk when the county prosecutor sends up this 16 page "pile of crap" intended to show the county commissioners are able to just throw money around without due process and without a contract to show taxpayers they are getting something for their money. McEntire, at yesterday's county commission work session said he would not sign a contract in order to give the port one million dollars. What is up with that?
DeleteThe lawyer from Nichols's office was sitting at the table telling him he had to have a contract and McEntire said, "sister governments don't sign contracts with each other they just give the money and trust them." Well Mr. McEntire, we don't trust you why should we trust your cronys to whom you want to keep giving taxpayer's money--no strings attached. In a sane community McEntire would be tarred and feathered. Here it seems to be business as usual. Chapman and Peach sat there like knots on a log and never uttered a peep.
And, trust in the fairness of the system.
DeleteA million dollars frittered away because someone (or someones) didn't act professionally. A million dollars spent that didn't need to be spent. A million dollars taken from the taxpayers and wasted.
DeleteYep, that sounds like Clallam County.
Speaking of misconduct, let's not forget that Dave Bruneau charged Gene Turner with 2nd Degree Murder while in office. Of course it never went to trial because Bruneau could not find one qualified expert physician in the whole country who would testify that Dr Turner killed a child. All charges were dropped. But of course, Gene Turner's life was a living hell during that time . . . all because Mr Bruneau thought fit to charge him. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that Dr Turner's wife was the Campaign Manager of someone who ran against Bruneau in an earlier election. Surely, this fact couldn't have clouded his judgment or blinded his ethical code of seeking fairness and justice. Not in Clallam County . . . .
DeleteSister governments absolutely do sign contracts with each other. Usually called "interagency agreements" - very common and serve to protect both parties.
DeleteWhat a long, profound and absolutely silly example of putting the spin on a story! Then again, this whole blog site is all about doing just that.
ReplyDeleteThis is just another in a monthly series of boring spin doctor attempts, and another reason PA Unreadable has become such a joke.
One: This blog posts things to "bore you" (Oh, Mary! The horror!) more than once a month.
DeleteTwo: Thank you for calling this piece profound.
Three: Thanks for reading.
Yes Anon 2:56, I can see that things are going great in Port Angeles. No need for anyone to question the shenanigans that are the norm, hear. I suppose you think we need more cheer leading, and in depth reporting like you find in the PDN.
DeleteWhat does puzzle me is why you think bothering to write a post like your's makes any sense. If you think this blog is "unreadable and a joke, why are you reading and writing posts here?
It is a lot like saying "I really hate this beer I'm drinking". If you hate the beer, why are you still drinking it?
Talk about Rewind and Rerun. Ck's endless "I hate PA" diatribes paled long, long ago.
Deleteletter to columnist: "Sir, I hate you. I hate you so much. You suck. Every month I turn to your column, and then throw the magazine aside."
DeleteHey, whatever it takes to get people to read.
@ Anons 4:52 and 7:10 (likely the same)
DeleteYou probably are so used to trying to undermine any forward efforts here that you are blinded by your own aspirations to keep everything just like it is. God forbid there be any criticisms or pointing out how bad everything is in Port Angeles. The messenger who dare speak of the obvious problems is the problem, as we know.
Yawn...
An informal survey was conducted a few days ago of downtown merchants, to see how much of a bump in their business they saw as a result of the Revitalize " We're the best town, EVER" effort, and the millions spent by local governments to boost local business as "economic development".
All businesses surveyed said business was down like they had never seen it before. Expect more businesses to close by the end of the year.
And, that is "success", here?
This blog is the problem?
Our comments and observations are more powerful than millions of tax payers dollars spent, and the combined efforts of Revitalize PA?
Wake up and see reality, if you really do care about this areas' future.