HomeMy WebLinkAbout031126 email - Recovery Housing at the Port Townsend Business ParkCommissioners:
I currently sit on a working group for a recovery housing project with Bayside Housing, DBH, along with other representatives from the county. I fully support the need for local recovery
housing.
However, I strongly oppose using the county land in the Port Townsend Business Park for this purpose. It is my understanding that this land was originally acquired for the purpose of
building a modern justice facility for the county. In my opinion the County desperately needs a modern facility for its courts, prosecuting attorney offices, probation offices, etc.
I recognize that construction of this facility might not be something that in the near future, however, the need is there and it is not going to go away. At some point in the future
the county will have to construct a new facility. I write this sitting in my office, located in a drafty, noisy, bell tower.
Selling or otherwise disposing of this land that would preclude the county from using it for a readily identifiable present and future need would be short sighted and hurt the county
down the road. The County’s future depends in part on its ability to have functioning facilities for county employees to be able to conduct their work, and while recovery housing is
important it doesn’t outweigh the county’s need for facilities to conduct its business.
James M. Kennedy
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney
Phone 360-385-9180
Email jkennedy@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jkennedy@co.jefferson.wa.us>