HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence re Hicks Park Geoduck Farm Parking 09222026From:Matt Tyler
To:Greg Ballard
Cc:Bob Hoyle; Karin Nyrop
Subject:RE: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Date:Tuesday, September 15, 2026 3:31:00 PM
Attachments:FW FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park.msg
image001.jpg
Hi Greg, thank you for the info.
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation wants to make it clear that parking in Hicks Park
for the commercial operation of the geoduck farm is not an approved park use and will
not be permitted. Is it possible to have that information added to the permit file?
Also the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board sent an email to Donna
Frostholm on August 8, 2026, which is included in the attached email, and also pasted
below. Is it possible to have this information entered into the permit file as well?
Thank you for your response. Let me know any questions.
Matt
From: Bob Hoyle <bobhoyle@usa.net>
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 10:21 PM
To: jpeters@co.jefferson; Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open
attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
As Chair of the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (“Board”) I
have been asked by the Board to communicate with you regarding a situation near
Hicks Park.
The Board recently received communication regarding safety concerns at Jefferson
County Hicks Park. I have provided the letter (below) and its attachments for
reference.
After reviewing this correspondence and discussing it at a recent Board meeting, the
Board has three concerns.
First, based on the pictures sent to us, there is a “no trespassing” sign on a fence
located on a rock jetty. Would it be possible for you to confirm that the sign is not
located on park property?
Second, the Board understands that a permit application for geoduck harvesting has
been submitted for property located adjacent to the park. In reviewing this permit
application, we hope the permitting authority will consider possible impacts to Hicks
Park and the recreation that occurs there.
Third, the communication sent to the Board indicates there is a pipe and wire located
below the ordinary high-water mark. The correspondence suggests these items
create a hazard to users of the park. The Board requests that you review the
placement of the pipe and wire to ensure it is not located on park property as well as
take any other appropriate action that may be within your authority.
Thank you for your consideration of these items. Please include Jefferson County
Parks & Recreation manager, Matt Tyler, in any follow up communications.
Sincerely,
Bob Hoyle, District #2 Rep., Chair
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Matthew L. Tyler
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Manager
623 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-385-9129 desk
mtyler@co.jefferson.wa.us | www.countyrec.com
Serving the Community
All e-mail sent by this e-mail address has been sent by the Jefferson County e-mail system and is therefore subject to Public
Records Act, a State law found at RCW 42:56. Under the Public Records Law, the County must release this e-mail & it's contents
to any person who asks to obtain a copy (or for inspection) of this e-mail unless it is also exempt from disclosure under State Law
RCW 42.56.
From: Greg Ballard <GBallard@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 2:50 PM
To: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Emily Calkins <ECalkins@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hi Matt, SDP2019-00008 is adjacent to William Hicks Park is a proposal for a
geoduck operation.
The application is on hold (applicant has until January 2027 to provide additional info)
but you can keep track of this case by clicking on the hyperlink above.
Thanks
Greg Ballard (he/his)
Jefferson County DCD
Development Code Administrator
gballard@co.jefferson.wa.us
(360) 379-4454
From: Planning <planning@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:46 PM
To: Greg Ballard <GBallard@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
HI Greg!
Could you please respond to Matt Tyler below?
Thank you!
Emily Calkins
Planner
Jefferson County Department of Community Development (DCD)
ecalkins@co.jefferson.wa.us
360-379-4486
Note: My schedule is limited and I am usually out of the office on Thursdays and Fridays. For
time sensitive questions and requests please email our planning team at
planning@co.jefferson.wa.us.
Note: email subject to disclosure per Public Records Act, RCW 42.56
From: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 3:44 PM
To: Planning <planning@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Karin Nyrop <nyrop.karin@gmail.com>; Bob Hoyle <bobhoyle@usa.net>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hello DCD,
See below.
Donna has since moved on, and I am not sure if this is a dead project, but Parks and
Recreation is trying to make sure that Hicks Park is planned to be used as a logistical
area for commercial geoduck harvesting. Any info is helpful.
Thank You, Matt
From: Matt Tyler
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:04 PM
To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Karin Nyrop <nyrop.karin@gmail.com>; Bob Hoyle <bobhoyle@usa.net>
Subject: RE: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hello Donna,
Do you have any new information regarding the status of the Geoduck permit and the
request to use Hicks Park for logistics?
Original emails are below.
Thank You,
Matt
From: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:37 PM
To: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: RE: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hi Matt,
My apologies, I just realized I never replied to this email. The aquaculture application adjacent to
the park is still under review. And, it is my understanding that the complaint case is still open.
Best,
Donna Frostholm
Jefferson County DCD
From: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Friday, August 8, 2025 9:11 AM
To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hello Donna,
The parks and recreation advisory board asked me to follow up with you to find out the status of this
application near Hicks Park.
If you have any new info let me know. Or it if just still in process.
Thanks, Matt
From: Bob Hoyle <bobhoyle@usa.net>
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 10:21 PM
To: jpeters@co.jefferson; Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Matt Tyler <MTyler@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: FW: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open
attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
As Chair of the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (“Board”) I
have been asked by the Board to communicate with you regarding a situation near
Hicks Park.
The Board recently received communication regarding safety concerns at Jefferson
County Hicks Park. I have provided the letter (below) and its attachments for
reference.
After reviewing this correspondence and discussing it at a recent Board meeting, the
Board has three concerns.
First, based on the pictures sent to us, there is a “no trespassing” sign on a fence
located on a rock jetty. Would it be possible for you to confirm that the sign is not
located on park property?
Second, the Board understands that a permit application for geoduck harvesting has
been submitted for property located adjacent to the park. In reviewing this permit
application, we hope the permitting authority will consider possible impacts to Hicks
Park and the recreation that occurs there.
Third, the communication sent to the Board indicates there is a pipe and wire located
below the ordinary high-water mark. The correspondence suggests these items
create a hazard to users of the park. The Board requests that you review the
placement of the pipe and wire to ensure it is not located on park property as well as
take any other appropriate action that may be within your authority.
Thank you for your consideration of these items. Please include Jefferson County
Parks & Recreation manager, Matt Tyler, in any follow up communications.
Sincerely,
Bob Hoyle, District #2 Rep., Chair
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
From: Marilyn Showalter <marilyn.showalter@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2025 11:33 AM
To: mtyler@co.jefferson.wa.us
Subject: FYI Complaint of Dangerous Post and Wire Next to Hicks County Park
Hello, Mr. Tyler and Members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee.
I'm forwarding to you a copy of a complaint I filed today with the County Code
Enforcement Officer, regarding a dangerous metal post and wire inserted into and strung
over navigable waters next to Hicks County Park on Shine Road, Hood Canal.
Within your appropriate roles, I hope you will take steps to support its removal.
Hicks Park is the "little park that could." It is small but used by a wide variety of
recreationists--at high tide and low tide, and in all seasons. The photos attached to this
complaint concern users of the waters close to the post and wire, but there are many
types of activities, including clamming, crabbing, beachwalking, picnicking, swimming,
underwater swimming, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, sailboarding, paddle
boarding, hydrofoiling, and boat launching.
FYI, the parcel containing the post and wire is also the subject of an application for a
permit for commercial geoduck farming over 5.1 acres of tidelands sitting between Hicks
Park and a DNR public beach, Beach 59. It involves, among other things more than 6.5
tons per acre of PVC pipe inserted into but protruding above the tidelands. My neighbors
in Shine and others have followed this proposal for many years. I've attached a letter we
wrote a while back. The proposal is now in a second round of public comments, due
May 30, 2025, to dfrostholm@co.jeffrson.wa.us, att MLA19-00036.
Thank you for your public service--Marilyn Showalter
Marilyn Showalter
1596 Shine Rd
Port Ludlow, WA 98365
(360) 259-1700 (cell)
marilyn.showalter@gmail.com