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Stacie Hoskins
From: AI Scalf
Sent: Wednesday, July 06,200511 :15 AM
To: Stacie Hoskins
Subject: FW: Marrowstone Needs Water
FYI
AI
-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Locke
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 10:58 AM
To: AI Scalf; Mike McNickle; John Fischbach
Subject: FW: Marrowstone Needs Water
From: Gloria Hays[SMTP:GLORIA_HA YS@MSN.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, July 06,200510:31 :37 AM
To: Phil Johnson; Pat Rodgers; David Sullivan
Cc: Wayne King; Kelly Hays; Dana Roberts
Subject: Fw: Marrowstone Needs Water
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Pat Rodgers, Phil Johnson, and David Sullivan:
We need help. As Jefferson County Commissioners, you must be aware of the water issues on Marrowstone
Island and the impacts to those with little or no potable water. Just when it looked like construction might
begin after Labor Day, it appears we may never get a public water system if Nancy Dorgan and Attorney
Gerald Steel get their way. If it does go through, it will be at a higher cost and delayed delivery. Please, in
the name of public health and safety, and in response to adverse impacts of seawater intrusion, help us
work through the issues being raised by Conserve Water First and their new best friends, Nancy Dorgan
and Paula Mackrow.
Yes, my husband Kelly Hays is a PUD Commissioner. I make the same pleas to him and his fellow PUD
Commissioners as I do to you. What follows is the letter sent to Senator Hargrove. Similar letters were sent
to our Representatives Kessler and Buck and Governor Gregoire.
Sincerely,
Gloria Hays
2290 E Marrowstone Road, Nordland, WA 98358
385-6286
----- Original Message -----
From: Gloria Hays
To: hargrove ii@leg.wa.gov
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 10:14 AM
Subject: Marrowstone Needs Water
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Dear Senator Hargrove:
Marrowstone Island is a small island in Jefferson County just south of pt Townsend and directly west of
Whidbey Island. Many residents are without potable water due to low producing wells or wells fouled by
seawater intrusion, a major environmental impact. Water is hauled to many homes by trucks and vans both
7/6/2005
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private and commercial from off-island sites, most supplied by PUD public water in pt Hadlock.
In 2002, residents petitioned for a public water system and with a majority level of support from the
islanders, the Jefferson County PUD#1 Commissioners unanimously approved LUD#14 in April 2004. In
May 2004, a vocal anti-growth group (Conserve Water First)sued to stop the LUD. That suit was completely
dismissed by the Courts in February 2005 but legal fees cost the PUD $100,000 and delayed the
construction. This expense will be passed on to the islanders. If the LUD is stopped, the costs will pass on
to all tax-payers in Jefferson County.
Members of Conserve Water First also attempted to block a $2M Public Works Trust Fund construction loan
for LUD#14. The legislature approved the $2M loan in April 2005 despite the objections.
After their defeat in court, the local obstructionist group Conserve Water First, enlisted the aid of more
experienced activists from Port Townsend who have protested almost everything including the Tri-Area UGA
and the Quilcene Water system. Nancy Dorgan, most prominent of the Port Townsend group lives in a
condominium, uses public water taken from the Quilcene River many miles away and is connected to a
sewer system that allows her to live less than 50' from the water's edge.
With construction due to start in the fall, they are leveling complaints aimed at stopping the permit process
by claiming adverse environmental impacts. They have a new environmental attorney (Gerald Steel)
speaking on their behalf and are aided by anti-growth activists from the pt Townsend area. They are
overwhelming the county offices with their demands for records and claims of process errors going back
several years. Now it appears, the Department of Ecology is reversing earlier decisions related to granting
of water rights, regardless of the horrendous impacts to island residents. Our pending public water system
is in jeopardy.
We are not activists. We do not have legal expertise related to water rights and permits. We are a group of
citizens who are enduring hardships due to lack of potable water. We need your help. We need you to be
our advocate. How can governmental agencies allow families to struggle without a source of water? How
can anyone expect the elderly to get by without water? Without the aid of neighbors willing to haul water
for them, many would have to move from their homes and the island they love. Water to fight fires comes
from off-island. All these hardships, yet PUD water is available to Ft Flagler State Park at the north end of
the island and to all the non-island campers who visit there daily. PUD water is available to Indian Island at
the south end of Marrowstone. Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink, take a shower or wash dishes
unless you are on government property.
Please help us. You have the authority to investigate these bogus claims or ask someone in state
government to do so. Somebody must care that water might be denied to those in need in the name of
controlling growth, camouflaged as concern for the environment. Safe drinking water is a necessity of life
and not a pawn to be used against development.
Please help us.
Gloria Hays
360 385-6286
2290 E Marrowstone Road, Nordland WA 98358
7/6/2005
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