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Open Letter to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC)
Dear Commissioners,
In February, Commissioner Heather and representatives from the Jefferson County Aquatic Coalition (JAC) hosted a forum in Quilcene to discuss the release of a survey regarding public
interest in a county aquatic facility. During this meeting, JAC representatives stated that the survey was intended to be completed once per household. This restriction was supposedly
enforced via electronic IP address limitations.
However, several concerns were raised about the lack of clear instructions indicating that only one response per household was permitted. In today’s digital environment, households typically
have access to multiple internet-enabled devices—such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers—each capable of submitting independent responses. Additionally, users could
bypass IP-based restrictions by using incognito browsing or switching networks, effectively allowing unlimited submissions.
Moreover, access to the survey was not restricted to personal devices; it could be completed from any internet-connected source, including work computers, public libraries, community
centers, and even motels. As a result, individuals on both sides of the issue could—and likely did—submit multiple responses, compromising the integrity of the dataset. Given these
significant design flaws, the survey data is inherently unreliable and cannot be corrected through statistical methods.
If JAC continues to present this dataset as a valid and uncontaminated reflection of public opinion, it raises serious ethical concerns. Any reliance on this flawed survey by the BoCC
to justify the formation of a Jefferson County Public Facilities District (PFD) could be construed as misfeasance—the improper performance of a lawful act. Further, moving forward with
a PFD based on knowingly flawed data may rise to the level of malfeasance, implying willful misconduct in office.
The JAC proposal outlines a substantial public financial commitment: an estimated $1.7 million annual tax burden to support a $34 million, 20-year bond. If this decision is driven by
unverified or biased data, it undermines public trust and accountability.
We urge the BoCC to prioritize transparency and accuracy by insisting on a professionally designed, well-controlled, and independently administered survey—one that ensures equal representation,
clear instructions, and verifiable results. Community decisions of this magnitude should be grounded in reliable data, not flawed methodologies driven by special interest groups.
Respectfully,
Roger Sorensen