PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has assembled a 15-member advisory committee to study the possibility of reconveying state trust lands back to the county for management.
The three commissioners Tuesday appointed representatives to the ad hoc Trust Lands Advisory Committee as recommended by the Clallam County Charter Review Commission.
Here are the members who will serve through the end of next year:
■ David Bekkevar, commissioner District 1 representative.
■ Robert Lea, commissioner District 2 representative.
■ Kenneth Reandeau, commissioner District 3 representative.
■ Jesse Waknitz, Port of Port Angeles environmental manager, port representative.
■ Diana Reaume, Quillayute Valley School District superintendent, school districts representative.
■ Kyle Blum, DNR deputy supervisor for state uplands, DNR representative.
■ Ben Pacheco, Clallam County Fire District No. 4 chairman, junior taxing districts representative.
■ Joseph Murray, professional forester, Society of American Foresters representative.
■ Cindy Kelly, grange member, Clallam County granges representative.
■ Susanne Scott, League of Women Voters representative.
■ Tom Swanson, Clallam County Republicans representative.
■ Mike Doherty, former Clallam County commissioner, Clallam County Democrats representative.
■ Jason Cross, North Olympic Timber Action Committee representative.
■ Rod Fleck, Forks city attorney/planner, city of Forks representative.
■ Cynthia Bork, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman, environmental groups representative.
Arrearage
The catalyst for the new panel was arrearage, timber that the state Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, was authorized to sell but did not sell for myriad reasons in the past decade.
“Many thanks to all the people that are volunteering for this,” Commissioner Bill Peach said Tuesday.
“It’s an important project.”
The elected Charter Review Commission voted 10-4 in July to recommend that a trust lands committee study the feasibility of the county taking on the management of its timberlands.
This would require legislative action.
If county management is not found to be in the best interest of local government, the committee will “provide guidance to ensure a continual engagement” with DNR on how it is “promptly and adequately fulfilling its trust land objectives to Clallam County, its taxing districts and its citizenry,” according to the recommendation from a majority of the Charter Review Commission.
“It’s going to be a very important and, I’m sure, comprehensive effort,” Commissioner Jim McEntire said Tuesday.
“I appreciate all the ones that have stood forward to participate in that. It’s not going to be an easy lift.”
Losing money
Proponents of reconveyance say Clallam County and its junior taxing districts like schools, hospitals and fire departments are losing millions of dollars a year to arrearage.
Some say the uncut timber is part of the reason that four Clallam County mills have closed since June 2014.
DNR officials have said increased protections for the threatened marbled murrelet, land transactions for future revenue, staff shortages and the economic recession each contributed to lower annual harvest levels.
“I’m not totally convinced what the end game of this committee is,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said.
“But because these groups stepped forward and nominated representatives, I’m willing to let them take a look at it. But I’m in no way dissatisfied with DNR. I think they do a great job.”
Former Clallam County Commissioner Phil Kitchel was hired in September as a consultant to the trust lands committee.
Opening unfilled
An advertised opening for a representative from the Olympic Forest Coalition was not filled but may be filled later.
“I appreciate the diversity that we’ve got on that committee,” Peach said.
“There is no predetermined outcome. I’m hopeful that they are able to remain productive.”
Peach said the committee should stay focused on the Charter Review Commission’s request to study reconveyance and help DNR curb arrearage.
Chapman said DNR timber sales have consistently provided revenue to Clallam County, even through the worst of the recession.
“Having sat through 15 budgets, it has always been a positive number from DNR, and I think that they don’t get enough credit for that,” Chapman said.
“That’s a story that we have not told. So I’d like to put that on the record and thank them for just shepherding the trust lands and the work they’ve done.”
Chapman said he hopes the committee will be a partner with DNR and not an adversary.
“In my conversations with leadership at DNR, they’re hoping for the same thing,” Chapman said.
“So that would be my charge for anybody who hears about these comments or reads about them.”
“Remember, they do return cash every year to the county,” Chapman added.
“They should be credited for that.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.