PORT ANGELES — Clallam County officials hope to renew a lease agreement with Straitside Ranch for cattle grazing at the north end of Robin Hill Park but want to work out a few details first.
Don Crawford, director of county parks, fair and facilities, said the proposed three-year lease is a renewal of one that had been in place for 10 years but that now is expired.
“The grazing on those pastures really does reduce the labor load on our staff. We have a good relationship with the rancher there,” he said.
Commissioner Randy Johnson asked if the rancher actually manages the pasture.
“I look around and one of my favorite things is thistles. So are they managing the pasture?” Crawford said. “They do a pretty good job and we do partner with them on projects. It’s a pretty highly visible area.”
However, Tom Reyes, human resources deputy director, questioned the $420 annual lease rate plus the $500,000 level of liability insurance.
Crawford had said that he hadn’t considered adjusting the lease rate because he felt, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Reyes said, “This has been going on for many, many years. I see that we’re continuing to have $500,000 insurance and that number I believe is a little low. Then when we start looking at costs, $420 a year.
“We own those pumps, correct? If those pumps go, the county will be paying for it. I guess what I am saying is I don’t think that $420 may be a reasonable rate considering,” Reyes said.
Reyes said, “I think we need to have a conversation about insurance levels and the $420 per year. A lot of the maintenance is going to fall back on the county. So we need to make sure this is affordable for the taxpayer.”
Crawford said those adjustments would take him more than a week to complete so he would bring the proposed lease back sometime later.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@sound publishing.com.
