PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners will consider objections to a proposed special assessment tax in the Lake Sutherland Management District.
District voters last summer extended a $50-per-parcel annual fee to control invasive Eurasian milfoil in the popular lake west of Port Angeles for the next decade.
Commissioners Mike Chapman and Mike Doherty on Tuesday approved conducting a Dec. 9 public hearing in which commissioners will act as a board of equalization and consider formal objections to the special assessment tax roll.
“Though this [notice] isn’t required by law, it’s kind of a good practice to do a formal advance to discuss this issue,” Chapman said.
Commissioner Jim McEntire was absent, since he was serving with the state Board of Natural Resources in Olympia on Tuesday. He did not object to the notice of a hearing when it was discussed Monday.
Vote last summer
Lake Sutherland property owners voted overwhelmingly — 88.2 percent to 11.8 percent — to extend the 10-year-old district last summer.
Of the 240 ballots returned, 211 were “yes” votes and 29 were “no” votes.
With one vote allowed for each dollar of proposed assessment, the final tally was 10,159 in favor and 1,360 against.
Cathy Lucero, county noxious weed coordinator, said she would send notices to affected landowners 15 days prior to the hearing.
Objections in writing
Objections must be made in writing with reasons for the objection prior to the hearing.
“They do not have to attend the meeting,” Lucero told commissioners on Monday.
“And at that time, you either say, ‘Yep, this property really shouldn’t be included,’ or, ‘No, it should,’” Lucero explained.
“I will write to them and tell them your decision, but at that time, the board will formally adopt the roll of parcels that are included in the lake.”
Property owners who have access to the 300-acre lake on community docks are included in the district.
Seven objections were filed when the district was extended five years ago.
“Some were just angry that it got voted in, and that isn’t actually a reason to be exempted,” Lucero said.
Aggressive species
Past efforts to remove the underwater plant from the lake have been successful, but more control is needed to prevent the aggressive species from reinfesting the popular lake, Lucero has said.
Milfoil, which forms thick underwater stands and mats of vegetation on the surface, can impede water recreation, water quality and wildlife habitat, and diminish aesthetic and property values, district proponents have said.
Veterans center
In other board action Tuesday, commissioners awarded a $112,314 contract to Aldergrove Construction of Port Angeles to renovate the interior of the Clallam County Veterans Center.
The center at 216 S. Francis St. will get new flooring, paint, heating and other upgrades after Veterans Day ceremonies Tuesday.
Commissioners also appointed Diane Royall to the Animal Issues Advisory Committee and Gary Smith to the Homelessness Task Force for terms ending in December 2016.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
