PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County’s Community Development director issued a stop work order Thursday that in effect ends operations at a Gardiner-based homeland security training center.
The action Thursday against Security Services Northwest’s Fort Discovery Training Center was warmly received by the Discovery Bay Alliance.
An area group that represents hundreds of Discovery Bay residents, the Alliance has waged a battle against Security Services Northwest over the center’s counterassault team training.
That training involves rifle, handgun and bomb-squad training ranges that generates noise from gunfire and explosions for extended periods day and night.
Considering legal options
Receiving the order Thursday, Security Service Northwest President Joe D’Amico said he is considering his legal options.
“We’re not going to rule out that we’re not going to train,” D’Amico said, adding that he still needs to absorb the contents of the order.
“We’re still hopeful we’re going to continue to do business here, just like we have since 1988.
“We’re going to circle up here and see what works. One step in front of the other.”
In July, D’Amico gathered more than 900 signatures from county residents who support the training center’s homeland security activities, including its high-powered rifle-fire and explosions.
Commenting before Jefferson County commissioners last month, supporters called gunshots and bomb blasts reverberating around placid Discovery Bay “the sounds of security.”
12 violations listed
The order signed by Community Development Director Al Scalf calls for civil penalties of $100 a day per violation until D’Amico takes corrective action to obtain building and land-use permits and meet county codes and other local, state and federal regulations.
The order lists 12 violations of county codes.
“The bottom line on its face is Fort Discovery has no permits,” Scalf said Thursday after issuing the order.
Unlike the separate building code-based work stop order issued last month, Scalf said that this order is based on the Jefferson County Code, and can only be appealed to a county hearings examiner.
D’Amico’s appeal of the first stop work order resulted in a stay and allowed Fort Discovery Training Center to continue its training operations.
“Hereafter, no building, structure or land use activity shall be engaged, erected, demolished, remodeled, reconstructed, altered, enlarged or relocated, and no building, structure or premises shall be used in Jefferson County except in compliance with the provisions of this code and then only after securing all required permits and licenses,” Scalf said in Thursday’s stop work order.
Under the order, Security Service must take corrective action and “cease operations” at the training center.
The company can continue with its basic commercial security services and K-9 units, the order states.