PORT HADLOCK — It was an emotional, celebratory time Wednesday for Bernard “Bernie” Peterson.
As Peterson looked on with his wife, Irene Gutierrez, Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners approved buying a 240-acre lake property that has been in his family for more than 100 years.
Public Utility District commissioners signed documents agreeing to pay $2.22 million for the property homesteaded by Peterson’s grandfather in 1889.
Commissioners then celebrated the event, complete with sparkling cider and a cake inscribed, “Thanks Bernie and Irene.”
“I think you’ll say you are getting your money’s worth,” Peterson said after the commissioners voted unanimously to buy the lake.
Natural water storage site
Long seeking future water storage, utility district leaders see Peterson Lake as a natural water storage site for at least the next 30 years.
After the commissioners voted, Chairman Wayne King of Gardiner said with a smile, “With that, Bernie, we bought a lake.”
King said the action “one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.”
“People will look back some day and say how smart we were,” King said.
Peterson agreed.
“I’ve been thinking about doing it for quite some time,” Peterson, 94, said before commissioners Dana Roberts, King and Kelly Hays made a cider toast to the couple.