DISCOVERY BAY – A Jefferson County Public Utility District official is asking for emergency state funds to cope with the expenses related to the discovery of human bones thought to be Native American on a project work site last week.
PUD Commissioner Wayne King of Gardiner sent e-mails on Friday to 24th District representatives Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Kevin Van de Wege, D-Sequim, asking for help.
“We are at a point of walking from the project, simply because we simply cannot afford the ‘blank check’ to do the site inspection and monitoring,” King wrote.
King said Kessler told him that she would look into the possibility of acquiring state funds to help with the process.
The $2.8 million septic and community drain field project on Beckett Point has been on hold since Tuesday, when workers dug up 58 bones.
State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is requiring the PUD to hire an archaeologist to determine if more bones exist underneath the soil.
“We still need the archaeologist to do some preliminary work so we know what’s out there,” said Stephenie Kramer, assistant state archaeologist.
“We need more information” before work can proceed, she said.
“If they can find a location where there is nothing, that would be ideal for everyone.”
