CHIMACUM — There was a ripple of applause but little emotion Wednesday after Dana Roberts hit the table with his giant gavel to end the meeting where Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners voted to build a public water system to serve all of Marrowstone Island.
Proponents, who carried the name Water For Marrowstone, smiled and talked quietly, while one member of the opponent group, Conserve Water First, sought commissioner notes and other documents that might be used in a future lawsuit.
Project opponent Ray Harker, of the group Conserve Water First, handed reporters a copy of a statement read by Wayne Chimenti when asked for comments about the commissioners’ decision in favor of the island-wide water system.
Chimenti questioned how utility district manager Jim Parker could count the protests after he had helped the pro-water group write its original petition for the system. Parker said he didn’t believe he did anything wrong in assisting the group.
Chimenti claimed a vote on the water system would have brought a different result.
“In a proper referendum, this pipeline would have been defeated handily, probably 80 percent to 20 percent,” Chimenti claimed. “People want alternative solutions and you have refused to really consider these.”
Ralph Rush, chairman of the Water For Marrowstone group, was pleased with the decision.
“It’s a blessing,” Rush said. “It’s been a long fight but for a very much needed resource.”