Puget Island residents express growing concern over "unregulated airport"

The Wahkiakum County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, where they approved a letter to be sent to Senators Trudeau and Schoesler requesting support for fully funding the Encumbered Lands Gap Funding. The Senate’s proposed budget currently allocates only $1 million to Wahkiakum, Pacific, and Skamania Counties, leaving Wahkiakum County struggling to compensate for the funding shortfall. If the Senate approves the Encumbered Lands Gap Funding, it would provide each of the three counties with $1.8 million, enabling them to deliver critical services to their communities that would otherwise be hindered if the gap funding grant does not pass.

During public comment, residents from Puget Island brought their concerns to the commissioners over an airport that a Puget Island resident seems to be establishing on their property. Rod Leback, a resident on Puget Island, said, “I’m here to [speak] against the proposed airport that is being developed by our neighbor… the uses in our part of Puget Island are specific agricultural use, rural service area, which includes small businesses and rural resident residential… [a private airport] would not be compatible with any of those existing uses.” Leback also expressed his concerns over the effect the air traffic would have on farms, crops, livestock, and the safety of people and animals all over Puget Island should an accident occur. Leback closed his comments by asking, “We want to know how is this development allowed then? Were you [the commissioners] giving his permission to do this? Was there ever a comprehensive land use review or a safety review? Why weren’t we as neighbors and community members given a chance to provide our input on this before it even started?” Jason Will, a Puget Island resident and cattle owner, spoke up in favor of the airport, noting the potential usefulness of having someone with a small plane or helicopter nearby. “What if we had a guy as a crop duster,” said Will. “Or dropped mail? I’m not against people owning property and doing what they would like to on it. They have a right, they pay taxes.” Will also suggested the potential usefulness of private planes or helicopters as potential modes for emergency travel when the ferry is down or there are landslides on the highway.

Shari Parker with Wahkiakum County 4-H presented a resolution to the commissioners requesting approval to close Steamboat Slough Road and Brooks Slough Road on May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon for the Great White Tail Run. In its 41st year, this run is an annual tradition that raises funds for the 4-H youth programs. The commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.

Paul Lacey of the Public Works Department gave a presentation on a county-wide problem with vehicles/property encroaching on county right-of-ways (land dedicated to public streets, sidewalks, public utilities, transmission lines, walkways, trails, and bike paths). In his presentation, Lacey gave specific accounts of boats, trailers, and unlicensed vehicles that have been dumped or are sitting and encroaching on these right-of-ways and asked that the existing 116-92 ordinance be updated to prohibit parking of any unlicensed vehicles on county roads/right-of-ways and to detail exactly how this will be enforced. Sheriff Mason commented that the solid waste or junk ordinance supports removing these vehicles and that anyone who wishes to make a complaint can do so on the county website. The Sheriff’s Office will investigate and remove debris if warranted.

A felony case is coming to trial in Wahkiakum County that “will require an expert witness to explain things to the jury that may not be known in the common experience.” The Prosecuting Attorney’s office is seeking approval to hire an expert for the trial for no more than $5,000. The commissioners unanimously approved the request.

The commissioners held a workshop with Sheriff John Mason, Public Works Director Chuck Beyer, and Building Inspector/Planner Dave Hicks to discuss Johnson House and the intended driveway to be built on the property for the Sheriff’s Office vehicles to utilize. After taking a short walk down to the property, commissioners were still undecided on what the next steps would be regarding the house. Members of the heritage group again vocalized their intentions for a heritage campus and asked that the commissioners continue to consider them. Commissioner Dan Cothren expressed concern about the insurance rates and money the house is costing the county, while members of the Public Works Department appeared to be in favor of the removal of the house to make way for the driveway. Sheriff Mason mentioned the records and equipment belonging to the Sheriff’s Office, which are currently stored inside Johnson House. Cothren mentioned paving over the property and bringing in Conex boxes for storage, and some members of the public expressed disapproval at this suggestion. Resident Megan BlackBurn-Friend believes that the entire length of River St. and Division St. are “underutilized.” Blackburn-Friend noted the commercial look of the area after removing the many trees around the courthouse, and she is afraid that removing Johnson House and replacing it with more pavement, parking, and metal containers will turn the area into “an industrial zone.” After nearly an hour of discussion, the commissioners were not any closer to an answer or decision regarding the fate of the Johnson House.