Steve Sperr and Glen Cutler to Speak at PABA Meeting
This Tuesday’s meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association will be about the sewer overflow program, and the possibility of acquiring the tank at the former Rayonier mill site.
Glen Cutler, public works director; and Steve Sperr, city deputy director of engineering services, will be the guest speakers. The meeting is at 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s — 113 Del Guzzi Drive — and is open to the public.
Glen Cutler, public works director; and Steve Sperr, city deputy director of engineering services, will be the guest speakers. The meeting is at 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s — 113 Del Guzzi Drive — and is open to the public.
Labels: Glen Cutler, Port Angeles Business Association, Rayonier, Steve Sperr
posted by Tom Harper at 8:10 PM
10 Comments:
We will doubtlessly hear why THE TANK is THE ONLY solution to the CSO problem.
What we will doubtlessly NOT hear is why the city bet all their chips on this ONE approach to dealing with the problem. Preventing sewer overflow events will not be discussed. (Until later in the evening at the proper City Council meeting, that is.) Nor will it be a topic of discussion that the city has essentially wasted nearly a decade in which it could have been taking a more proactive (and cheaper) approach to managing this problem.
Here's what happened: The Real Estate Cabal, led by Karen and Larry, saw the state order to address the CSO problem as a godsend. They latched onto the tank idea, but never made serious efforts to acquire it. The long-term goal, I'm quite sure, was to wait until the only option was to go the eminent domain route, and seize the old Rayonier property in the name of "CSO management."
Then, of course, the usual suspects (well-connected realtors and developers and consultants) could feast on the property - much as they did on the Gateway project.
Only a major glitch occured when the economy and the real estate market took a nosedive. This, needless to say, complicated things. Then, little Larry (not Larry Little) was term-limited off the City Council, and Karen, seeing that the ship she'd piloted onto a reef was sinking fast, jumped overboard and decided not to run for re-election. She knew she couldn't win, so she's trying to preserve her remaining political capital (worth about $12.35) for another run for another office.
So now we're all stuck with a big mess, a shortened timeframe, and a city and City Council that sees only ONE way to deal with this. And it's only projected to cost us, oh, $40-50-60 million dollars.
Thanks so much, Karen and Larry. And thanks too to Mr. Cutler, their last remaining high-profile crony. You've done SO MUCH for us all.
"...and the possibility of acquiring the tank at the former Rayonier mill site."
Maybe someone at the PDN will finally tell their reporters to do a bit of original research, look at the documents the former city manager signed in 2006, and actually tell the public that the decision to buy the Rayonier property was made and committed to, in writing, years ago.
And, based upon this, reveal to the public the money spent on HarborWorks and the "due diligence" studies has been a complete waste of taxpayers' money.
Well, I'm sure the people getting the "contracts" didn't think it was a waste of money, of course.
in all his condescending arrogance mr.C will "speak". I'm sure it will be annoying as hell. I'll skip it. Too early in the day to ruin my whole week.
Watcher said: "Here's what happened: The Real Estate Cabal, led by Karen and Larry, saw the state order to address the CSO problem as a godsend."
Watcher, it wasn't the state that ordered CSO problems be dealt with. The EPA made such an order nationwide in 1994.
"On April 11, 1994, the USEPA finalized a CSO policy."
And, despite what has been said about this repeatedly by local leadership, this is not something new, or only being required on poor little Port Angeles. Most every city across the country has been working on these things for years.
But, beyond those little corrections, you're right about Larry, Karen and Cutler. And that this thing has really run off the rails. Originally, the purchase, development and resale of the property was supposed to pay for the tank. Remember?
Everyone is facing stricter septic and sewer rules not just PA. As a person who lives in unincorporated county, I really do not want to be pushed into being a part of the purhase of the Rayonier site. But that is what they must have planned.
Will Harbor-Works and the Port come to the rescue of the people in this county who need upgrades and replacements of their septic systems?
We will doubtlessly hear why THE TANK is THE ONLY solution to the CSO problem.
Watcher you are wrong AGAIN, it is getting funny to see how often you are misinformed.
20 year old problem, that has to be dealt with, you all need to stop giving Karen and Larry so much credit.
I will be there to hear what they have to say, and will not rely on the PDN to report the truth.
Yes, the problem officially predates the Karen and Larry Show on the City Council. BUT - the mandate to deal with it, to actually do something about it, came during their tenure on the Council. And so, I stand by my previous statement.
Finally, when it comes to giving "credit" to the people who have hurt this town, held it back, and used it as their personal ATM, well you just can't give Karen and Larry ENOUGH credit. They were shameless in using the city to further their own financial interests, and even more shameless in the bullying, thug-like behavior they used while in office.
No matter what happens with the new City Council, we are well rid of them.
The Watcher said:
"Yes, the problem officially predates the Karen and Larry Show on the City Council. BUT - the mandate to deal with it, to actually do something about it, came during their tenure on the Council. And so, I stand by my previous statement."
Not to sound too nit-picky, because I generally agree with your comments, but the 1994 USEPA statements about CSO WAS a mandate. Many cities started correcting problems that year. And, actually, many were working on reducing CSOs long before the 1994 USEPA proclamation.
One of these days, someone should explain clearly to the Port Angeles public what an "Agreed Order" is, and why they exist. Like, to set enforceable deadlines on polluters who drag their feet and do nothing to address the problems.
Like Port Angeles was with addressing their CSOs. Like Rayonier still is concerning cleaning up their former mill site.
And, yes. You're sure right about the former council. Think of all the damages done by them. The residents will be paying for years ahead.
"Will Harbor-Works and the Port come to the rescue of the people in this county who need upgrades and replacements of their septic systems?
Only if there's a lot of $$$$$ in it for the board members.
I didn't bother to go to the PABA meeting this morning. Had better things to do, like clean out my kitty litter box.
But, I hear there were very few people who DID bother to go hear Cutler and Sperr. And, as another poster here suggested, they did indeed say that big tank on the Rayonier property is the only solution.
What a surprise. Yawn.
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