August 23, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 4 (4 of 18 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
August 23, 2012 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
JOURNALEDITORIAL
KOMENCOMMENT
Curious statement
marks end of Simpson
Recreation Area
The Simpson Recreation Area at the
south end of Mason Lake is an outdoor
jewel. Generations of Simpson Company
employees and their families have had their
very own park to use for vacations, overnight
camping, swimming, baseball games, outdoor
basketball and even horseshoes.
All that is coming to an end. Simpson says
it is shutting down the recreation area after
this summer season. It has put the park up for
sale.
"Simpson has decided to explore its sales
options for the Mason Lake
property," says a statement
on Sirhpson's website.
The statement -- "Mason
Lake Announcement 2012"
-- curiously is in a Q&A for-
mat. No name is attached.
No contact for further infor-
mation xs provided. The one-
page statement simply poses
By JOHN 10 questions in boldface
KOMEN type. followed by an answer
to each question.
It boils down to a busi-
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR
ness decision. The park was no longer part of
Simpson's "commitment to focusing on our core
business."
"We had to acknowledge that park manage-
ment is not where we should direct our re-
sources right now," says Simpson in its answer
to its question number two, "Why is Simpson
selling the park?"
There had been rumblings for years about
the future of the Simpson Recreation Area.
Recently the rumors had become more vigor-
ous. They had centered on three possibilities:
that Simpson would swap the park for county-
owned timberlands and the land would become
a county park; that Simpson would sell the
land and its thousands of feet of prime water-
front to a developer: or Simpson itself would
develop the property into sites for homes and
condominiums.
All this rumored speculation is causing
concern among the residents of Mason Lake.
Many have lived in their waterfront homes
for 50 or more years, and in all that time the
Simpson Recreation Area has been an anchor
neighbor. Who will take it over? And what
kind of a neighbor will move in?
For many years Simpson has been a re-
spectful steward of the property. Development
along the waterfront and in its large upland
acreage has been minimal. The park has never
changed much: its rustic appearance is its
charm. Campsites are simpl~e places to pitch
a tent or park a trailer. Watqer faucets, fire pits
and carefully attended toilet facilities are pro-
vided. There's a dump site for RV waste.
These simple facilities have been carefully
attended these past several years by Chief
Ranger Casey Bearden and his small staff of
summer assistants. Bearden and his family
live year-round m an on-site residence.
Bearden has won admiration and plaudits
from Mason Lake residents who "trespass" oc-
casionally to walk through the park. His job
hasn't always been easy. Noise and rowdiness
were prevalent not many years ago. Fourths
of July once left the park's shore lined with
fireworks rubbish and party litter. There were
loud parties, complete with amplified speak-
ers aiming loud music down the lake, vandals
destroyed toilets and stuffed rags in drains to
flood shower stalls.
Bearden stopped the carnage. Fireworks
were banned and entry to the park was care-
fully controlled. The park has been quiet and
clean under his leadership. Letters of commen-
dation have been sent to his bosses praxsing
what he has done.
The word around the lake is that Bearden
has been told to find another job. With the
park's closure. Mason Lake loses one of its
most stellar citizens.
Simpson is a wholly owned private corpo-
ration. It is under no requirement to explain
its actions, much less continue to maintain a
much-loved recreation area for its employees
to enjoy and lake-area residents to appreciate.
What we do know is that the Simpson In-
vestment Company is a holdir~g company con-
trolling three subsidiaries --Simpson Lumber
Company, Simpson Door Company and Simp-
son Tacoma Kraft Company. Green Diamond
Resource Company. with an office in Shelton.
was spun off in 2004 as another subsidiary.
It is a far cry from the old Simpson Logging
Company, established in the timber town of
Shelton way back in 1890.
• John Komen, who lives on Mason Lake, was
for 40 years a reporter and editor, TV anchor-
man, national TV network correspondent, pro-
ducer, columnist, editorial writer and commenta-
tor. His column, Komen Comment, appears each
week in the Shelton-Mason County Journal.
The Washingron state Constitution
sums it up best -- "The people of
this state do not yield their sov-
ereignty to the agencies which serve
them."
Tacoma News Tribune reporter Sean
Robinson and other members of a panel
of guest speakers repeatedly quoted the
constitution during a recent panel on
public records and open meetings last
week at the Alderbrook Resort.
'~/ou don't give up your power -- the
records belong to you. so you get to look
at them." Robinson said. The panelists
spoke to a group of government leaders,
public officials and local residents at the
members'
talking
Editor, the Journal
My comments today
highlight an old recurring is-
sue with water quality and
county oversight. Much of what
['m about to say reflect the
thoughts of Bill Allen, citizen
and community activist, who
was unable to be here this
morning.
Mr. Allen and I were partly
responsible for calling attention
to the impact of the spo~-t fish-
ery and the out of compliance
use of the Hunter farm prop-
erty in the Skokomish River
back in 2009. We are repeating
the same cycle where improper
enforcement and oversight will
and is right now resulting in fe-
cal contamination and pollution
in the river.
We ask the commissioners,
particularly Mr. Sheldon, how
many years have they been
allowed to operate the illegal
fishing camp? How many more
times will businesses like mine
suffer losses due to closures be-
cause the county has not been
proactive? How many more
people like Bill Allen will suf-
fer life-debilitating infections
because the county can't, for
whatever reason, get on top of
the predictable cycle and con-
trol it?
The fact is the county does
not follow through on its own
guidelines. Instead. it takes
a complaint with the Depart-
ment of Ecology and the state
Department of Health to effect
timely action. Why must they
do the county's work for them?
We have a similar example
concerning the sensitive area
around the Robin Hood Vil-
lage. The commissioners, again
in 2009. passed a resolution
prohibiting new "park model
trailers" to be placed on the
waterfront. The owner ignored
the mandate, allowed legal con-
fusion to compromise effective
action and the result was the
Department of Ecology again
had to intervene. The county
was ineffective in its ability to
either solve this problem or
develop an effective land use
policy.
Here again, the state has to
do the work the county should
be doing.
The key here is strategic
leadership. Mr. Sheldon, these
events are on your watch, in
your district. Any management
guideline would empower your
agency staffto do what it takes
m provide consistent impartial
and fair follow-through. It sim-
ply is not happening and has
not been and we're not exagger-
ating here.
Folks, we are well in the
21st century and we need to
behave like it. There will be
~'$?, Shelton-Mason County I [ more people and environmen-
I~ ,6W~:, 1~: /~~ P~,~ |l tal impact as we move forward.
' i~ ii i tl :~i ~ ':iii , , ,
i : , Let s end the us and them
-----
.~ Shelton-Mason County Journal is a member of
uSPS 492-800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
County Journal, RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. $37 per year for Mason County addresses,
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington
Owned and published by
Shelton-Mason County Journal, I nc
ong to
event, which was co-sponsored by the
Washington Coalition for Open Govern-
ment and the Mason County League of
Women Voters.
As members of the media, we tend to
champion public records law and open
government more than most entities
or individuals. But as Robinson put it,
public records are not reserved to just
us -- they belong to you.
Access to public documents, whether
they are City of Shelton Board of Com-
missioners meeting agendas or court
records, is not just for the media.
All residents have a right to this in-
formation.
The Internet often makes finding
these records easy. Meeting minutes,
building permits and election results
are just a few records available online
at the Mason County website, located
at co.mason.wa.us. If you're unsure of
what you're looking for, feel free to con-
tact individual departments for more in-
formation. Don't feel like you're wasting
their time -- they're here to serve you.
If the information you've seeking isn't
online, you can fill out a public records
request form in person. Looking at those
records is free, but individual depart-
ments sometimes charge a nominal fee
for printing or copying documents.
Know your rights. Elected officials
and government agencies work for you.
Exercise your right to public informa-
tion.
mentality that pervades Mason
County operations. Let's end
the nepotism. Turn fear into
forward movement. Partaaer
and promote solutions. Love
this beautiful county before we
lose it. Be leaders and not lag-
gards.
Scott Grout
Shelton
Why elect
Haigh?
Editor, the Journal
I am intrigued by the
thought process of voters in
Mason County. Rep. Kathy
Haigh, running as an incum-
bent for the umpteenth time,
has said yet again in public fo-
rum (paraphrased): if you don't
like me votmg to increases tax-
es and fees, don't vote for me.
But Mason County voters
like Democrats, only Demo-
crats, anyone with a D behind
their name. And Kathy Haigh
is re-elected time after time.
Yet some of the same voters
seem to be against tax increas-
es, as the Tim Eyman initia-
tives to hold down or require
more than majority support for
tax increases are passed state-
wide every two years; negating
her "House" work, but leaving
her in office for another two
years, when voters will make
the same odd choice over again.
Some Mason County Demo-
crats, while vilifying Tim Ey-
man, count on him to do what
they themselves cannot do;
put financial responsibffity, ac-
countability and funding priori-
ties in place for the Democrat-
controlled Legislature to follow.
I would wager that the writ-
ers of the state's constitution
never intended the initiative
and referendum processes to be
exercised after every Legisla-
tive session for the will of the
people to be carried out by the
state government. The consti-
tution's writers likely expected
voters to vote for citizens who
share their views of govern-
ment priorities and spending
in the primary and general
elections. Their vision of state
government is gone.
Mary Jean Hrbacek
Shelton
Diamond
comments
Editor, the Journal
"When Green Diamond
requested the land redesigna-
tion, Mason County not'ffled
residents within 300 feet of the
property line." This is a quote
from the Journal's article on
the rezone for the north shore
of Lake Nahwatzel. Though I
don't doubt Green Diamond/
Simpson portrayed this to your
reporter, it is untrne. Neither
Green Diamond/Simpson nor
the county notified the adjacent
owners until it was a "done
deal." We know.., our north
boundary is with Green Dia-
mond/Simpson.
This entire process of more
than a year and a half was
done in secrecy. They will tell
you they did nothing illegal --
a cover for doing something
unethical but technically in
line with the law. Let me give
a couple of examples: When I
heard people in the brush next
to our property, I investigated,
only to find a survey crew.
They had been hired by Green
Diamond/Simpson, they said,
but they had no idea why it
was being surveyed. Nobody
believes that. In addition, an
attorney who has a place on the
lake requested the documents
from the county, and a box fifll
was presented to him. Nowhere
in all the documents of all the
back and forth between the
county and the company, the
myriad of forms and declara-
tions and "studies" -- not once
did the term "Lake Nahwatzel"
appear. That the company --
and the county - made a mas-
sive effort to keep this whole
effort secret from those of us
who live on the lake is obvious.
We received our Notice of Ap-
plication at the end of July (it
was dated July 27, 2012).
You notice I'm careful to
stipulate Simpson with the
Green Diamond name. I think
the wider community needs
to know that the historic ethic
of the Simpson/Reed family-
owned company of being a good
partner with its neighbors has
changed dramatically. This
Green Diamond push comes
from Seattle. They hired a
Seattle firm to assess the flora
and fauna that would be affect-
ed. This is a scheme conjured
up by Wall Street-type MBA's
who put profit before people.
It certainly, and sadly, is not
the traditional Simpson good-
neighbor ethic we have come to
trust.
And let's talk about the
county. Our Mason County
Department of Community De-
velopment has determined, and
I quote, '~ghe Lead Agency for
this proprosal has determined
that it does not have a probable
significant adverse impact on
the environment. An Environ-
mental Impact Statement (EIS)
is not required..." I'm sure
dollar signs are in the county's
sights. And I'm equally sure
Green Diamond/Simpson will
be generous in their thanks.
David and
Elizabeth Livesay
Shelton
lake
Nahwatzel
needs study
Editor, the Journal
To those involved in the pro-
cess of permitting the develop-
ment of the north shore of Lake
Nahwatzel:
I have been told that the
permit process has evolved
without an environmental as-
sessment and impact study. I
believe the planned develop-
ment would greatly impact the
lake.
First, I think one should look
at the actual naming of this
body of water as a lake. As de-
fined, a lake is a body of water
of considerable size with flow-
ing inlets and outlets, usually
associated with a river.
Lake Nahwatzel is not as-
sociated with any river and
does not have a flowing inlet of
consequence and subsequently
an outlet that dries up in the
summer. There are two inlets
commonly thought to feed the
"lake." One is at the northeast
corner and one on the south
end. The inlet at the northeast
corner is just drainage of the
area and dries up during the
summer. The south end inlet
is actually a small stream that
originates at Little Lake Nah-
watzel further south.
The little lake stream flow
has been decreased due to the
development of the little lake
area and the area west. This
development has consumed
groundwater in the area and
adversely affects the amount of
water the inlet stream provides.
The groundwater usage also.af-
fects the amount of water seep-
ing down into Lake Nahwatzel.
The average water depth of
Lake Nahwatzel was once calcu-
lated to be 17 feet with a max of
25 feet. This was calculated sev-
eral years ago and would have
been when the water level was
higher. This also means that
half of the lake is under 17 feet,
making it a very shallow body of
water. The lack of flowing fresh
water and the low water level
defines a pond more than a lake.
On a recent observation of
the lake I found the water to be
algae green with lots of suspend-
ed plant and wood particles,
not the "gin clear" description
formally associated with this
lake. Algae is forming due to the
rise in water temperature, an
effect of lower water levels. The
low water is also allowing for the
growth of vegetation on the once
rock and gravel lakebed.
Further development of the
north end will certainly affect
the remaining ground water in
the area and adversely affect
water levels in the "pond." Bald
eagles, osprey, owls, ducks,
bears and deer -- some of the
wildlife now enjoying the area
-- will lose their habitat.
This further development
could add 200 to 400 more
users to the lake. The lake al-
ready has a high use by swim-
mers and is congested with
boat traffic. Addition of more
lake area users would certainly
strain the surrounding environ-
ment and water avallab'flity,
with a worse case scenario of
the "pond" drying up.
Please do not allow further
development of the Lake Nah-
watzel area and protect it from
overuse and habitat destruction.
Paul Wenzel
Westport
Karl Sleight, publisher
NewsroOm:
Adam Rudnick, editor
Natalie Johnson, reporter
Gordon Weeks, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter
Advertising: Composing room:
Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive William Adams, graphics
Sharee Miller, ad representative
Maggie Burdick, ad representative Pressroom:
KelliAlexander, ad representative Kelly Riordan, production manager
Travis Miller, press operator
Front office: Mary Northover, press assistant
Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
Margot Brand, circulation
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012