Dumping case solved

Leon Israel is a happy man.

A pile of garbage recently dumped on his Clinton property will be cleaned up by the person who dumped it. Amidst all the illegal dumping complaints filed in Island County every year, at least this mess will be cleaned up through the efforts of the justice system.

Several weeks ago Israel discovered about five cubic yards--a dump truck load -- of remodeling debris and garbage piled on his undeveloped property near the intersection of Cultus Bay Road and French Road.

The dumper was found, "through good police work," according to Jan Smith, spokesman for the Island County Sheriff's department.

"The deputy was able to find the dumper by developing information from the neighborhood," she said.

Israel doesn't care how it was accomplished; he's just glad the garbage will be removed.

"My property will be cleaned up," he said. "That was my major concern."

The dumper, who lives in the vicinity of Israel's property, will haul away the unsightly pile and, according to Smith, has offered to help Israel construct a gate across the narrow dirt road onto his acreage to prevent this from occurring again.

According to Island County code, there are several levels of fines that can be levied against an illegal dumper, depending on the amount of litter dumped. If this had not been resolved between the two parties, the dumper could have been fined $500.

Israel is one of 153 people in Island County who have reported having other peoples' garbage on their property this year.

Anyone finding illegal dump sites should report it to the Island County Sheriff's Office.

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