Replace spendthrift officials | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

Many thanks for Brian Kelly’s front page write-up on Freeland residents’ attempt to stop the $40 million sewer project. I appreciate Brian’s attending last Monday’s night meeting where he witnessed the dialogue between the taxpayers and the Freeland Water and Sewer District commissioners.

I can assure everyone that Eric Hansen’s statement, “There was never any intent to impose that kind (financial) of a burden on Freeland property owners” is a completely false statement. All one needs to do is read the Frequently Asked Questions for Local Improvement District on the Freeland Water and Sewer District website to see the truth. Here is a summary of key points.

1. “The final assessments will be determined after costs are better known.”  Translated: Final costs are unknown at the start of the project.

2. “Can  I opt out of paying the assessment? Answer: No.”

3. “If payment is not made annually, foreclosure proceedings follow.”

Not far from Freeland is the town of Belfair, which had a 100 percent overrun in their sewer project. Their property assessments have already caused businesses to shut down. Freeland will follow suit with this $40 million sewer fiasco.

Since April this year I have written to the Freeland Water and Sewer District and county a letter on a monthly basis pointing out that eviction will be forced on our neighbors who cannot pay the high cost of sewer hookup fees. Never once have I received a response to assure me that eviction is not the first course of action by the county. Only this week has the FWSD publicly stated “it was never their intent to cause financial harm.” When I questioned Commissioner Helen Price Johnson last June about the eviction threat her response was simply “that is what normally happens when people don’t pay their bill.” The FWSD keeps telling the public they are looking for grants to offset the costs to residents. Yet they return empty-handed from a boondoggle $95 per dinner trip to Washington, D.C.

It is a fact that the county interlocal agreement was focused on sewers for just the Freeland commercial core. It is a fact that very agreement was breached by the FWSD and Johnson — to force residential participation.

And these very same people who breached a written agreement are now telling us they never intended to impose a financial burden on us?

The facts and their own website portray a very different intent. Their intent is to force their will on our rural community and peaceful lifestyle.

The best way for Freeland voters to address the millions of dollars that the FWSD and county have wasted is to replace the FWSD incumbents with Marilynn Abrahamson and Lou Malzone in November.

RICHARD DELMONTE

Freeland

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