LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Citizens misled on septic issue

To the editor:

While members of Island County’s Democratic Party and environmental extremists are busily speaking from their book of rhetoric like the following statement from Nels Kelstrom on Sept. 1, 2011:

“A case in point is (Jeff) Lauderdale’s very vocal opposition to any attempt by Island County to solve the very real problem of fecal coliform pollution. In March of 2010, he spoke at an Island County Board of Health meeting and argued that the county’s new septic inspection program is based on ‘faulty science.’ There’s that standard ‘faulty science’ argument that the righties drag out whenever they do not like a regulation or program.”

However, Jeff Lauderdale’s assessment of Island County’s mandatory Septic System Inspection Program back in 2010 was proven accurate by a little known report presented to Island County’s Board of Health.

On March 19, 2012, Jill Wood, Island County’s environmental health director, presented the 34-page Holmes Harbor Shellfish Protection Progress Report to the Island County Board of Health, which revealed septic systems are not the root cause of surface water pollution or Holmes Harbor water quality issues.

For years, Island County government and environmental extremists insisted that septic systems were the root cause of an ongoing problem with elevated fecal coliform levels in Holmes Harbor.

Using faulty science and erroneous data collection, Island County government deliberately misled the citizenry and used the data to establish the mandatory Septic Inspection Program and Clean Water Utility District. This deception also is the basis of Freeland’s now defunct $40 million sewer project.

What is interesting is both Island County government and the Island County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) are giving themselves high fives for the success of the program, and working to remove the Holmes Harbor shellfish closure area. It is a miracle! The beach is not polluted! This miracle, however, was actually accomplished by performing the tests correctly. Keep in mind that the remaining 86 percent non-compliant Island County residents who have septic systems already knew that septic systems were not the root cause of this problem.

That is why Jeff Lauderdale is the best choice for Island County Commissioner, District 1.

Eileen Hunter

Freeland

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.