PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County commissioners approved a resolution from the Clallam Conservation District to create a system of rates and charges despite many comments against the resolution.
Commissioners voted 2-1 on Tuesday in favor of the resolution, which charges a maximum of $5 per parcel per year. Commissioner Mike French voted against the measure.
The conservation district has said the funds raised from the fee will support sustainable clean water, adequate water supply, protecting and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, building soil health, support for working lands such as agriculture and forestlands and community financial assistance, outreach and education programs.
The resolution has a term of 10 calendar years, beginning in 2026, and will automatically terminate at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2035.
With the parcel data the district has right now, the first year of the fee is set to bring in $194,621 for the district, Manager Kim Williams said.
During Tuesday’s meeting, many people used the public comment period to speak against the fee.
Mark Curtis said he looked at the district’s financial reporting and could not find a funding crisis among its projections. What he found was a fear crisis, meaning the district is acting in fear of grants disappearing.
Sue Kaufman said the district will be charging homeowners an extra fee without input from homeowners, which is “plain wrong.”
Jake Seger said the district doesn’t need the money, and he presented what he said were 1,032 signatures asking the commissioners to say no to the fee.
Not everyone in attendance was against the fee, however.
David Mattern said he had benefited through the district’s plant sale and its consultation services. Tim Wheeler said the county is lucky to have the volunteers it does working for the conservation district. Patty Eaton said she supports the fee because it will provide a stable source of funding for the district.
While speaking to commissioners, Williams said the district works with a lot of area farms to implement best practice measures which they rely on other organizations to develop.
“Our role is to implement and work with the landowners,” Williams said.
She stated the district is audited every three years by the state Auditor’s Office and that those findings always come back clean.
Commissioners also heard from the public during an open house July 25.
In explaining his reasoning for voting in support of the fee, Commissioner Mark Ozias said he looked to the comprehensive plan for guidance because it is a plan that is the best distillation of what the community wants to see for the county.
“Because the Clallam Conservation District is a vital partner to multiple departments, I plan to vote in favor of this motion,” he said.
Commissioner Randy Johnson said businesses such as small farms need help.
“(Farms) provide products and jobs in our community,” Johnson said. “This entity is nonregulatory. That is quite different than many other entities. When I take a look at things, I believe very much in metrics. I very much support this proposal.”
French explained his reasoning for voting against the fee by saying the district should use his vote as a challenge to come back in a year and prove with metrics that the fee is needed.
“I know that there are services you want to provide, and I know the desire is there to provide them,” French said.
The resolution includes exemptions for federal and tribal trust lands, low-income senior and disabled exemption as identified through the county tax exemption program, and for private properties that are wholly under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
