Small Town News

Water district moves ahead with annexation

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Romance Hill residents argue for fairness

Following a public hearing prior to the board's regular meeting, the Belfair Water District commissioners voted on Tuesday to begin the annexation process for two properties, citing long-term financial benefits to its customers.

The 45-acre Riverhill Properties on the north end of the Belfair Urban Growth Area could see up to 130 new homes in the next 10 years, said developer Jack Johnson, who answered questions during the hearing about his application.

The smaller, adjacent Blue Star Properties is also being considered for annexation, in order to make the properties contiguous with the water district.

During the hearing, every member of the public allowed to testify questioned why the board did not provide or present any information about the annexation, and some residents of Romance Hill argued that their neighborhood's annexation, an issue that has spanned more than a year, should be considered at the same time.

"I request that this meeting be postponed until we have more information," said ratepayer Kim Wilson. "I am also opposed to this annexation until the other annexation ahead of this can be resolved."

Last year, the county denied the water district's attempt to annex Romance Hill because the district presented a proposal that included every parcel except that of Greg and Lorie Waggett, a former candidate for water district commissioner and a former water district employee, respectively.

"All of our discussion today that would be germane [is] just that of these two properties," said Commission Chair John Phillips.

During the public testimony of Ken VanBuskirk, who filed a lawsuit last month against the district for allegedly not making available the documentation on the plans for the Riverhill annexation, Phillips said that VanBuskirk should not address the board without a lawyer.

"Ken, since you sued the Belfair Water District and we're the defendants ... we shouldn't be talking directly to each other," Phillips said.

Phillips also denied the comments of Bonnie Pope, who is also a litigant against the district in a separate public records case not involving Riverhill.

In answering the public's questions, Johnson said that his original application for annexation predates that of Romance Hill.

"I understand everyone's frustration," he said. "But we're individual and we don't have anything to say about what happened at Romance Hill ... I understand that there's [unresolved] public records requests [so] I would be glad to explain anything that needs to be explained."

Manager Dave Tipton said that the annexation, which Johnson is paying for in terms of building the water lines out to the property and gifting the district easements, would save water district customers a quarter-of-a-million dollars.

"It's completely positive to the district," Tipton said.

"This is not a hearing on Romance Hill."

During the regular meeting, which Phillips recessed once for 15 minutes due to "disruptive behavior and [Commissioner] Mike [Pope]," the board voted two-to-one to move ahead with the Riverhill and Blue Star annexations.

"I do support [the annexation], but I won't support it without the annexation of Romance Hill," Pope said. "I think it's wrong ... I think we need to do Romance Hill the justice it deserves."

Pope also voted against the district renewing its Chairman Circle membership with the North Mason Chamber of Commerce for $1,000 and argued that the board was missing vouchers 3020 through 3054, which he said were not accounted for in his commissioner's packet for approval this month or last.

"I understand everyone's frustration ... but we're individual and we don't have anything to say about what happened at Romance Hill."



Copyright 2011 Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Shelton-Mason County Journal Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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