PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire wants to change the composition of a proposed forest trust lands advisory committee to de-politicize the group.
McEntire suggested replacing Democratic and Republican Party designees with representatives of the county Community Development Department and an environmental advocacy organization.
“I just want to make sure that as we think about proposing this thing that there is the widest possible range of points of view so that this thing doesn’t become one-sided,” McEntire said in a commissioners work session Monday.
Commissioners have not voted on the formation of such a committee. They will consider a draft resolution at a future meeting.
As proposed by members of the county Charter Review Commission, the trust lands advisory committee would examine the “history, issues, benefits, challenges and advantages” of reconveying state Department of Natural Resources trust lands back to the county for management.
If reconveyance is not recommended, the committee would work with DNR to ensure it is fulfilling its obligations to trust beneficiaries, according to a letter approved by a 10-4 vote of the Charter Review Commission.
If the panel did recommend reconveyance, the idea would have to go to the state Legislature for approval.
Unharvested timber
The big reason behind the proposal is arrearage, timber that DNR was authorized to sell but didn’t sell for a variety of reasons.
This unharvested timber contributed to the closure of three West End mills and has cost the county and its junior taxing districts millions of dollars in revenue, Charter Review Commission members have said.
County commissioners have discussed the formation of the trust lands panel in four consecutive work sessions.
Commissioner Mike Chapman on Aug. 24 said he would not vote to form the committee because the issue should have gone to the voters.
McEntire, who represents 21 timber counties on the state Board of Natural Resources, has said he would recuse himself from committee discussions as a county commissioner to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
McEntire said having representatives of the political parties on the trust lands panel “might serve to politicize this group, and I don’t think that’s the intent.”
He also suggested that the trust lands committee complete its work sooner than December 2016, as proposed in a draft resolution.
“The analytical framework needs to be good enough to support decision-making for either side, either the pro or the con side,” he added.
Recommended reps
Here are the other representatives the Charter Review Commission recommended for the trust lands committee: Port of Port Angeles, School District Association, junior taxing districts, Society of American Foresters, granges, League of Women Voters, Olympic Forest Coalition, North Olympic Timber Action Committee and the city of Forks.
In addition, the commissioners would each appoint one representative from their districts.
Commissioner Bill Peach said junior taxing districts — fire districts, hospitals and other trust beneficiaries of DNR sales — should have at least one representative on the committee.
“They stand the most to gain or lose from this process,” he said.
Peach, a retired forester, said the trust lands advisory committee represents an “opportunity for education and outreach” on timber issues.
Next week, the board will consider appointing former Commissioner Phillip Kitchel as a consultant to the proposed trust lands advisory committee.
Kitchel would be reimbursed $2,500 per month from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, according to a draft personal services agreement.
“I think it’s money well spent considering the millions, I mean literally, that are on the table,” Peach said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
