PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners will consider closing Camp Hayden Park Road at a commissioners’ meeting today in an effort to combat a growing illegal dumping problem.
The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.
Camp Hayden Park Road, a short loop off Camp Hayden Road south of Salt Creek Recreation Area, has become “a dump,” according to county officials.
The county-owned road near the recreation area is surrounded by park property and once provided access to military installations that are long gone, County Engineer Ross Tyler said at a commissioners workshop Monday.
Now, it provides an alternative, scenic route for bicyclists to get off of the main road and enjoy the woods.
However, it has also become a dumping ground for trash and a magnet for timber theft, Tyler said.
“Garbage-filled trucks go in, and firewood comes out,” he said.
The county plans to install gates that would bar motor vehicles and restrict access to only pedestrians, bicycles and equestrians.
Tyler said there are no plans to rip up pavement or otherwise eliminate the existing road, and maintenance vehicles will be able to access the road as necessary.
The Salt Creek Recreation Area manager will have a key to gain access for maintenance and other needs, he said.
Commissioner Bill Peach said that he contacted people who live near Camp Hayden Road to determine what area residents thought of closing off the loop road to cars.
“They like the idea. It’s a dump. It seems like a practical thing to do,” Peach said.
Commissioners also are expected to finalize committee assignments at today’s meeting.
Each commissioner or a designated staff member acts as a liaison to community or other agency boards and committees in order to keep the lines of communication open.
On Monday, there still were some groups that had not yet been assigned a liaison, and more information was still needed to establish whether certain groups required a commissioner or a staff member.
Influenza — or something like it — has hit the Clallam County Auditor’s Office hard and is working its way through the courthouse, according to officials at Monday’s meeting.
“I only have two workers, and I don’t know if they will last the day,” said Clallam County Auditor Shoona Riggs.
Riggs is preparing to mail about 46,000 ballots to voters for the Feb. 10 special election, which will include questions on construction bonds or levies for the Port Angeles and Sequim school districts, Park and Recreation District 1 in Sequim and Hospital District 1 in the West End.
Ballots are expected to be mailed Jan. 21.
At this time, no other departments have a large number of absences, said County Administrator Jim Jones.
There seem to be two distinct illnesses running through the building, but so far, except for the elections office, there are no more one or two illness absences per department in most cases, Jones said.
One of the illnesses has classic influenza symptoms, with upper respiratory difficulties and fever, while the other seems to be an intestinal issue, he said.
Jones said that the courthouse already has hand sanitizer stations set up, but if the illnesses become more widespread, there may be additional steps taken to reduce the transmission of illness.
Those steps could include disinfecting counters between customers and asking people to wear medical masks, he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
