PORT TOWNSEND — Economic development is proceeding in Jefferson County, but both the public and the government need to manage their expectations, said public administrators at a forum earlier this week.
“We need to realize who we are, that we don’t have the people density to make a lot of these things happen,” said Port of Port Townsend Director Larry Crockett.
“Local businesses have a lot of great ideas, but there aren’t a lot of customers.”
More than 60 people came to hear Crockett, Jefferson County Administrator Philip Morley and Port Townsend City Manager David Timmons speak on a panel at the Quimper Grange in an event sponsored by the county Democratic Party on Tuesday night.
Among those in attendance were three county commissioners, a port commissioner, three Port Townsend City Council members and several city and county employees.
While the county is small, there are considerable resources available, officials said.
Morley said $300 million of tax revenue is generated every year, and Timmons said the region is full of entrepreneurs with good ideas.
“We have a lot of energy here and a lot of people who are creating opportunities for the future,” Timmons said.
After opening statements, the floor was opened for written questions.
Crockett said the port’s lawsuit against the National Park Service, in which the city of Port Townsend is also named, is only an attempt to clarify the title to the land.
Morley said he was optimistic about constructing a sewer for the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area because it will increase the ability to construct affordable housing and create jobs.
Timmons said it was important that the public tell the government exactly what it needs.
“We might go out and try to build a sewer system, when all the people needed was a cup of water,” he said.
“With money getting tighter, we need to make sure we aren’t competing for the same grants,” Crockett said.
“Sometimes, we are going after the same money for different projects, so we should decide who is going after what and politically support each other for particular grants.”
The answers — and the questions — weren’t always completely serious.
When asked to rate the interaction among the public agencies on a scale of one to 10, both Morley and Crockett said eight, but Timmons answered “10, minus one lawsuit.”
Timmons also provided the punchline for a question about what each would do if he or she had a “magic wand” and could get the others to do his or her bidding.
Crockett’s wish was personal and directed at Morley.
“I wish the permitting would lighten up a bit,” he said.
“I am building my own private business, and your guys have been very helpful and friendly, but it has been one thing after another.
“Now I am told I need to plant 12 more trees. I wish you would have told me that in the first place.”
“A lot of things are going through my mind right now,” Timmons said.
“You should just let us do what we want to do.”
This forum was unprecedented, as most gatherings include elected officials or single issues.
None of those speaking are elected by the people, though they are accountable to their respective elected boards and are charged with implementing policy.
Morley, who was hired in 2008, is the relative newcomer since both Crockett and Timmons were hired in 1999.
The three administrators do meet regularly for breakfast, sometimes including local school superintendents, Fort Worden State Park Supervisor Kate Burke and Naval Magazine Indian Island Cmdr. Gary Martin.
“There are no electeds and no newspapers,” Crockett said.
“We are all together and free to get down and dirty and talk about the issues that only we can grapple with.”
The results are sometimes taken to the respective boards for approval or just used to get along more effectively, Crockett said.
“Our staffs interact on a daily basis,” Crockett said.
“We are working together all the time.”
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
