BRINNON — Building a proposed sewer system for Dosewallips State Park would lessen the park’s impact on the environment and provide an opportunity for Brinnon, say supporters of the plan.
But opponents say that the proposal is not well thought-out, and that benefits for Brinnon are uncertain, since more hurdles would have to cleared before businesses and residences could connect to the line.
Jim Watson, one of the 40 people at Tuesday’s meeting in the Brinnon Community Center — and one of less than 10 who spoke — said that the system, when it is hooked up to local businesses, will allow the town to grow.
“We have a Realtor who can only have three people in their office and a restaurant that can only serve customers at half its tables,” Watson said.
“This is necessary for the total welfare of our community, and allow us to eliminate drain fields on our own property so we can expand.”
DeEtte Broderson disagreed.
“This is a boondoggle that doesn’t benefit Brinnon in any manner, unless we are willing to foot a big bill to hook up to it,” Broderson said.
The state Parks and Recreation Commission proposal would connect a new sewer system to the park — a 425-acre, year-round camping park with both saltwater and freshwater shorelines south of Brinnon — routing the line about 1.5 miles through town to a treatment facility north of town.
The processed water would be dumped into Hood Canal, while the solid waste would be hauled to a waste facility in Shelton.
It has been recommended by the Jefferson County Department of Community Development.
County Hearing Examiner Stephen Casseaux said he will consider the proposal and testimony collected Tuesday and will make a ruling within the next two weeks.
If there are no appeals, preliminary work on the project would proceed immediately.
Robert Kirkwood, southwest region engineer for the state commission said that his agency has $1.4 million to build a collection system at the park, create a preliminary work-up on the waste plant site, design the facility and build the conveyance system.
Another $2 million would be needed from the state Legislature to complete the project — not a sure thing in the current budget-cutting climate.
“This is an issue that effects health safety and water,” Kirkwood said.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we will get the funding.”
The pipe’s path through downtown places sewer services in proximity with residential properties, but connection to the new sewer is not a foregone conclusion, attendees of Tuesday’s meeting found.
“This permit allows us to provide sewer service to the park and some other government buildings such as the fire station, the library and the school,” Kirkwood said.
“But private residences and businesses who want to connect will have to go through a completely different permit process.”
Kirkwood said that the town would have to form a limited improvement district to apply for the permits, and work with Growth Management Act regulations that permit sewers only in urban areas.
Brinnon, with less than 1,000 residents, is decidedly rural.
“I am disappointed to hear of these extra steps,” said Jim Boyer, a Port Ludlow Republican running against incumbent John Austin, a Port Ludlow Democrat, for the District 3 County Commissioner seat.
“I thought that providing sewer service to Brinnon was a sure thing,” Boyer added.
Austin, who also attended the meeting, said: “It’s great to see this proposal get this far.
“It is a win-win for all involved.
“I’ve supported this proposal for a long time,” Austin added.
Broderson said that “transporting waste for a mile seems awful foolish. . . .
“By the time they get this system in, there will be technological advances in septic systems which will make this new system a waste of money.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
