Letters
Letters to the Editor for July 2010
Published on Tue, Jul 6, 2010Read More Letters to the Editor
The Mountain Loop needs your voice— No motocross facility
Dear Editor,
For generations, the Mountain Loop has provided a natural environment for you and your families to explore. You have enjoyed hiking the trails, camping in the forest, fishing or kayaking in one of the many waterways, climbed mountains and have had the pleasure to observe the wildlife.
Mountain Loop has always held a peaceful presence where you could just sit and listen to the sounds of nature.
It is known to be the definition of “green”. Now its reputation is threatened, and the Mountain Loop needs your help.
MXGP Inc. is proposing a 435-acre motocross complex with three racetracks to be developed along the north side of the Mountain Loop Highway approximately six miles east of Granite Falls.
This will affect all of you that live on or travel up the “Loop” to spend time in the pristine wilderness.
As you sit on top Mt. Pilchuck taking in the “forever” view, you will also be hearing the sound of 150 plus dirt bikes racing in the valley below you.
When you hike the Robe Trail /Monte Cristo railroad tunnels, you will be hearing the buzz of dirt bikes racing one mile down the road.
This Motocross project is in no way beneficial to the environment/eco system or the wildlife that lives within.
The Mountain Loop provides an all-natural refuge for you to “get away from it all” and refresh your spirit.
Your speaking out for preservation now will help maintain the Mountain Loop’s natural existence for future generations to experience.
For more information contact: SCA at P.O. Box 1097 Granite Falls, WA 98252 or visit www.NoMotocrossOnTheMtLoop.com.
Gayle Kosydar
Granite Falls
City council members should work with mayor
Dear Editor,
The city council of Granite Falls needs to work with our new Mayor Haroon Saleem or leave the city council.
We need new people who are not bias.
Cheryl Peters
Granite Falls
Petition regarding police chief shows support
Dear Editor,
My comments are those of a retired person living in an unincorporated area, who has resided in Granite Falls for a number of years and has some observations on the current situation.
The petition supporting the police chief signed by high school students and persons in unincorporated areas is not a referendum that will appear on the ballot and must be signed by voters; it is merely an informal petition showing some of the people in the area who support the chief and is legal.
And that the city council signed a contract for the chief that contained a typo does not show a lack of character or breeding on their part. This was simply a clerical error.
Many of us were impressed by Chief Domish’s arrest of people suspected of dope trafficking, and were shocked that he was suspended right after this.
That said, usually the mayor has the right to fire the police chief. All the mayor has to acknowledge is that he and the chief are not compatible.
This enables the chief to get a new job, and frees the mayor from the vocal support of people arrested by the police.
I think the people of Granite Falls just want reassurance that the mayor cares as much about their city as he does his bar and restaurant.
Beatrice Stein
Granite Falls
Menzel Lake clarifies Crawford's letter
Dear Editor,
This is in response to Ron Crawford’s June 1, 2010 Letter to the Editor.
Crawford should not be baffled why the owners of Menzel Lake Gravel believe their expansion should be approved (County File # 08-110459 LU).
Menzel Lake Gravel has gone to great lengths to perform detailed investigations and analysis in order to meet or exceed the regulatory requirements that apply to the expansion. The property is zoned for mineral extraction and has a Mineral Resource Overlay in the Comprehensive Plan.
Due to these previously established County Designations, the property cannot be used for anything else until it is mined out and reclaimed. Crawford, being a former real estate broker, should be aware of this.
As there are no legitimate reasons stopping the Menzel Lake Gravel Expansion from being approved, we now find ourselves accused of colluding in some absurd conspiracy theory between the Pit and the County. Such allegations are irresponsible and untrue. It is critical that certain items in Mr. Crawford’s letter be corrected.
The “black mud and peat” Crawford refers to is dark wet soil, not wood waste or peat. He refers to the material taken from the river itself as “junk”. The natural riverbed material is not “junk.” Crawford apparently called the Snohomish Health District (SHD) to examine this “dark, junk” material brought into the pit. The SHD determined the material was not hazardous and confirmed that it is suitable for reclamation. It should also be noted that in a letter dated December 15, 2008, the SHD stated they have no objection to the expansion.
The County’s Sand Hill Gravel Pit is not being used because it is not set up for importing material. The County commonly contracts with outside companies for repair and maintenance work including the hauling of material.
The “woodwaste landfill” which Crawford refers to was removed from the Menzel Lake Gravel site in 1998 and approved by the SHD. Local wells are fine. No wood waste or contaminated material is used for reclamation.
There are inspection guidelines in place for all material brought into the site. Why would the owner choose to contaminate his land, when they plan to be around for generations to come? Such an allegation is simply ludicrous.
Numerous detailed studies by qualified professionals have been conducted in the last two years at this site for the proposed uses which are allowed and anticipated under the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan.
Our intention with the expansion is that the project meets the adopted rules and regulations, and that there will be no unmitigated significant adverse impact to the site, adjacent properties or downstream waters. All these studies have been submitted to the reviewing agencies.
Crawford’s letter is outrageous and alarmist. He needs to get his facts straight.
Rob Hild
Menzel Lake Gravel
Dear Editor,
For generations, the Mountain Loop has provided a natural environment for you and your families to explore. You have enjoyed hiking the trails, camping in the forest, fishing or kayaking in one of the many waterways, climbed mountains and have had the pleasure to observe the wildlife.
Mountain Loop has always held a peaceful presence where you could just sit and listen to the sounds of nature.
It is known to be the definition of “green”. Now its reputation is threatened, and the Mountain Loop needs your help.
MXGP Inc. is proposing a 435-acre motocross complex with three racetracks to be developed along the north side of the Mountain Loop Highway approximately six miles east of Granite Falls.
This will affect all of you that live on or travel up the “Loop” to spend time in the pristine wilderness.
As you sit on top Mt. Pilchuck taking in the “forever” view, you will also be hearing the sound of 150 plus dirt bikes racing in the valley below you.
When you hike the Robe Trail /Monte Cristo railroad tunnels, you will be hearing the buzz of dirt bikes racing one mile down the road.
This Motocross project is in no way beneficial to the environment/eco system or the wildlife that lives within.
The Mountain Loop provides an all-natural refuge for you to “get away from it all” and refresh your spirit.
Your speaking out for preservation now will help maintain the Mountain Loop’s natural existence for future generations to experience.
For more information contact: SCA at P.O. Box 1097 Granite Falls, WA 98252 or visit www.NoMotocrossOnTheMtLoop.com.
Gayle Kosydar
Granite Falls
City council members should work with mayor
Dear Editor,
The city council of Granite Falls needs to work with our new Mayor Haroon Saleem or leave the city council.
We need new people who are not bias.
Cheryl Peters
Granite Falls
Petition regarding police chief shows support
Dear Editor,
My comments are those of a retired person living in an unincorporated area, who has resided in Granite Falls for a number of years and has some observations on the current situation.
The petition supporting the police chief signed by high school students and persons in unincorporated areas is not a referendum that will appear on the ballot and must be signed by voters; it is merely an informal petition showing some of the people in the area who support the chief and is legal.
And that the city council signed a contract for the chief that contained a typo does not show a lack of character or breeding on their part. This was simply a clerical error.
Many of us were impressed by Chief Domish’s arrest of people suspected of dope trafficking, and were shocked that he was suspended right after this.
That said, usually the mayor has the right to fire the police chief. All the mayor has to acknowledge is that he and the chief are not compatible.
This enables the chief to get a new job, and frees the mayor from the vocal support of people arrested by the police.
I think the people of Granite Falls just want reassurance that the mayor cares as much about their city as he does his bar and restaurant.
Beatrice Stein
Granite Falls
Menzel Lake clarifies Crawford's letter
Dear Editor,
This is in response to Ron Crawford’s June 1, 2010 Letter to the Editor.
Crawford should not be baffled why the owners of Menzel Lake Gravel believe their expansion should be approved (County File # 08-110459 LU).
Menzel Lake Gravel has gone to great lengths to perform detailed investigations and analysis in order to meet or exceed the regulatory requirements that apply to the expansion. The property is zoned for mineral extraction and has a Mineral Resource Overlay in the Comprehensive Plan.
Due to these previously established County Designations, the property cannot be used for anything else until it is mined out and reclaimed. Crawford, being a former real estate broker, should be aware of this.
As there are no legitimate reasons stopping the Menzel Lake Gravel Expansion from being approved, we now find ourselves accused of colluding in some absurd conspiracy theory between the Pit and the County. Such allegations are irresponsible and untrue. It is critical that certain items in Mr. Crawford’s letter be corrected.
The “black mud and peat” Crawford refers to is dark wet soil, not wood waste or peat. He refers to the material taken from the river itself as “junk”. The natural riverbed material is not “junk.” Crawford apparently called the Snohomish Health District (SHD) to examine this “dark, junk” material brought into the pit. The SHD determined the material was not hazardous and confirmed that it is suitable for reclamation. It should also be noted that in a letter dated December 15, 2008, the SHD stated they have no objection to the expansion.
The County’s Sand Hill Gravel Pit is not being used because it is not set up for importing material. The County commonly contracts with outside companies for repair and maintenance work including the hauling of material.
The “woodwaste landfill” which Crawford refers to was removed from the Menzel Lake Gravel site in 1998 and approved by the SHD. Local wells are fine. No wood waste or contaminated material is used for reclamation.
There are inspection guidelines in place for all material brought into the site. Why would the owner choose to contaminate his land, when they plan to be around for generations to come? Such an allegation is simply ludicrous.
Numerous detailed studies by qualified professionals have been conducted in the last two years at this site for the proposed uses which are allowed and anticipated under the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan.
Our intention with the expansion is that the project meets the adopted rules and regulations, and that there will be no unmitigated significant adverse impact to the site, adjacent properties or downstream waters. All these studies have been submitted to the reviewing agencies.
Crawford’s letter is outrageous and alarmist. He needs to get his facts straight.
Rob Hild
Menzel Lake Gravel
