The Reflector

FARGHER LAKE POND FOR SALE

The landmark Fargher Lake Pond is for sale. Asking price: $499,900.

The 22 acre site that includes the 6-7 acre pond is located at the northeast corner of NE Grantham Rd. and NE Munch Road, about a mile north of the Fargher Lake store.

Owner Perry Gilmour said he purchased the 220-acre farm that includes the pond about 12 years ago. He used the pond to irrigate peppermint fields, but no longer farms in the area.

The pond and rectangular acreage extend along Grantham Road, said Gilmour, as well as north along Munch Road.

The pond is fed by a winter stream coming in from the east, said Gilmour, and overflows in heavy rain into drainage ditches to the south.

Clyde Kunze Jr., who owned the property before Gilmour, said the pond was constructed in the 1930s. The farm was owned by Hartley and Craig and operated by Jake Brown. The pond was enlarged in the 1940s, said Kunze, when the dike was raised.

Dave Turney later owned the farm until Clyde Kunze Sr. acquired it.

Clyde Jr. took over in 1957, he said, growing peppermint and onions.

The farm was about 400 acres at one time, said Kunze, but his father sold 150 acres. Then he (Clyde Jr.) sold some parcels.

The pond has been used for years as a public fishing area, and stocked annually with brown trout by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Kunze said he never objected to public fishing, but took exception to public swimming.

The pond varies up to about 20 feet deep at the dike, said Kunze, averaging about eight feet deep.

Gilmour continued the practice of public fishing access. He said the state agency indemnifies him against mishap at the site in exchange for public fishing access. A new owner could continue that practice or end public fishing at the pond.

Gilmour said the 22 acre site with pond is one legal building lot, with a suitable homesite available on higher ground to the east.

"The county ought to buy it," said Gilmour, who broached that subject with state officials but not with the city-county parks department.

Both Kunze and Gilmour said they have drained the pond nearly dry in the past when using the water for irrigation.

Information about purchasing the pond and acreage is available from Gilmour, 903-2246, 607-6626.

JESSICA WEST IS MISS RODEO WASHINGTON

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Yacolt area resident Jessica West was crowned Miss Rodeo Washington 2006 at a Labor Day weekend rodeo in Ellensburg.

West, 22, is the daughter of Rob and Rhonda West. She grew up on a small horse ranch west of Yacolt and has been riding horses since she was a toddler with her first pony.

Jessica graduated from Battle Ground High School in 2001 and attends Clark College.

In honing her riding skills, West rode with several equestrian drill teams, including Latigo and Lace, Class Action and Ignited.

At Ellensburg, Miss Rodeo Washington Association officials presented West with a $1,000 cash college scholarship, a custom-made "Miss Rodeo Washington" saddle, and other awards.

During her reign, West will represent Washington at rodeos throughout Washington and the U.S. In December 2006, she will compete at Las Vegas, NV for the Miss Rodeo USA title.

A current priority for the new Miss Rodeo is to raise funds to help pay travel expenses associated with her reign. She said she will hold a fundraising auction in January and welcomes donations of items that can be auctioned. Jessica can be reached at 607-4444.

West said she plans to attend Washington State University to study broadcast journalism after she graduates from Clark College.

WOODLAND FIREFIGHTERS HEAD FOR
HURRICANE SITE

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Two Woodland volunteer firefighters left their homes Sept. 8 to join other Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trainees in Atlanta, GA.

Bill Summers and Jeff Messick will attend an orientation in Atlanta and then join a Community Relations Team assisting residents in Hurricane Katrina disaster areas.

Both men took leaves of absence from regular jobs and left families to deploy on the mission. They expect to be gone for up to 120 days.

Summers said FEMA pays $23.41 per hour for the work.

RIDGEFIELD HIRES TWO NEW MANAGERS

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Ridgefield city officials recently hired two new managers for Finance and Community Development departments.

On Sept. 6, Gaylynn Brien became director of Finance and Administration, with a starting salary of $6,500 monthly.

A city news release said Brien will manage and direct maintenance and operation of the city accounting system, assist the city manager in preparation and administration of the budget, and prepare future forecasts related to the financial position of the city.

Brien will also perform duties of former city controller Tara Erickson who left the city in July to accept a position in the private sector.

For the past six years, Brien was finance manager at the Clark County Health Department. She is a Certified Management Accountant with a masters degree in business administration from Washington State University.

Brien, married with four children, has 15 years of experience in financial and accounting management positions with government entities. Eric Pennala joined the city Aug. 8 as Community Development Manager, a new position created to handle increasing city growth. His starting salary is $5,208.33 per month.

Pennala has eight years of planning experience, with 5 1/2 years of recent tenure with the city of Maple Valley.

Pennala is responsible for all phases of growth management, zoning administration, permitting and land use development.

Married with one child, Pennala holds master's degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration.

RIDGEFIELD COUNCIL BALKS ON STORMWATER CHARGES

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Ridgefield city council members decided Sept. 8 to overhaul--and delay--creation of a proposed stormwater utility pending approval of a 2006 budget.

The overhaul proposes monthly rates of $2 (reduced from $4) per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) and no system development charges (originally proposed at $200 per EDU).

The delay shelves plans to tap residents for monthly stormwater fees until approval of the 2006 budget sometime in November.

Sharp criticism of what he termed a staff failure to provide financial information and a "spend and tax" approach came early in the meeting from lame duck council member Gary Holmberg.

Holmberg, whose council term expires December 31, said he would not support new taxes or fees until he sees that the current city budget "is in shape." He said he has repeatedly sought such information without success.

"The spend and tax days are here," said Holmberg. "I don't intend, as long as I'm here, to submit Ridgefield citizens to this."

Holmberg said that once established, even though defined as "dedicated," a stormwater utility fund might be used for other purposes.

The city was criticized in the past by state auditors for borrowing from dedicated funds and it should not be allowed to happen again, said Holmberg.

"I'm old fashioned and like to see a pay as you go system," said Holmberg.

Council member David Standal agreed. "I didn't get elected just to go along with whatever management decides," he said.

Community development director Kevin Snyder said a vacancy in the city's Finance

Department delayed preparation of the requested budget information. "Your concerns are valid and we will respond to them," said Snyder.

Mayor Gladys Doriot said she prefers $2 monthly stormwater rates as the utility gets underway. Other council members agreed.

Doriot asked that wording in the proposed ordinance giving authority for rate increases to the city manager be deleted.

Only council member Scott Hanson voted against a motion to make the stormwater utility ordinance, with a $2 per EDU monthly rate, effective in November with approval of a new budget.

Rates on non-residential properties would be calculated based on one EDU per 3,500 square feet of impervious surface, with 25 rate reductions allowed for on-site stormwater control.

Vancouver attorney Marnie Allen, representing the Ridgefield School District, said District officials were pleased with a decision to forego system development charges.

Allen said schools, like city streets and state rights-of-way, are public structures and should be exempt from stormwater fees.

Public works director Justin Clary said it is a standard practice for stormwater utilities to exempt streets, but not schools.

Interviewed after the meeting, Snyder said inappropriate borrowing from dedicated funds has not occurred since he joined the Ridgefield staff more than a year ago.

The city is financially sound and funds are properly managed, said Snyder.

The city council and staff will hold a first budget workshop at the Tri-Mountain Golf Course clubhouse, 1701 NW 299th St., Ridgefield, Fri., Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.-noon. The workshop is open to the public.

ONE KILLED IN TWO-CAR MISHAP

Kevin M. Luke, 29, Vancouver, died in a two-vehicle crash Sat., Sept. 3, on SR-503 about three miles south of Battle Ground.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Luke was northbound on SR-503 in a 1990 Buick LeSabre when he crossed the centerlines and collided with Kathleen M. Caseday, 47, Battle Ground, who was southbound in a 1993 GMC Safari.

Caseday was transported to Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland with internal injuries. Luke was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Luke and Caseday were wearing seatbelts, according to the state patrol, but neither vehicle was equipped with airbags.

Fire District 11, the Clark County sheriff's office, and the state Department of Transportation responded to the incident.

Officials aid alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the 7 a.m. collision. They are still investigating why Luke apparently crossed the centerlines.

Both vehicles were totalled in the mishap.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

Most area weather-watchers recorded less than a half inch of rain in August, a marked contrast from August 2004 when 4-6 inches of rain fell throughout the area.

On Kelly Hill in Yacolt, Phil Akely measured .43 inches of rain in August 2005, but recorded 6.57 inches in August 2004.

Akely's average for the month is 1.71 inches.

In Venersborg, Ron Myers recorded .26 inches of rain in August, while noting a stretch of 25 rainless days--July 23 through Aug. 16.

Myers said he measured 32.38 inches of rain so far this year, compared to his 19-year average of 37.38 inches for the period.

In Brush Prairie, Don Gaines recorded the month as very dry and very hot, with the highest average high temperature--83.5 degrees--in his 15 years of keeping records.

STUART DESCRIBES GROWTH UPDATE AS "MORE REAL"

Clark County commissioner Steve Stuart said his predecessors did good work updating the county growth plan, but rushed the process in 2004 and did not use realistic growth estimates.

Consequently, said Stuart, he, and commissioners Marc Boldt and Betty Sue Morris, have undertaken the process again, hoping to conclude by September 2006.

Stuart made the comments in a Sept. 7 talk before members of the North Clark County Chamber of Commerce at the Summit Grove Lodge in Ridgefield.

Stuart said the commissioners in 2004 couldn't come up with a plan to pay for anticipated growth, so they cut back proposed growth boundaries.

This time around, he said, the January 2004 growth map is being used as a starting point to plan for the future. That map contained more urban areas than the plan adopted in September 2004.

The January 2004 growth plan map will be "subject to minor revisions," he said.

Stuart said the commissioners will have an idea about where growth will go by the end of September, and will "figure out how we are going to pay for it."

Revisions underway would add 17,000 people and 12,000 jobs to the figures forecast last fall.

That means than an estimated 192,000 people will be added to the county population over the next 20 years, along with 140,000 new jobs.

"Jobs aren't just going to happen," said Stuart. "We have to help them happen."

Public workshops, draft maps, and environmental studies will lead to completion of the plan update process, he said.

Stuart said Battle Ground will likely get "the vast majority" of what the city wanted in early 2004.

As regards the La Center proposal to expand westerly past I-5, Stuart was non-committal. "It's a lot of acreage," said Stuart. "We may not have enough acreage to give," said Stuart. "There may not be enough to go around."

Stuart noted that Ridgefield and La Center have asked for some of the same territory near I-5. He said Ridgefield will not receive the area around the proposed Cowlitz tribal casino. Rather, he said, the property would go to La Center or remain under county jurisdiction.

Stuart said calculations must be done on exactly how much acreage would be required to extend La Center boundaries to the I-5 area.

Stuart said he found logic in the proposed La Center expansion to the west, noting that the main north-south highway had previously passed near La Center, but had been moved. "They moved the front door," said Stuart. "(The city) needs to move out to the front door."

Stuart said La Center had no direction in which to grow other than west.

"We have to prove up how we will pay for this growth plan," said Stuart, who said schools and infrastructure are part of the expenses.

Stuart said people who are now paying taxes for growth and infrastructure should get some of the benefits from that money, not just future generations.