Illahee Preserve Dumping. A number of bags of insulation were dumped at the Illahee Preserve Almira parking lot over the weekend - see the attached photo. A Kitsap County parks department employee was picking up trash collected by a volunteer group who recently cleaned up along Thompson Lane, and picked up the trash at the parking lot. We are thankful to have a very responsive Parks Department to partner with as volunteers work to maintain the Illahee Preserve.
Illahee State Park Temporary Closure. Illahee State Park made the headlines of the Kitsap Sun on Wednesday regarding the temporary closure of the Park while a new sewer system is installed. Following is the link to the article: According to the article it closes next week and will be closed until April, though people will still be able to walk in the park. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/sep/07/illahee-state-park-to-close-next-week-for/
Memorial Fund for Kara Established. Also in Wednesday's Kitsap Sun was an article regarding a memorial fund that is being set up for Kara Radabah. The headline and link to the article follows: Fund Established Honoring Bremerton Woman Found Dead Near Park http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/sep/07/fund-established-honoring-bremerton-woman-found/
Petition Distribution. Between 1,100 and 1,200 petition packets have now been delivered to residents living within the Port of Illahee boundaries. It appears the number of households in the Port must be around 1,300 to 1,400, so not every resident received a packet. We attached the contents of the packet, the petition, a FAQ, and a stormwater brochure, to an earlier email Update. If you need us to send you another, or have a neighbor who needs a packet, please let us know and we will pass the information to the ICC.
Petition Results. We know that statistically responses to these type of distributions are lucky to have a 10-15% return. When earlier distributions were made in Illahee they received around a 40% return. Up through Saturday the early response has been 93 for and 6 against, which would be a 9% return so far, but with distributions ending this week, they are hoping the numbers responding will be closer to normal. The big difference is the petition is asking residents if they would agree to a possible increase in Port taxes in this case. Please let the Illahee Community Club and Port of Illahee know how you feel.
Our Thoughts. We are amazed at the current high percentage supporting the petition and that so many are supportive of the possibility of having their taxes raised for a few years in order to protect the Illahee Creek corridor. We are hoping that with the addition of the golf course, which brings current Illahee Preserve acquisition to 80% of its Master Plan, that a Land Trust may be willing to come in and help, along with possible grants and gifts, thereby negating the need to raise anyones taxes.
Your Thoughts? Let us know your thoughts so we can pass them on.
Jim Aho
