Video / Store / Petition Info - 10/10/10

Filmmaker Selected to Tell Illahee Story.  We received an email on October 9th, that a filmmaker had been selected to prepare a film about Illahee and more specifically to cover the findings in the Illahee Creek Surface Water Management Plan.  The filmmaker is Shelly Solomon of Leaping Frog Films, who has worked in the area for a number of different groups, including the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, whose website contains some of her work http://www.restorationfund.org/news.php.  The film is part of public information and eduction task of the Dept of Ecology Surface Water Management Plan grant with the Port of Illahee that funded the Parametrix study that has been reported on earlier.  It was felt that few Illahee and county residents are aware that Illahee Creek is contributing to the pollution of Puget Sound because of unconstrained storm water, and that the fixes to resolve the problems are estimated to be $20 million.  Two films will be prepared, a short one, approximately 10 minutes, and a longer one, approximately 30 minutes.

Video Advisory Group Meeting Next Weekend.  A video advisory group is being assembled to help with the telling of the Illahee story, which includes covering a brief history of Illahee, and especially the changes to the area and shoreline resulting from the storm water surges.  Please tell us if you would like to help or could recommend people you think should be interviewed for the film.  We are looking at having a meeting next weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday afternoon (10/16 or 10/17).  We are pushing to get things started soon because the grant ends in 2011 and there isn't much time available to meet the deadlines.  Also, Shelly would like to see if anyone has some historical photos of the area that would be helpful.  Please respond if you can help by calling 479-1049 or reply to this email.   

Illahee Store Information.  In our last Update we noted that a number of you had asked about what was happening at the Illahee store with the recent cleanup.  We had a number of responses including one from the person doing the cleanup.  We have permission to attach her response, which follows:

My name is Judy Blank.  I've been an Illahee homeowner, (on Fern Ave NE), for 9 years.  Over the years I've become increasingly annoyed with the continual slovenly appearance and decay of the Illahee Store and property.  When I first moved here, the little store, while not particularly well kept even then, was at least a functioning business.  It is in a pivotal location and heralds the entrance to our neighborhood....setting the tone for our area's desirability or lack there of!  I would never have purchased my home in an area which had a slum property on the corner.....but that is what I ultimately have!  Last week I visited with Michael, a gentleman who's brother owned the property and had passed away some years ago.  It seems the property was allowed to fall into complete disrepair and neglect since then.  Michael gave me permission to go on the property and do some weed wacking and general tidying up.....which I promptly took advantage of and got out there and attacked some weeds and blackberry vines which were taking over the place.  After I had been out there working for a few hours, another Illahee resident, Jenifer Hillyer, pulled up and was curious about what I was doing.  I just told her I was fed up with the ugly eye sore in our neighborhood, (along with likely decrease in property values because of the mess), and that I had received permission from Michael to tidy things up.  She then offered to contribute to my efforts by having an acquaintance of hers bring his truck to haul the debris away!  I was very happy about her contribution and was very pleased to discover that indeed the debris piles were promptly removed.       So as far as I know....nothing else is going on with the property!  But I certainly would WELCOME & PARTICIPATE in any efforts of my community to help improve the look of this derelict property.  Would you know the current owner's name and address so I, (or better yet, WE), might write a letter pleading the case of our neighborhood's desire to have this property properly cared for?

Thank You Judy and Jenifer!  In response your (Judy's) question regarding the property, we have included the following information on the store along with a recommendation that something be done to resolve the issues you raised.

Illahee Store in the Foreclosure List Again.  We also had someone give us the 2010 Real Property Tax Foreclosure Roll that appeared in the legal section of the September 24th Kitsap News Group papers.  On the list again was the Illahee Store.  The store has had liens against it for years, and every year at the last minute, Flett Dairy Inc. has paid the taxes.  So the question for some, will the taxes be paid again? and if not will the store go up for auction?  One of the responses we received regarding the Illahee Store was the following from someone who was ready to purchase it a few years ago if it went to action.

As for the store - we obtained preliminary bid information and ran title and enviromental for the potential of a SDAP or redevelopment on the property.  The costs were staggering and the risk large for an individual so we moved on to some other projects that we have now completed. I personally am not interested in the property anymore but would be glad to share my files and information with someone who is serious about improving it.  Flett Dairy is really only protecting their lien by paying the taxes and doesn't do it until a day or two before the due day to prevent auction by the county.  Federal taxes and enviormental cleanup costs are the real snag to a new owner redeveloping it other than a public entity like the county or port who could conceivably leverage grant money and 'eminent domain' or 'public good' arguments to limit costs or payouts to third parties.

We think the above assessment is a good one and that it is time to form a group of interested citizens to work with the Port of Illahee and/or the Illahee Community Club to resolve the issues.

Port of Illahee Monitoring The Situation.  Those who attend the Port of Illahee monthly meetings are aware that the Port has been monitoring the situation for years and know they tried themselves and through their lawyer to investigate acquiring the property.

Illahee Petition Results.  We just received the latest results of the petition request to the Port of Illahee to do a number of things, including the most controversial, which is the request for the Port to raise taxes in order to possibly purchase the Timbers Edge development from the owner who approached the Port with an offer.  The Port had stated that if the community could get 500 residents to respond (the average number of voters in the last two elections) and if the response was favorable, the would CONSIDER the possibility of raising the Port tax rate.  The bad news is only 142 responses were mailed in, but the good news is that 93.7% were in favor of a tax increase to help Illahee Creek and to purchase the Timbers Edge properties.  It was felt that many did not vote because of the tax increase as Illahee petitions usually get a 25-40% response, and this time it was only 10%.  The Illahee Community Club is now hoping to work with the Port to find a land trust who could help, as was reported in the last Update.

Thank You For Your Responses!  Thank you to all those who respond to the items in these Updates!  An informed community makes for a better community.  And don't forget to let us know what you would like to see in an Illahee film.

Jim Aho

Various Items - 10/6/10

Illahee Preserve Incident.  We received a copy of an email this evening (10-6-10) that someone walking in the Preserve about 6:15 pm when an "individual came around a corner wearing a hooded sweater with a very shady appearance, and had a gun in his hand and was attempting to hide it behind his back".  The lady said she and her dog turned and ran back to the parking lot.  It left them quite shaken.  The email was sent to the sheriff and the Parks Department.  That is all we know, but will keep everyone informed if we hear more.

Illahee Preserve Dedication.  We saw the Illahee Preserve dedication plaque that is to be placed on the big rock in the Almira parking lot.  The dedication is to take place when some of the persons responsible for the purchase of the Preserve can all be there, but definitely sometime in 2010.  We expect that someone will soon be working grinding down on flat area on the rock for the plaque.  We will let you know when the dedication is scheduled.

Illahee Store Cleanup?  We had a number of people inquire about what was happing with the cleanup in front of the Illahee Store (which is at the corner of Ocean View Blvd and Illahee Road and just across the street from the Illahee Community Dock).  We also noticed that the area had been cleaned up and took the attached photo.  If anyone knows what is happening, please let us know.

Wildlife Updates?  No unique items to report, but just the continued reporting of the animals we live with everyday.  

Deer.  Some have had the group of five deer, two does and three young ones, regularly visiting.  They even ate a bunch of miniature pumpkins off some door steps.  Attached is a picture of a peach tree they seem to be especially fond of.

Seals.  There are often a few seals on the raft shown in the attached picture, but beginning now until spring, the raft fills with seals that can be seen nearly every morning.

Coyotes.  Attached is a coyote report we received this morning.

 Last evening about 10:30 PM the coyotes that apparently have a den on the Keller Lots next to me were howling and yipping for several minutes. Earlier this week they woke me up very early in the morning. I've spotted one crossing my field during the day on occasion.

Petition Response.  We are still waiting to get an update of the status of the Petition response, so in the meantime what we know is that the Illahee Community Club (ICC) appears to be way short of the getting the 500 and has ended up with somewhere between 100 and 200 responses.  Of the responses that have come in so far the number of favorable response has been over 90% for, with those against being primarily opposed to any tax increase.

ICC Board Meeting.  We also heard that the ICC Board met at the end of September and voted to approach the Port of Illahee to see if the two groups could work together to find an interested land trust to purchase the Timbers Edge property.  Evidently there are land trusts out there with money to purchase properties for a variety of reasons, and it is up to groups like the ICC and Port to make the case for the purchase.

Jim Aho