CC Letters: Issue No. 23
March 5, 2026
Mission Statement: To preserve and publish citizen correspondence with local government as a public record of civic participation.
from: [Redacted]
to: ”Berry, Allison” <allison.berry@clallamcountywa.gov>,
“Mike.French@ClallamCountyWA.gov” <Mike.French@clallamcountywa.gov>,
Mark.Ozias@clallamcountywa.gov,
“Randy.Johnson@ClallamCountyWA.gov” <Randy.Johnson@clallamcountywa.gov>
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com
date: Feb 27, 2026, 11:06 AM subject: changes in street drug supply
To whom it may concern,
With recent cartel related events in Mexico, it is reasonable to expect changes in the street drug supply will trickle down to the Olympic Peninsula soon.
Several years ago when I expressed concerns about Xylazine in the supply in BC and Philadeplhia likely to be in Port Angeles soon to the board of health I was met with eyerolls. Yet “tranq” in the supply was later acknowledged and addressed with test strips made easily available. As a teenager in the in the late 1970’s I lived with a step-parent in the home, a large animal veternarian, who was both abusing and trafficking diverted Xylazine. So I had first hand experience with the psychosis and violence this drug can create in users. My concerns regarding the street drug supply relate to both the users and those around them who may be impacted, and are rooted in my own lived experience.
On that note, I wanted to make sure those setting local addiction response policy were aware of the following:
Thank you for your time,
[Redacted]
from: [Redacted]
to: dnrtltprogram@dnr.wa.gov
cc: [Redacted], clallamityjen@gmail.com, loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov, [Redacted]
date: Feb 28, 2026, 1:02 PM subject: Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - Sequim Bay Application.pdf
Hello,
I am writing to comment on the proposed Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - Sequim Bay TTL.
I have questions regarding the extents of the proposed TTL as shown on the DNR exhibit map I downloaded from your site---please refer to page 2 of the attached file.
I note that the area outlined in red on the DNR exhibit consists of approximately 200 acres of state trust land located in the East Half of Section 11, Township 29 North, Range 3 West, W.M., whereas the application forms indicate the TTL area is 435 acres in size.
On page 1 of the attached file, the parcel outlined in green corresponds to the area outlined in red on the DNR exhibit map.
To reiterate, these areas are both about 200 acres in size, not 435 acres. I strongly suspect that either the application prepared by the proponent or the exhibit map prepared by DNR is in error. In any case, it is difficult to evaluate or comment on the proposal when it includes apparently erroneous information. Perhaps the exhibit map does not show approximately 240 acres of state managed trust land located in the West Half of said Section 11 (the area outlined in orange on page 1 of the attached file)? Or perhaps the acreage figures in the application are incorrect? Or perhaps the set of files on your site are incomplete?
Either way, the application files available for download on your site need attention.
Cordially,
[Redacted]
— — —
from: Ocker, Kenny (DNR)<Kenny.Ocker@dnr.wa.gov>
to: [Redacted], DNR RE TLT Program <dnrtltprogram@dnr.wa.gov>
cc: [Redacted], “clallamityjen@gmail.com” <clallamityjen@gmail.com>,
DOR Clallam County BOE <Loni.Gores@clallamcountywa.gov>, [Redacted]
date: Mar 2, 2026, 8:34 AM subject: RE: Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - Sequim Bay Application.pdf
[Redacted],
Thank you for reaching out!
The map is actually correct – the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe amended its Trust Land Transfer application to remove the western half of its proposal because DNR determined that the inclusion of those lands would not have been in the best interest of our trust beneficiaries. The remaining 198-acre parcel is heavily encumbered by Endangered Species Act restrictions, and the remaining portions that may be operable for timber harvest have limited management access, meaning the parcel has limited potential to generate revenue for junior taxing districts in Clallam County.
Take care!
-- KO
Kenny Ocker
Trust Land Transfer Program Manager
Asset Management Division
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Cell: 360-810-1217
— — —
from: [Redacted]
to: ”Ocker, Kenny (DNR)” <Kenny.Ocker@dnr.wa.gov>
cc: [Redacted], clallamityjen@gmail.com, loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov,
[Redacted]
date: Mar 2, 2026, 8:53 AM subject: RE: Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - Sequim Bay Application.pdf
Kenny,
Thanks for your prompt response and clarification. Will the posted application documents be revised to reflect the ammendments to the original application? I think it is important for the application and exhibit accurately reflect the proposal.
Thanks again,
[Redacted]
— — —
from: Ocker, Kenny (DNR)<Kenny.Ocker@dnr.wa.gov>
to: [Redacted]
cc: [Redacted], “clallamityjen@gmail.com” <clallamityjen@gmail.com>,
DOR Clallam County BOE <Loni.Gores@clallamcountywa.gov>, [Redacted]
date: Mar 2, 2026, 1:06 PM subject: RE: Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - Sequim Bay Application.pdf
[Redacted],
The updated acreage figure in the application has now been fixed in the publicly available folder. (The other information apart from the acreage figure had already been updated, and was consistent with the amending of the application that had been discussed between DNR and the Tribe.)
Thanks, and take care!
-- KO
From: [Redacted]
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 2:19 PM
To: Gores, Loni <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: 4PA <info@4pa.org>
Subject: I didn’t know Clallam County is ruled by a dictatorship
Dear Loni,
Please share the following correspondence with the Commissioners.
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding the consistent lack of direct communication from your offices. As constituents, we rely on our elected officials to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities by actively engaging with the community and acknowledging formal correspondence.
While I appreciate that Ms. Gores consistently confirms receipt of my communications, there remains a significant lack of direct engagement from the Board. It is concerning that substantial time and taxpayer resources are being allocated toward travel, external memberships, and sovereign neighbors rather than addressing urgent local matters, such as the budget deficit, non-essential spending, and public safety.
I believe the current focus of the Board does not align with the immediate needs of Clallam County. Specifically, I am requesting a formal explanation as to why no funding is being allocated to 4PA.
Given these ongoing concerns regarding the prioritization of your duties, I respectfully request that you consider resigning from your positions to allow for leadership that is more focused on the specific requirements of this county.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. I look forward to receiving a timely response to my previous inquiries regarding 4PA.
Sincerely,
— — —
From: Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Date: Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 2:56 PM
Subject: Response
To: [Redacted]
[Redacted],
Active engagement with the community is a different issue than fiduciary responsibility, and I am much less likely to provide you with an answer to your correspondence now that I have learned that you act as an agent/conduit for the CC Watchdog, which I consider to be a bad faith actor and therefore do not engage. Fortunately I enjoy engaging with the vast majority of my constituents and do so regularly.
To your specific question about funding 4PA, I don’t believe they have ever formally requested funding through any of our dedicated grant-making programs but if they were to apply then their application would be put through the same process of analysis and recommendation that all other organizations use.
Perhaps you don’t fully understand all of the ways that we do focus on the budget deficit, non-essential spending and public safety but I can assure you that all three are a regular focus at every level of the organization. This is one of the reasons that we have been successful in establishing our budget for this year without the significant layoffs that many other counties are experiencing.
To your concern about public safety, please note that for the first time in years we are on track to be fully-staffed with Road and Corrections Deputies and that we are one of the few counties in the state that continues to support and fund our multi-jurisdictional drug task force, known as OPNET. Furthermore we are about to break ground on a new Joint Public Safety Facility. Public safety will continue to be at the forefront of our attention.
Sincerely,
Mark Ozias
— — —
From: [Redacted]
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 6:13 PM
To: Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Gores, Loni <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>; 4PA <info@4pa.org>
Subject: Re: Response
Dear Commissioner Ozias,
Thank you for your response.
First, I would like to clarify that my inquiries are made as a constituent seeking factual information regarding county spending and priorities. Transparency and accountability are core fiduciary responsibilities, and responses to public questions should not be influenced by perceived affiliations or assumptions about how information may be used.
Regarding 4PA, please direct me to the appropriate county funding sources and grant-making programs you mentioned. Additionally, when would you be available to meet with Joe DeScala, 4PA Founder, to see the work he and his team are doing firsthand?
Constructive questions from constituents are an essential part of responsible civic engagement. I expect future correspondence to focus on the substance of my inquiries rather than personal assumptions.
I look forward to receiving the information regarding funding application resources, and your availability.
Respectfully,
— — —
From: Ozias, Mark <mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov>
Date: Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: Response
To: [Redacted]
[Redacted],
Every decision made by the Board of Commissioners is done in a transparent way that ensures or facilitates accountability. Our county Charter, the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act all support this reality. Individual communications with individual constituents may help to answer questions or to shed additional light on decisions or deliberations, but to be clear transparency exists because we deliberate and make decisions only in open public forums and because we produce and provide all detailed and relevant records to the public when asked. Accountability for elected officials exists because we run for office every few years and are accountable to the public at that time.
The Behavioral Health Advisory Board and the Homelessness Task Force are the two advisory bodies that make recommendations to the Commissioners related to dedicated funding streams for behavioral health and homelessness-related programs. Our HHS team has already provided someone from 4PA with more detailed information when they reached out and asked.
I am certainly open to meeting with Mr. DeScala and/or others from 4PA should they reach out to me. I am also open to the Board of Health hosting 4PA for an informational presentation about their work, a forum which I would prefer as it would afford greater visibility. Typically Commissioner French, as Chair of the Board of Health, works with staff to schedule Board of Health agenda items so most effective would be for Mr. DeScala to reach out to Commissioner French should he be interested in this type of presentation.
Sincerely,
Mark Ozias
Clallam County Commissioner
* Please note my new email address: mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov
from: [Redacted]
to: loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com
date: Mar 1, 2026, 1:19 PM subject: Oppose Cultural access tax
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed Cultural Access Tax currently under consideration.
While I strongly support arts, culture, and educational opportunities in Clallam County, I do not believe that creating a new tax is the right approach. Residents already face increased costs of living, including housing, utilities, fuel, and groceries. Adding another tax places additional strain on families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small business owners.
Clallam County has many residents living on limited or fixed incomes. While this proposed tax may appear modest on its own, it must be viewed in the broader context of the cumulative financial burden residents are carrying. Over time, a series of relatively small assessments — such as the $12 septic system fee, the $9 conservation district fee, and higher prices for goods due in part to fuel-related climate policy costs — compound into a meaningful strain on household budgets. Each individual charge may seem minor, but collectively they create a steady erosion of affordability.
Citizens should remain free to support the arts and individual artisans of their own choosing. Engagement is most meaningful when it is voluntary. Mandating financial support through taxation removes personal choice and redirects limited household resources according to government priorities rather than individual preferences.
Sincerely,
[Redacted]
from: [Redacted]
to: ”Gores, Loni” <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>,
“todd.mielke@clallamcountywa.gov” <todd.mielke@clallamcountywa.gov>
date: Mar 1, 2026, 9:34 AM subject:Question
Clallam County Commissioners and Administrator
You did not answer last week, so I ask you again for your thoughts on Point 1 of the plan. Do you believe breaking the rules of society should have consequences? Do you believe that MAT, harm reduction, and housing first have created a significant impact in reducing addiction and homelessness in our county? Do you believe we are, as a community, are receiving an equitable return on investment from the current programs? Do you believe that the tenets of Point 1 offer a more positive outcome than have currently been seen?
Dr Berry states that it is nearly impossible to get sober on the streets. I agree. Can you provide data showing current “Harm Reduction” program successes in getting people sober and off the streets? She also states the relevance of counting needle pick up, or theft, in calculating the success of “Harm Reduction” efforts. Finally, what is the number of deaths that have been prevented through the administer of naloxone?
Thank you for your response
[Redacted]
On Feb 26, 2026, at 10:10 AM, [Redacted] wrote:
Dear Pubic Lands Commissioner Mr. David Upthegrove:
I am writing to request your assistance regarding the ongoing environmental and public health crisis on public land that is harmful to nearby creeks in Clallam County. Areas such as Peabody and Tumwater Creeks are currently burdened by significant amounts of refuse, including hazardous harm reduction paraphernalia, abandoned furniture, clothing, food, and encampment waste.
The nonprofit organization 4PA (4pa.org) is committed to sustainable solutions and currently removes thousands of pounds of debris six days a week. Despite these efforts, they are not receiving support from our elected representatives. On February 17, 2026, Joe DeScala, the Founder of 4PA, presented data and visual evidence of these unsanitary conditions to the Port Angeles City Council. I encourage you to review the recording of this meeting, specifically starting at the 1:15 mark, to understand the severity of the situation.
Despite repeated attempts to contact local elected officials, my concerns remain unaddressed. I am seeking your guidance on how to ensure this issue becomes a priority for the Clallam County Commissioners and the Department of Public Health.
Thank you for your time and for your attention to the protection of our public lands and creeks. I look forward to your guidance and correspondence soon.
Respectfully,
[Redacted]
On Mar 4, 2026, at 1:34 PM, [Redacted] wrote:
It is disheartening that only one Council Member—Jon—is willing to address the issues that the citizens of this community are actually tired of.
Where are the rest of you? Is your dedication to our community only active during election season when you are promoting yourselves and telling us how “amazing” you are?
While the citizens look for solutions, the current agenda seems focused on pay raises, allowing camping in our public parks, and seeking more funding for programs that do not address our most pressing needs. Instead of hiding behind a desk or focusing on administrative fluff, it is time for this Council to get out into the community and actually volunteer.
I challenge you to follow the lead of those working with 4PA. Let’s get a “raise of hands” right now: How many of you are actually out there participating in the clean-up of our streets and parks?
We don’t need more amazing stories about what you might do. We need to see you out here doing the work.
--
Next Issue: Monday, March 9, 2026
Clallam County Letters:
Clallam County commissioners can be redressed by the people via email:
Mark Ozias: Mark.Ozias@clallamcountywa.gov
Randy Johnson: Randy.Johnson@clallamcountywa.gov
Mike French: Mike.French@clallamcountywa.gov
Loni Gores, Clerk: Loni.Gores@clallamcountywa.gov
Find all other Clallam County officials, offices, and employees in the staff directory.
To have your letter published in Clallam County Letters, please include clallamityjen@gmail.com in the CC field.
Public Record Notice:
Published correspondences were transmitted to local government offices and copied, or forwarded by the sender, to the publisher. They are reproduced here as received.
Personal identifiers have been redacted where appropriate to protect individual privacy. No substantive alterations have been made.
Publication of this material is for record-keeping and transparency purposes only and does not constitute endorsement, analysis, or opinion by the publisher.
Very powerful letters! I really like the tone of them.
Great letters! So Ozias thinks a constituents is a conduit for CCWD? His wife is a conduit for LWV and Indivisible Sequim and vice-versa. Statements like those are why Ozias hasn't earned the public's respect.