CC Letters: Issue No. 40

RE: North View, Internal Reviews, City Council Positions, Keep America Beautiful, Clallam Conservation District, Public Comment Follow-Up, WSAC in Maui

Mission Statement: To preserve and publish citizen correspondence with local government as a public record of civic participation.

---

from: [Redacted] to: ”Gores, Loni” <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>,
cc: ”Mielke, Todd” <Todd.Mielke@clallamcountywa.gov>
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com date: Apr 12, 2026, 6:37 AM
subject: Objection to Peninsula Housing Funding $200K Request for North View Housing in Port Angeles

Hi Loni,

Please share my email with the Commissioners. Thank you.

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing to formally object to the Peninsula Housing funding request made by Sarah Martinez for $200,000 regarding the North View Housing project.

Clallam County taxpayers are facing significant financial pressures. Personally, my daily expenses for essentials—including utilities, healthcare, taxes, food, and insurance—have increased by 30 percent this year. Given that taxpayers have already invested $1.8 million in the North View project, which lacks a definitive opening date, further allocation without a detailed breakdown of expenditures and measurable deliverables is fiscally irresponsible. Furthermore, during the April 6 work session, Ms. Martinez provided no project updates and did not attend in person.

I also question the efficacy of prior funding. There is a lack of data-driven evidence showing that previous investments have successfully improved housing stability in Clallam County. Before more funds are allocated, I request a comprehensive performance audit of Peninsula Housing the last 3 years.

Additionally, I am concerned about the prioritization of resources among publicly funded organizations. I seek clarification on the rationale and total costs associated with OlyCap employees traveling to 2026 conferences in Orlando, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. It is essential to understand what measurable benefits these trips have provided to Clallam County taxpayers.

Regarding the approximately $500,000 in document recording fee revenue expected in June 2026, I request full transparency on the following:

- The specific organizations receiving funds and the exact dollar amounts.
- The percentage of funds directed toward administrative overhead versus direct services.
- The contractual deliverables and performance metrics tied to each award.

There must be clear alignment between funding and the County’s goals for public safety and fiscal stewardship. Consequently, I respectfully request that the Commissioners:

- Deny or defer this funding request until full transparency is provided.
- Require detailed financial and performance audits of Peninsula Housing and its partner organizations the last 3 years.
- Require a public report on OlyCap conference travel costs and outcomes the last 3 years.
- Provide a line-item accounting of the June 2026 document recording fee allocations.
- Establish strict accountability measures for all future funding.

I look forward to your response regarding these concerns.

Sincerely,
[Redacted]

---

from: [Redacted] to: lacey.halberg@clallamcountywa.gov
bcc: news@olympicherald.com date: May 4, 2026, 11:39 AM
subject: Internal Reviews

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing as a concerned citizen regarding recent reporting about the arrest of a former Drug Court Coordinator in Clallam County who has been accused of involvement in drug distribution activities. According to publicly available information, this individual had significant professional ties within the courthouse, raising serious concerns about internal oversight and accountability within the court system.

Given the severity of these allegations and the apparent proximity of illicit drug activity to the courthouse itself, I respectfully request information on whether the Court is conducting, or plans to conduct, any internal reviews, audits, or assessments of personnel and procedures.

Specifically:

• Are there any internal investigations underway to determine whether additional staff may have been involved in or had knowledge of illicit activities?

• What safeguards are currently in place to ensure that court personnel are not engaged in or facilitating criminal conduct?

• Have any policies, screening practices, or supervisory protocols been updated or strengthened in response to this incident?

• Is there coordination with local law enforcement to address the reported open-air drug activity occurring near courthouse grounds?

I understand that personnel matters and investigations must be handled within legal and privacy constraints.

However, public trust in the integrity of the justice system depends on transparency, accountability, and proactive measures when serious breaches occur.

I would appreciate any information you are able to provide regarding steps being taken to ensure the integrity of court operations and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
[Redacted]

— — —

from: Halberg, Lacey<lacey.halberg@clallamcountywa.gov>
to: [Redacted] date: May 6, 2026, 1:20 PM subject: Internal Reviews

Hello [Redacted],

I have forwarded your email to the Court’s presiding judge, Hon. Simon Barnhart.

Thank you.

Lacey Halberg, CCM, CCE
Superior Court Administrator
223 E. 4^th Street, Suite 8
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Ph. 360-504-1386 | Fax 360-417-2581 | lacey.halberg@clallamcountywa.gov

---

[This is a continuation of emails published in Issue No. 38]

On Wed, Apr 29, 2026 at 12:42 PM Kelly Burger <kburger@sequimwa.gov> wrote:

Hi [Redacted],

Regarding the oyster farm by the Dungeness NWR that continually comes up, it is my understanding that is Washington State DNR owned land. That is the entity that oversees leasing out those tidelands to be used as an oyster farm. I am going to trust and assume that WA DNR has done its due diligence and assessments of the surrounding environment to justify continuing to lease out those tidelands to oyster farming. It is my understanding that the state has been issuing leases for an oyster farm on those lands since the 1950’s and that oyster farms were in operation there until the early 2000’s. The oyster farms were shut down due to water quality issues.

In response to the second part of your email, you are correct that city councilmembers serve in a representative role and that responsibility is something I take seriously. Representation, however, is not the same as direct democracy. My role is not to simply mirror the majority opinion expressed at a given meeting or in a petition, but to consider all input alongside the full set of facts, legal considerations, and long term impacts to the City. When I referenced evaluating information and facts, I was not suggesting decisions are based on personal beliefs. My council decisions are based on the full record before me which includes public comment, written communications, staff analysis, applicable law, and the details of the proposal itself. My responsibility is to use that information to make informed decisions even when there is not unanimous agreement.

I think it is important to recognize that our representative government is grounded in elections. When residents vote, they are choosing individuals whose judgment, values, and approach to decision making they trust to apply to complex issues. In that sense, I am expected to bring my perspective to the role and exercise independent judgment informed by the community’s input and the facts before us. That is a core part of the responsibility entrusted to elected officials.

Councilmembers do take an oath of office. In Washington State, that oath affirms that we will support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Washington, and faithfully discharge the duties of the office. That is the standard we are held to. I will copy and paste the oath below.

l, NAME , do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States and State of Washington; that I am legally qualified to assume the office of City of Sequim, Council Position # ; that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Washington; and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of this office to the best of my ability

I understand your interest in direct democracy. While public participation is an important part of local government, cities like Sequim operate under a representative system established by state law, which requires elected officials to make decisions after considering all available information, not solely based on majority vote outside of an election.

I respect that you may disagree with that structure or with this decision, and I appreciate you continuing to engage.

Kelly Burger
City Councilor
Phone: 360-582-2577
Email: kburger@sequimwa.gov

— — —

from: [Redacted] to: Kelly Burger <kburger@sequimwa.gov>
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com date: May 1, 2026, 8:42 AM
subject: Re: City Council Positions

Friday

Dear Mr. Burger,

Good Morning!!!

Thank you for your in-depth reply. It is refreshing to read. Thanks for the oath you take also.

-It sounds like you think the public that is against this has not done some ind-depth study of the consequences of oyster farming also. It is not as bad as I thought, when I did my research AND yet the Tribe is considering bottom Oyster farming and this has the potential for more harmful environmental impacts.

-You also say you are to represent the constituency and yet make decisions on what you understand. Those two actions oppose each other. I am pretty sure the percentage of public “outrage” or “opposition” would have an impact on your decisions. AS of this morning we are now at 1,594 signautes on line and 15 on our paper petition=1609 people opposed to this transfer.

I have nothing more to really say/share. Thank you again for your responses!!! AND YOU still are the only one to respectfully reply.

Fantastic Friday to you,
[Redacted]

---

from: [Redacted] to: info@sequimchamber.com
cc: [Redacted] bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com date: Apr 26, 2026, 5:03 PM
subject: Keep America Beautiful 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Dear Sequim Chamber of Commerce,

I am writing to inquire whether the Chamber is organizing, sponsoring, or participating in any upcoming events to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Notably, the non-profit organization Keep America Beautiful has been named the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year. Given this impressive recognition, I hope the Chamber will consider participating in this historical celebration.

Thank you,
[Redacted]

---

[This is a continuation of an email published in Issue No. 27]

From: Kim Williams <kim.williams@clallamcd.org> To: [Redacted]
Cc: 4PA <info@4pa.org>, “Gores, Loni” <loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov>
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2026 01:48:24 +0000
Subject: RE: Would the CCCD consider a partnership with 4PA?

Dear [Redacted],

I have long appreciated the efforts of 4PA. We think the work they are doing is fantastic. Our habitat and water quality programs are grant funded and have very specific guidelines. First we must work with the current landowner on each site. To improve streamside vegetation there are eligibility criteria that must be met. We do have an annual plant sale each year, this years sale just wrapped up. This is a way we provide at cost native plants to the community but we do not keep inventory.

I am curious, how much habitat restoration is needed at these sites? Is it 100’s of trees and shrubs or just a handful? I would be curious how we can partner with 4PA to improve habitat. I think a partnership would be fantastic. Did you have specific idea or a proposal that I can bring to my board of supervisors? This is an excellent conversation to start. Thank you for helping to connect our two agencies.

We put out an annual report each year that tracks those metrics. I am in the middle of wrapping up our 2025 accomplishments report. I have attached our 2024 accomplishments report and presentation is highlighted.

Thank you,

Kim Williams
District Manager
Clallam Conservation District
228 W First St., Suite H
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-775-2297
clallamcd.org

Email correspondence to conservation district personnel is subject to public records act disclosure.

— — —

from: [Redacted] to: christy.cox@clallamcd.org, “Kim Williams (kim.williams@clallamcd.org)” <kim.williams@clallamcd.org>
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com date: Apr 4, 2026, 6:18 PM
subject: Letter of Support

Subject: Objection to Conservation District Support for DOE Streamflow Restoration Grant – Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

Dear Ms. Christy Cox and Ms. Kim Williams:

I am writing to formally object to the Conservation District’s apparent support for a Washington State Department of Ecology streamflow restoration grant application benefiting the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. Please see letter below.

This position raises several serious concerns regarding equity, transparency, and fiduciary responsibility to the broader taxpayers and landowners within Clallam County.

First, I request clarification on whether the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe provides any direct financial support, cost-share contributions, or ongoing funding to the Clallam Conservation District. If not, it is difficult to understand why District resources, staff time, and institutional credibility are being allocated in support of a sovereign entity with its own substantial economic base and independent access to state and federal funding streams.

Second, I must raise concern regarding the apparent lack of support for my March 2 correspondence to Ms. Williams regarding support for nonprofit 4PA.org restoration and cleanup priorities in the Tumwater and Peabody watersheds. These watersheds represent ongoing environmental and public health concerns that directly impact county residents, yet they have received no acknowledgment or visible prioritization. This disparity suggests an inconsistent or inequitable project selection process.

Third, the Conservation District has an obligation to ensure that its actions reflect a balanced and locally accountable prioritization framework. Supporting external grant applications—particularly for entities with significant independent resources—while failing to engage with locally raised concerns undermines public trust and calls into question the District’s governance standards.

Accordingly, I request the following:

1. A formal explanation of the District’s decision-making process in supporting this grant application.

2. Disclosure of any financial or cooperative agreements between the District and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

3. A written response addressing the status and evaluation of the Tumwater and Peabody watershed restoration concerns raised in my March 2 email.

4. Clarification of how the District prioritizes projects across competing community, environmental, and stakeholder needs.

Until these questions are addressed, I strongly object to the Conservation District issuing or maintaining any letter of support for this grant application.

I expect a timely and substantive response.

Sincerely,
[Redacted]

— — —

From: Kim Williams <kim.williams@clallamcd.org>
Date: Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 2:45 PM Subject: RE: Letter of Support
To: [Redacted], Christy Cox <christy.cox@clallamcd.org>
Cc: Heather Ginn <heather.ginn@clallamcd.org>, info@4pa.org <info@4pa.org>, Quentin Norcutt <quentin.norcutt@clallamcd.org>

Dear [Redacted],

The Clallam Conservation District has received your public records request and we have assigned it file number 26-010. Please refer to this number on future correspondence regarding this request. Your request states:

1. A formal explanation of the District’s decision-making process in supporting this grant application.

2. Disclosure of any financial or cooperative agreements between the District and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

3. A written response addressing the status and evaluation of the Tumwater and Peabody watershed restoration concerns raised in my March 2 email.

4. Clarification of how the District prioritizes projects across competing community, environmental, and stakeholder needs.

Request item #1 A request for information.

First, the letter of support was provided for a Streamflow Restoration Grant proposal sponsored by the Washington Water Trust not the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The purpose of the proposal is to investigate potential alternatives to the use of Dungeness River irrigation water at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course, with the goal of improving late-season river flows in the Dungeness River. This is consistent with the District’s mission and Long Range Plan to conserve water resources, support local agriculture, and advance salmon recovery. This proposal is aligned with CCD’s natural resource priorities

Request item #2, No responsive records. The CCD does not have any current cooperator or financial agreements with JSKT.

Request item #3 Request for information.

Regarding your March 2 email (attached for reference), your concerns were not ignored. In response, I shared that I appreciate the work of 4PA and that I believe partnership discussions are worthwhile. I also explained that the district’s habitat and water quality programs are grant funded and must operate within specific eligibility requirements, including landowner participation. Not all environmental concerns can be addressed through the same funding sources. I asked for additional details about the restoration needs and whether there was a specific proposal that could be considered. That invitation remains open.

Request item #4 Request for information

The District’s support was not based on favoritism toward any one entity. Rather, it was based on whether the proposal aligned with CCD’s natural resource priorities in the Dungeness Basin and whether the project has potential public benefit. Support letters are one way the District recognizes projects that may help address important local resource concerns. However, the District must operate within the legal and financial boundaries of its grant funding.

The Clallam Conservation District (CCD) has completed its search and has provided you with all the public records it has which are responsive to your request. As such, the CCD has completed processing your request and considers your request fulfilled and closed.

The CCD does not intend to provide any additional records in response to your request. The one-year statute of limitations to seek judicial review has started to run because the CCD does not intend to further address your request.

You may submit follow-up questions with regards to your request within ten (10) days of the date of this letter. We now consider your request complete and closed.

Sincerely,

Kim Williams
District Manager
Clallam Conservation District
228 W First St., Suite H
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-775-2297
clallamcd.org

Email correspondence to conservation district personnel is subject to public records act disclosure.

---

from: [Redacted] to: Randy.Johnson@clallamcountywa.gov
bcc: clallamityjen@gmail.com date: Apr 28, 2026, 2:05 PM
subject:Follow-up on public comment process and state legislation awareness

Dear Commissioner Johnson,

Thank you for your comments during the recent Board of County Commissioners meeting, and for clarifying that county government functions as the closest or “lowest” level of state government. I appreciate the role the county plays in connecting state policy to local impact.

I also heard your point that constituents should bring concerns directly to sponsoring legislators or supporting parties rather than primarily raising them at Board meetings. I understand the value of engaging state representatives directly, and I agree that public participation at that level is important.

That said, I want to respectfully push back on the idea that the responsibility rests primarily with the public to identify and track relevant legislative changes on their own. Most residents are not actively monitoring bills as they move through the state process. In practice, county government is often the first and most trusted point of contact where these issues become visible in a local, actionable way.

Because of that, I do see an important role for the county in helping bridge that gap—particularly when proposed state legislation is likely to affect county operations, public safety, or residents’ rights or responsibilities. Even brief notifications, summaries, or direction on where to weigh in while legislation is still in process would significantly improve public participation and ensure that feedback reaches decision-makers when it can still have an impact.

In addition, I would appreciate more accessible and consistent ways for residents to stay informed outside of attending meetings in person. Like many people, I work full time and am not able to attend every commissioner meeting. A periodic newsletter, a centralized website or “legislative watch” page, or another consolidated communication channel highlighting key issues and proposed changes would make it much easier for residents like me to stay engaged and informed about matters that directly affect our community.

If something like this already exists and I have missed it, I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

While the commissioner work sessions and agenda information are readily available on the Clallam County website, I did notice that the most recent information I could find regarding the County’s mission, vision, goals, and trends appears to be dated 2022 and 2023. If more current updates are available elsewhere, I would be grateful to know where to find them.

I appreciate your service and your willingness to engage with the community on these issues.

Sincerely,
[Redacted]

---

From: [Redacted] Date: Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:47 PM
Subject: Please post on social media pictures of your Maui conference this week
To: <info@wsac.org>

Hello,

What is the justification for going to Maui? Why not stay local? Clallam County would of been a great place to hold a conference.

Thank you,
[Redacted]

— — —

From: Mitch Netzer <mnetzer@wsac.org> Date: Mon, May 4, 2026, 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: Please post on social media pictures of your Maui conference this week
To: [Redacted] Cc: Washington Counties (WSAC) <info@wsac.org>

Good afternoon, [Redacted],

The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) does not choose where this conference is held (except for the host year in Washington State). Each year, the conference is hosted by a county within one of the seventeen Western states. This year’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference, which is a part of the National Association of Counties (NACo), is being hosted by Maui County in Hawaii. This year, Maui County will host county leaders in disaster-focused workshops and tours emphasizing response, recovery, and resilience.

You can learn more about the WIR Conference on NACo’s website here: https://www.naco.org/event/2026-western-interstate-region-wir-conference

We love Clallam County and work hard to spread WSAC-hosted conferences, meetings, and trainings all throughout WA! We have also invested in making nearly all of our meetings hybrid events to help those who are unable to attend in person.

I appreciate you reaching out! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any other questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Mitch
Mitch Netzer | Director of Communications & Business Development
Washington State Association of Counties | wsac.org
mnetzer@wsac.org | 360.485.8549

Disclaimer: Documents and correspondence are available under state law. This e-mail may be disclosable to a third-party requestor.

[Links: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Podcast]

---

Next Issue: Monday, May 11, 2026

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

🇺🇸 Response from the U.S. Department of the Interior:

From Clallam Freedom Alliance re: Stop the Transfer of Dungeness and Protection Island Refuges (Sign & share petition here):

A physical mail response came in from Thomas A. Blaser, Chief Adminstrative Judge of the US. Department of the Interior.

He told us to send all concerns to the: Northwest Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 911 Northwest 11th Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232-4169.

As we now know calling is best: 360-291-7684.

---

✍️ Redress State Legislators in District 24:

• Senator Mike Chapman: (360) 786-7646, email form

• Representative Adam Bernbaum: (360) 786-7916, email form

• Representative Steve Tharinger: (360) 786-7904, email form

✍️ Redress Clallam County Commissioners:

• 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.

✍️ Now Accepting Rejected Letters to Local Newspapers:

Have you had a letter to the editor rejected from the Sequim Gazette or the Peninsula Daily News? Clallam County Letters will publish it.

While this blog is focused on letters to elected officials and government, it is also a platform for the silenced, unheard, and ignored voices of Clallam County residents.

Email your letter, along with the response from the newspaper stating why they wouldn’t print the letter, to clallamityjen@gmail.com. Names, emails, and personal information will be redacted from published letters.

To have your letter published in Clallam County Letters, please include clallamityjen@gmail.com in the BCC field or forward the email after sending.

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.