Let’s prove we know how to plan for a UGA | Letter to the editor

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Two good pieces of news this week.

First, JeffCo secured a $21 million-plus grant for the Hadlock infrastructure project.

Second, the commissioners “retired” Philip Morley. 

These events together portend a period of productivity for JeffCo. It took years of hard work and invaluable assistance from Steve Tharinger to get the grant. It took bold action to accomplish the latter.

Morley was a stifling, bureaucratic presence that checked the boxes but little else. Commissioners had become complacent, with Morley seemingly running the show. His background made him ill-suited to understand the opportunities here.

I’m encouraged by Kate Dean’s comments in the Leader about the new direction for the board. More hands-on, more engaged, looking for new ideas. I could sum it up in a word. Leadership. That’s what we want to see in commissioners.

The Hadlock build-out is the most important project the commissioners will face for several years to come. A battle over a sewer system is always contentious. It’s a big change from the status quo. I’d like to hear the commissioners offer their vision for the future Hadlock. How will it support local business? What sort of jobs will it create?

Comment by Greg Brotherton buried in the Leader article was also encouraging. He mentioned sub-area planning. The sooner, the better. There’s no better way to get all the issues out and develop a blueprint for community development than the sub-area planning process.

I understand that directly affected Hadlock landowners have the greatest stake in this project. But it’s a countywide issue that directly impacts the local economy and the services we all receive. 

With a newly energized board maybe we can prove that we know how to plan for a UGA in keeping with local values and the Growth Management Act.

Mark Rose
BRINNON