By Lois Krafsky Perry, News Editor
Citizen Review
Sequim, WA – Local citizens gathered at City Hall, July 16th to observe and ask questions of the planning commission.
The hall was crowded with 150 attendees. The outside door and side hallway doors were opened to accommodate the overflow crowd of concerned people.
The proposed medication -assisted treatment project (MAT) with the proposed Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Olympic Medical Center and Jefferson Healthcare (Port Townsend), is a concern for the community.
According to W. Ron Allen who is Tribal Chairman/CEO, “The Healing Campus is a collaboration between our tribe, Olympic Medical Center, Jefferson Healthcare and Peninsula Behavioral Health which includes a Phase 1 MAT clinic to be operated by the Jamestown Tribe and Phase 11 (yet to be funded) a 16 bed evaluation and treatment psych hospital that will be managed by OMC [Olympic Medical Center].” Allen said the 20 acre parcel located near highway 101, was chosen for its central location between the east and west boundaries of the N. Olympic Peninsula. (Page 7 Peninsula Daily News July 21, 2019 for more information on Allen’s commentary.)
As public testimony was called, according to their agenda, the Board Chair suggested that a couple of spokespersons, for a group may speak, for the sake of time.
Jodi Wilke and Inga Able Geboren Stange spoke for the community group, “Sequim against MAT” which has been changed to, “Save our Sequim” (SOS).
Wilke read her statement and submitted written copy to the Board, for the record, which should be accessible via the City website. She mentioned the 20 million dollars proposed and stated that the MAT clinic is wholly inappropriate for Sequim.
Inga Able-Stange presented several pages of researched documentation to the board. The former medical doctor who practiced in Germany, has been working to help the community with her knowledge of the topic. She also mentioned property values and increase of crime as some concerns. She said her group was 1200 strong, in just a couple of weeks.
Tom Fenner, who is former Navy , said he was not against the facility, but against the location.
He reminded the commission of the Preamble of the Constitution and We the People.
Fenner also spoke later in the next meeting as approximately a quarter of the attendees stayed to address the Legacy Ridge preliminary major subdivision application for 7th and Silberhorn area, which includes 7 acre area ponds and properties further South.
Bobbie Piety was told when submitting a letter, that the city of Sequim had no record. She said, “according to page 3 of a June 29 newsletter, there was a signed contract, and that Sequim assured the Tribe that Sequim meets the zoning.” Somebody is lying, declared Piety.
Barry Berezowsky, Sequim Director of Community Development
Barry Berezowsky, Director of Community Development, had previously denied the project plans.
He attempted to answer questions by several people who asked questions from the attendees, some who did not visit the podium.
At one point, Wilke approached the podium again to clarify some points of confusion, which she did in a polite manner, as she represented her group, “Save Our Sequim.” The former name was, “Sequim against MAT.”
Planning commission member David Lotzgesell, a 5th generation Sequimite, recused himself from any decisions, in that although he felt the concerns of the attendees, he worked as a sales rep of a business where the Tribe is one of their customers.
Several homeowners and property owners of the Legacy Ridge Project expressed their concerns about the MAT project.
August 8 is a meeting, according to Allen, at the Tribal Center, for citizens to listen to their thrust of plans.
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