Please join us for our annual 4th of July activities.
July 4th Friday
- Parade: 10:30am - starts at the boat ramp
- Community Potluck: 12:20pm in the Paul Bunyan room
- Games: 1:30pm
July 5th Saturday
- Annual Meeting: 10:00am at the Cape George Fire Hall
The septic system was completed on 2/22/08. We are pleased to report that it was a job well done! You may notice that there are a few clean up tasks left; these will be taken care of this spring.
We now move to financing. All members who have pledged up front money will be asked to send a check before March 25th. The final numbers will be determined March 3rd.
More details are available in the letter that was mailed to all members: Septic Announcements 22-Feb-08
"Beckett Point resident Bill Smith was among 40 happy homeowners who could flush their toilets with a clear conscience last week after contractors for Jefferson County Public Utility District successfully switched on part of the community's new septic system and drain field."
01/20/08 Peninsula Daily News:
"The contractor building a $2.8 million Beckett Point community septic system and drainfield expects to finish the project by the end of November."
10/10/07 Peninsula Daily News:
Jefferson County has been awarded a $50,000 grant to help with the expenses of the Beckett Point septic project.
8/27/07 Peninsula Daily News:
The state historic preservation office has given the green light for work to move forward on our septic project. No more significant cultural resources were found after 91 six-foot-deep test holes were dug where grinder pumps would be installed. The PUD says work will resume after Labor Day.
8/23/07 Peninsula Daily News:
The State refused our grant, but the county agreed to fund up to $250,000 for the archaeological study and costs associated with construction delays. Work continues, and the PUD hopes the septic project will be completed by year's end.
8/9/07 Peninsula Daily News:
7/18 Peninsula Daily News:
- Remains, artifacts and two graves were discovered at Beckett Point, and could be thousands of years old, a recently released archaeological report said.
Everything happens on Saturday, July 7th this year. Please join us for the fun!
- Annual Meeting: 9:00am at the Cape George Fire Hall Annual Meeting Agenda 7-Jul-07
- Parade: 2:00pm - starts at the boat ramp
- Community Potluck: 3:00pm in the Paul Bunyan room
Articles and TV coverage, starting with most recent
6/26 Peninsula Daily News:
6/20 Port Townsend Leader
6/15 Peninsula Daily News
6/14 King 5 evening news (includes video)
6/14 Peninsula Daily News
6/13 Port Townsend Leader:
6/12/2007 Peninsula Daily News
6/07/2007 Peninsula Daily News
6/06/2007 Peninsula Daily News
6/06/2007 Port Townsend Leader
6/03/2007 Peninsula Daily News
6/01/2007 Peninsula Daily News
5/31/2007 Peninsula Daily News
Keith Hansen, President of Beckett Point Fishermen's Club, read the following statement at the June 11th Board of County Commissioners meeting at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Beckett Point Fishermen's Club was established in 1939. It is a group of approximately 160 members owning 85 acres of land on Discovery Bay. The Club is organized as a non-profit Corporation. Each lease holding member has an equal voice in the operation of the Community.
For the last 7 years the Club has worked in cooperation with Jefferson County Department of Community Development to develop a Large On Site Septic System.
In 2003 the Washington State Department of Health conducted a routine survey of the shoreline around the Discovery Bay shellfish growing area. The survey monitors the effects of septic systems on the bay. It was recommended that Beckett Point be placed in concerned status because of the high density development and potential lack of treatment arising through the gravity fed drainfields.
The Beckett Point Large On Site Septic System (LOSS) is an example of a community that got together to solve the problem of concentrated homes in close proximity to the water by creating a community septic system that moves the effluent away from the water.
Beckett Point started a relationship with the PUD #1 of Jefferson County to engineer, install and operate such a system. This was to be funded by State and private loans. At the time the project started, the total cost was estimated to be $2.8 million with 1/3 being funded by public trust loans and 2/3 private loans. The private loan requires that the project have reasonable fixed costs and completion time. The system provides 102 connections; each one costing approximately $28k. This represents a significant financial commitment from each leasehohlder connecting to the system.
This process has now failed. There is no ability to determine the total cost or time frame of the LOSS System.
In 1953 Beckett Point Quit-Claimed to Jefferson County a road of 40 feet wide to access the entire spit. Recently, while digging a trench to install a main on this road, the remains were found.
Beckett Point Fishermen's Club respectfully requests that any use of its property for any archaeological digging or investigation by any government or tribal interest needs to be first approved by the Board of Directors representing the ownership of this land. Beckett Point Fishermen's Club is dedicated to completing the LOSS system. We attempted to do this with out the help from the State or the Federal Government through grants or other hand outs. Under the current conditions Beckett Point, the PUD and probably the County cannot achieve this goal. Only the State is able to help resolve the problems while respecting tribal interests and help with the necessary financial and organizational resources. I believe our project will help the state to improve water quality. We look forward to working with the PUD, the County, the State and the Tribes.
I'm sure other communities throughout the region are looking at this situation and the outcome will affect their willingness to attempt similar projects.
UPDATED 6/12 - news coverage:
OK, time for a little good news: Discovery Bay Crabbing opens 1 week earlier than originally published
The contractor found some human remains by the boat ramp Sunday, 5/27. After a quick assessment, the PUD called a halt to the digging and called in archaeologists to evaluate the site. From the Peninsula Daily News:
The discovery of the remains - that were turned into the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday - put a stop to the work where they were found, as is the state protocol when bones or artifacts thought to be Native American are unearthed.
UPDATED 6/7 - the Peninsula Daily News is providing daily updates; see these articles:
- Human remains found at project site
- Archaeologists examining site where PUD project halted
- Jefferson PUD asks for state money after bones found at work site
- State loans Jefferson PUD funds to pay for archeological survey at Beckett Point
- What to do next for Beckett Point situation?
UPDATE 6/6 - and the Leader has an article:
The Q2 board meeting was moved from 4/15 to Sunday, 5/20. As always, it's at Patti's house at 10AM.
We had a great turn out at the 3/17 Special Meeting - over 60 voting members showed up on short notice - and we didn't even offer refreshments. :-) The vote was overwhelming: we voted almost unanimously to move ahead w/ the Septic System. I want to thank the folks from the PUD and Jefferson County for making presentations and taking the time to answer our questions. Hats off to Al Scalf, Jim Parker, Malcom Harris and Kelly Hays.
The PUD awarded the contract on 3/19 to Pape and Son, so we're off and running.
Here we go!
Check out the LOSS Financing FAQ - it describes the costs and financing options for the septic system. We'll discuss this at the meeting on Saturday.
The Board of Trustees has unanimously called a Special Meeting as authorized under the By-Laws, Article V, Section 2. 40 members must be present to vote.
- Date: Saturday, March 17
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Place: Cape George Fire Hall
Purpose: To announce the cost of the septic project including contractors' bids, the design costs and administrative fees.
The board will present financing options including loan terms, pre-payment options, incentives, and possible real estate sales.
Vote: A motion will be made to go forward to formally approve contract as discussed above.
If approved, BPFC will contract with the PUD as owner and operator. Attorney Malcolm Harris, representing the PUD, will discuss the requirements the PUD will place on BPFC.
By-Law amendment: An amendment will be presented to fulfill the needs of the PUD and the lender.
Additional amendment: An additional amendment will be presented allowing for future membership votes to be conducted by mail, without the need for a special meeting.
Please contact any board member for details.
The Septic project has slipped into high gear!
The Septic Bid Documents are out, and final bids will be opened by the PUD on March 5th. While we wait for the bids to arrive, the septic committee has hired a contract attorney, arranged bridge financing, and submitted the assessors' plat documents to Jefferson County. We've been meeting weekly by phone conference to keep tabs on all of the moving parts.
Heads up! We will be asking all members to attend a special membership meeting in March - after the bids have been opened. We haven't yet nailed the date - please stay tuned.
- More details (will be mailed to all members): Update to Septic Project, February 2007
- Minutes from the last board meeting: Board Meeting Minutes 14-Jan-07
Would you like to meet board members and neighbors and informally discuss current issues? Come join the community for a potluck. We hope to see you there!
- Cape George Fire Hall
- Saturday, November 11
- 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Please RSVP to Kim Fairbanks, Patti Sahlinger or Keith Hansen so that we can organize the food.
I've posted the committee assignments in the Board section. We have a bunch of work to do on the Septic, Shoreline and Wetlands committees, among others.
Keith and Patti announced the board meeting schedule for 2006-2007:
- October 1 - Sunday, 10:00 AM
- January 14 - Sunday, 10:00 AM
- May 20 - Sunday, 10:00 AM (was April 15)
- July 6 - Friday, 6:30 PM
- July 7 - Saturday, 9:00 AM - Annual Meeting
