Tanglewilde sewers

Ken’s Corner
Aired March 10, 2008

SOMETIMES REALITY JUST JUMPS UP –   HITS YOU ALONG SIDE THE HEAD AND GRABS YOU BY THE THROAT.  THAT’S WHATS HAPPEN TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN TANGLEWILDE. THEY’VE FOUND OUT THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO PAY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEM OR HOOK ONTO CITY OF LACEY SEWERS.

IT’S THE REALITY OF IT.

THEY CAN’T PLEAD IGNORANCE. THEY’VE KNOW FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO UPGRADE THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEMS EVENTUALLY — OR HOOK UP TO SEWERS. SEVERAL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD OVER THE YEARS TELLING THEM THAT  – AND YET – – PROPERTY OWNERS ACTED  WITH SHOCK WHEN THEY READ ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER.

THAT’S REALITY.

YOU CAN’T ESCAPE IT. YET TANGLEWILDE RESIDENTS TRIED. THEY KNEW THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEMS WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE – – THEY KNEW THEY WERE  GOING TO HAVE TO UPGRADE – – AND YET – – THEY PUT IT OFF – – HOPING IT WOULD GO AWAY.

BUT IT DIDN’T GO AWAY – – LAST WEEK – – THURSTON COUNTY RECEIVED A CONSULTANTS REPORT WHICH SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $75 MILLION DOLLARS – – ABOUT 30 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PROPERTY OWNER – – TO BRING THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

OLD SEPTIC SYSTEMS – – LIKE THE KIND FOUND AT TANGLEWILDE – – AND FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS – – LIKE SOME OF THOSE IN TANGLEWILDE – – HAVE BEEN POINTED TO FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES – – -AS A SOURCE OF POLLUTION INTO WOODLAND CREEK AND HENDERSON INLET.

AND SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

MOST OF THE LOTS IN TANGLEWILDE ARE TOO SMALL TO HOST A STEP SYSTEM — AND COSTLY NEW SYSTEMS WOULD BE NEEDED.

ANOTHER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO HOOK UP TO THE CITY OF LACEY’S SEWER SYSTEM.  CITY OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT ANNEXATION WOULDN’T BE NECESSARY – – BUT I THINK TANGLEWILDE RESIDENTS SHOULD LOOK AT JOINING THE CITY OF LACEY.

LACEY OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY DON’T WANT TANGLEWILDE – – THAT RESIDENTIAL AREAS ARE A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS — AND THAT THE CITY OF LACEY WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN BY ANNEXING THE PROPERTY.

BUT IT’S TIME FOR TANGLEWILDE RESIDENTS – – AND ALL OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN LACEY’S URBAN GROWTH AREA – – TO BEGIN LOOKING AT POTENTIAL ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY.

HOOKING UP TO CITY SEWERS IN TANGLEWILDE WOULDN’T BE ANY MORE COSTLY — THEN REPLACING FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS – – AND ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES – – LIKE INCREASED POLICE PROTECTION FOR EXAMPLE.

TANGLEWILDE RESIDENTS SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT THE GOAT HAS FINALLY COME HOME. THEY’VE KNOWN FOR DECADES THAT THEY WERE ON BORROWED TIME.

THE ONLY QUESTIONS REMAINING – – IS HOW CHEAPLY CAN THEY COVERT THEIR  OLD SYSTEMS – – AND SHOULD THEY ALSO PROCEED WITH ANNEXATION INTO LACEY – – WHERE MOST PEOPLE ALREADY THINK THEY ARE?

IT’S TIME FOR TANGLEWILDE RESIDENTS AND LACEY OFFFICALS TO MEET AND BEGIN TALKS.

THAT’S THE REAL NEWS FROM MY CORNER I’M KEN BALSLEY.