SIX MONTHS: Residents who have contended with flooding turn out in support of the move.
By Jennifer Olson, The Olympian, 8/11/99
THURSTON COUNTY - After months of debate, Thurston County commissioners unanimously approved a six-month building moratorium in floodprone areas.
The Tuesday night vote came after an unruly, nearly three hour public hearing in which residents, frustrated by perceived delays on the part of the county, openly chastised commissioners and interrupted speakers to ask questions.
The vast majority of the more than 100 people who attended supported the moratorium.
"The real tragedy is that the issue has gone on and on and on and on," said Doug DeForest, executive director of the Olympia Master Builders, one of the first groups to support the moratorium. "If you had done this five months ago, we'd be well on our way to taking the moratorium off."
Anna Link, who lives in a floodprone area south of Tumwater, testified that she just got her water-logged heating system working Tuesday.
"I want the county to follow through on things they say they are going to do," she said.
"I want to see action," she added. "I don't want talk or studies anymore."
The moratorium will restrict new construction and installation and expansion of septic systems for six months in areas that have experienced high groundwater. No new building permits will be issued in these areas.
The moratorium gives the county time to address flooding problems that have plagued several areas of the county during two of the past three winters. Many residents have been forced from their homes and been unable to use their septic systems.
"The battle is not over," County Commissioner Diane Oberquell said.
Commissioners must now move ahead with engineering plans to route the water out of the areas. Plans are already under way to reestablish the historic Hickman Ditch in the area south of Tumwater surrounding Littlerock Road.
But solutions for the so called Hopkins Ditch area another large area south of Tumwater plagued by flooding - are more elusive.
"It's not possible to fix the problem on the 93rd Avenue and Walter Court side in six months, maybe not ever," commission Chairwoman Judy Wilson said.
Jennifer Olson covers Thurston County for The Olympian. She can be reached at 754-5427.
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