Grant PUD opposes Crescent Bar lease extension

EPHRATA — All five Grant County PUD commissioners said Monday they expect to vote against a lease extension for 400 leaseholders on Crescent Bar Island.

The vote on the matter is now set for April 26, as sufficient time was needed for discussion and to review written public comments, according to Dorothy Harris, a PUD spokesperson.

Four hundred and thirty-eight comments were submitted in response to a PUD staff recommendation to not renew the lease between the utility and the Port of Quincy.

The lease expires in 2012.

Commissioner Randy Allred said after speaking with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), not renewing the lease seemed to be the best option for all those involved.

Howard Finke, of Ephrata, told commissioners Crescent Bar leaseholders admitted they won’t pay for maintenance if their lease isn’t extended.

Former Grant County Prosecutor Paul Klasen said he was in favor of not renewing the lease.

It’s “indisputable” that FERC has been increasing their concern about private use on public land, he said.

“I’m really concerned about our license,” Klasen said. “I would hate to have the commission do anything that would impair our license (to operate the dams).”

Danna Dal Porto, of Quincy, said this is a difficult decision.

One reason they’re there is because some people didn’t do their jobs, she alleged. She told Grant PUD commissioners to do what they have to do and terminate the lease.

The only exemption is for people using the property as a primary residence, she said.

Sheryl Dotson, a Grant PUD lands specialist, said she was asked to look into additional options regarding a state wastewater discharge permit for the island. The permit expires in June 2012. Options include upgrading the wastewater treatment plant with the current standards of 150,000 gallons per day, having a permit obtained for 100,000 gallons per day or obtaining a permit from the Grant County Health Department for less than 3,500 gallons per day.

Dotson said she was told by Grant County that permitting the system would be difficult because of the island’s soil conditions and of the requirement of drain fields.

“The most logical place would be the golf course,” she said of the drain fields.

Dotson also looked into the island’s current electrical system.

The backbone system was upgraded in the last few years, but permanent structures were built over the backbone.

If there were underground cable failures, it would be extremely difficult to replace the system without having to remove the structures, she said.

A summary of the written public comments was provided during the staff presentation. The comments were not a popular vote, but rather comments about the staff recommendation.

Comments included people wanting more public access on Crescent Bar Island, longer lease terms, more opportunities for public use of the land and additional RV camping, trails and day use facilities.

Many were opposed to ratepayer dollars funding the island’s infrastructure work.

Some writers stated island residents bring revenue to Quincy. Grant County’s economy would struggle without the residents and the island would be difficult and expensive for the PUD to manage and maintain, they claimed.

The PUD also received many comments and concerns that the island would close to the public.

Fair market value was also questioned.

Commissioner Tom Flint said the commission’s goal is to keep the PUD’s license for its dams in good standing and represent its customer-owners.

“In this process, FERC has given us a response that is firm and stern,” he said.

Commissioner Terry Brewer said he didn’t think there was a way for the commission to please everyone.

The situation was set up many years ago by others and the current commission must deal with the matter, he said.

The FERC license is important to the people of Grant County.

“It made me believe more steadfast that the option we have is to terminate the lease by 2012,” Brewer said.

Commissioner Greg Hansen said not renewing the lease is the only option commissioners have, given FERC’s position on the matter, and its March 10 letter about residential use on public lands.

As commissioners, they can do nothing to jeopardize the PUD’s FERC license.

He said not renewing the lease is the cleanest way to put the problem behind them.

Commissioner Bob Bernd said he agreed with the other commissioners.

He was intent on finding a win-win situation and said he was sorry if he might have mislead people in that effort.

Private, nonresidential use of the island would have to be paid for at the ratepayers’ expense, he said.

“I’m really sorry for the hardship this will create for people who thought they had a home for a lifetime,” Bernd said.