Covey aims for progress

MOSES LAKE - Ron Covey says he has a "very deep desire" to see Moses Lake cleaner than it's been in past years.

Covey, 63, a candidate for the Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation board, wants to continue work on the Moses Lake dredging project to remove 60 years of sediment and carry on weed killing efforts.

Covey, Moses Lake's former mayor, is running against past Democratic state Rep. Mick Hansen in the Dec. 14 election.

Covey said when he became mayor in 2004, one of his passions was to follow up with the state Department of Ecology (DOE), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and appropriate agencies to work with the city to improve the lake.

During that time, some stumbling blocks cropped up, but Covey views this election as an opportunity to pick up where he left off.

The timing in his personal life also lined up.

After nine months off, he says he was asked to run for the position.

When he learned Hansen was running and some of his views, he decided to get involved.

"It's important for our generations and generations to come," Covey said.

When he was mayor, the city hired several consulting firms to assist with making Moses Lake a tourist attraction.

"If you cut back the assessment (tax) rate, it will eliminate the possibility of the dredging project," he said.

His opponent, Hansen, wants to cut the tax rate in half as a cost savings.

Such a dramatic cut would turn the lake into a "swampy mess" and lower property values for people already hurting financially, Covey claims.

He pointed out the assessment of $1 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation is not a new tax.

"If we don't continue to rehab the lake, it will go south on us," he says.

The dredging project is scheduled to begin next summer when the water level is up.

The permits are in place with relevant agencies and the district is working with the city on a few points, he said.

It's expected the permits will be completed by the end of the year.

Covey researched dredging done in Clear Lake, Iowa.

He put together a 40-page report, including pictures and charts, about the work done there.

"It's remarkable what they have done in Clear Lake, Iowa," he said. "We are not reinventing the wheel."

Covey even spoke with Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crab, who was excited about the project.

Clear Lake received funding help from other agencies.

"They've almost completed the project now," Covey said.

In Moses Lake, the district can complete the project cheaper because it's being done by existing staff with a dredge machine owned by the district.

He said bids would run between $3 million and $5 million to have just Parker Horn dredged.

"I think that was very responsible for the district to make that investment," Covey said. "They didn't spend anywhere near the $5 million."

Covey also addressed what set him apart from his opponent.

He is concerned about Hansen's approach on reducing taxes so drastically.

"I guess that's probably the biggest issue I have is with his approach," Covey said. "I don't want to see us go backwards."

For more information, visit www.VoteRonCovey.com or call 509-750-0077.