GUEST EDITORIAL: Hansen writes of 'character assassinations'

by Mick Hansen & Candidate For Director
| November 18, 2011 5:00 AM

MOSES LAKE - I've experienced a number of character assassinations this last month by the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District. Although not mentioned by name, the Oct. 13 issue of the Columbia Basin Herald stated that the sinking of the dredge was caused by "eco-terrorism."

MLIRD Manager Curt Carpenter said the dredge was sunk by "certain parties," mentioning my name to a number of people, including the Grant County Sheriff's office.

Let's look at some of the facts that a number of people in town noticed on Thursday, Sept. 15, that the dredge was leaning to the right, and nose down. Even more people noticed on Friday the 16th, that it was leaning to the right with the nose down, with the "spuds" in the rear holding that end quite high. This was even mentioned to Curt Carpenter, who said he went out at 9:30 p.m. in the dark to check on the dredge to find everything just fine. He claims the hatches were closed, yet found open during the recovery. Did he check to see if they were just down, or fully locked? If not locked, they can blow open when a boat sinks; the air trapped inside a chamber acts like a balloon and can pop a heavy lid open. Curt also mentioned that most of the ropes holding the work boat were loose and only one was left holding. Would someone untie all but one? My guess is, as the dredge went down, the ropes became very tight and either came untied or broke. The dredge pumps a 10 inch pipe full of water to the shoreline, then it's a long climb for 200 feet to the brim of the pond, which is elevated approximately 15 feet above the lake. This makes a lot of backed up water with a pressure around 7-8 pounds at the dredge when it shuts down. Does it have a check valve? Is it drained off each time it is shut down? Was it done this time? At the November board meeting, Curt reported that the pump shaft leaks bad enough that it needs to be pulled and rebuilt. Does it have automatic bilge pumps?

On Friday, the 16th, gates were opened at the south end of Moses Lake for a few hours causing a slight drop in the lake level. This will not cause a tsunami, but when you're sitting in the main part of the canal, at the opposite end of the lake, the level may not change more than an inch or two, but the speed of the water flowing by may double causing more suction on the front of the dredge. The dredge was facing into the water flow. I find it amusing that operator error hasn't been a consideration. It doesn't sound near as good to the insurance company. Ask yourself, "Why would I want the dredge sunk?" I want them to have no excuse for the pitiful amount of dredged material in the pile; approximately 3,700 cubic yards ready to haul off, only 46,300 cubic yards short of their target for this year.

My other experience with the MLIRD happened at the extended October board meeting, that occurred on Nov. 1, which was a study session on some ideas that Rich Archer had, to give this 2011 election more transparency and the appearance of fairness. This was open to the public, but chairman Ron Covey made sure that no one from the public even uttered one word until the meeting was adjourned. I was totally frustrated, but not surprised at the fact that almost every idea was dumped.

As I left the boardroom, the board secretary, Julie H. Smith came out from beside the head table and wanted to know why I didn't trust her. I explained to her that I had a 61 percent lead over Ron Covey's 39 percent votes the day of the last election; over 500 votes ahead, then six days later when the absentee ballots were counted, I had 24 percent of the unknown votes, and Ron Covey now had 76 percent, moving him ahead by a slight margin, but enough to win.

With no changes from the board from last year, I told her we would be "setting a trap," meaning we would ask people who vote for me to mark their ballots in a way that they could be identified. Not by signing their name, but with a secret mark only they would know. She immediately told me to leave the building, which I did. The next day, Julie called the Moses Lake police and reported that I had threatened her. This was in the Columbia Basin Herald on Friday, Nov. 4. Ryan Lancaster, the Herald reporter did call me and wrote an explanation of what I meant. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, I went to the regular monthly meeting of the MLIRD. I was blind sided by a Columbia Basin Herald reporter, a photographer, a city policeman, and three letters, one from Julie, one from Curt and one from Ron Covey. They all stated how out of control and threatening I was. This all ended up, in great detail in the Thursday, Nov. 10 Columbia Basin Herald. After the third letter was read, I asked chairman Covey if I could make a remark and was told "no!" If Julie H. Smith felt personally threatened by me, then I apologize, because no personal threat was intended. If the MLIRD board had done it's job, she would not be in the position of doubt. A candidate running for the MLIRD board should not have to worry about a fair election. I only want what is good for the lake and the people of Moses Lake.

Be sure to vote on Dec. 13 if you are in the boundaries of the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District.