MLIRD candidates talk issues

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District director candidates shared their opinions on various district issues including dredging and water quality with ratepayers.

Former Grant County Undersheriff Ken Kernan and Moses Lake business owner David Skaug spoke during a candidates forum Wednesday night at the Moses Lake Civic Center. The two men are campaigning for the position presently held by Director Rich Archer.

The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Moses Lake Business Association and the Columbia Basin Herald sponsored the event.

Ratepayers asked about the dredging of the lake and future plans for Connelly Park.

Kernan was happy with the funding the MLIRD put into fixing the hydraulic dredge and the resulting performance, he said.

"I do know that when the dredge first started operation last year, I was out there and watched it operate and I expressed skepticism myself," he said. "I was out there again this year when they put the dredge back on after they rebuilt that pump, and it's working."

Kernan said the dredge is removing silt from the lake at an even better rate than the previous year.

Skaug needed to see the results from the dredge before saying if the MLIRD should continue with it, he said. He wanted solid numbers of how much sediment the dredge could remove, and how fast it could remove it.

"If the dredge works, I'd be a fool to say, 'Let's not use it,' and if the dredge doesn't work, I'd be a fool to say, 'Let's use it,'" Skaug said.

Kernan said since the district has permits to operate the hydraulic dredge for the next few years, it should continue. The chance to renew the permits could be jeopardized if the MLIRD halts dredging.

The recent purchase of a manufactured home for Connelly Park was questioned as well. An audience member asked the candidates if they thought the expense was an appropriate use of MLIRD funds.

Skaug agreed with the reasoning behind purchasing the home, since it was intended to house a full-time employee, but didn't like how long it's taking to get the manufactured home to Moses Lake, he said.

"Camp hosts make sense, it's an effective way to manage the activities of the campsite," Skaug said. "Why it's taken six months to get it done, that makes no sense to me at all."

Kernan did not agree with the purchase at all, he said.

"In my opinion, it was not a useful purpose," he said. "That motor home ... that was bought in April has been sitting in Portland ever since."

Kernan added he was not in favor of hiring a full-time employee to live in the manufactured home year-round, since it wouldn't be a good use of MLIRD funds.

"It would be nice if we could afford to have somebody down there at Connelly Park 24 hours a day, and it would be nice if it were open 24 hours a day" he said. "But I don't think the $1,200 a month for an individual down there is a good idea."

Skaug said camp hosts have worked at other sites, and it could work at Connelly Park.

"It seems to be a cost-effective way of keeping track of stuff and preventing vandalism," he said. "But if I saw the numbers, I would crunch them and make a decision, and if $1,200 was a bargain, then I would do it in a heartbeat."

Another question posed to the candidates the purchase of additional land purchase to construct an office.

Skaug was open to the idea of purchasing land, if it benefited the district. He needed to look at the property value, and if the use for the land is necessary before deciding, he said.

Kernan disagreed, saying the MLIRD does not need any additional property.

"I don't think MLIRD should be in the business of buying property, they have plenty of ground for expansion and money should go to existing programs," he said.

Candidates shared their vision for the lake, and the role the MLIRD should play in the community. Kernan and Skaug agreed the lake's water quality needs to be addressed.

Kernan said the board needs to put personal issues aside, and get back to the business of cleaning up the lake. As an avid fisher on the lake, he said the water quality and clarity of the water have gotten worse during the years.

Kernan said the lack of algae prevention and maintenance caused the water quality to drop.

Skaug said the condition of the water isn't due to anything the district has or hasn't done.

"I've been in Moses Lake for all my life, I've seen years where you see the bottom of the lake and I've seen years where you can't see six inches in the water," Skaug said.

He added the district still needs to serve as guardians for the lake's water quality, because no other agency is tasked with taking care of the lake.

"The number one priority is to make it a facility tourists want to come to," he said.

Getting rid of the lake's green tint would help attract tourists back to Moses Lake, Skaug said.

Kernan said the key to improving tourism in the area is to create partnerships with other state and federal agencies.

"See what they need, and get their input about what it's going to take to draw people to the area," said Kernan.

To watch the candidate's forum in its entirety, visit www.columbiabasinherald.com. The forum airs on Northland Communications until election day.

The MLIRD election will be held on Dec. 11 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the former John L. Scott office at 211 N. Elder St.