MLIRD candidates talk issues

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District director candidates met with voters recently to discuss issues like the Moses Lake Dam, dredging and the current direction of the board.

Voters will decide who will fill three open director positions during annual elections Dec. 10.

One of the positions is the seat currently held by director Ron Covey, whose term expires this December. The other two positions are new positions, created when ratepayers voted to increase the number of directors from three to five last December.

Covey and Moses Lake businessman David Skaug will be running against each other for Covey's current seat, which is a three-year term beginning in January. Skaug also ran in last year's election against Ken Kernan.

Both Covey and Skaug were asked if they thought the MLIRD should replace or repair the failing Moses Lake Dam.

Skaug said there were some questions that would have to be answered before he could make a solid decision.

"My initial thoughts are, do we need two dams?" he said. "I don't know if one dam can handle the water flow or if it's a matter of it takes two of them to get the lake drained in time."

Skaug said maintaining a dam could help the district keep reservoir rights, which is extremely important.

"I would not like to see that given up," he said.

He also said the issue should be thoroughly researched because of the cost associated with building a new dam.

"It's a big expenditure, if we need to make it we need to make it," he said. "If we don't need it, don't make it."

Covey said the dam without a doubt needs to be replaced.

"The bureau (Bureau of Reclamation) has told MLIRD that we have a high water event their dam, the south dam, would not be able to handle it," he said. "The bureau indicated to our general manager that we get our dam replaced."

Covey said legislators have said they will get MLIRD the funding for the new dam, so plans can begin to move forward.

Both candidates were also asked if they supported the dredging process.

Covey indicated he did support the process.

"I think the hydraulic dredge is by far the more responsible way to go," he said. "It's doing a great job for us."

Covey said hydraulic dredging was identified by engineers as the most cost-efficient way to remove sediment from the lake.

"The report that came back from the consultant was that mechanical dredging cost twice as much as hydraulic dredging," Covey said.

Skaug said if the hydraulic dredge does what it's supposed to do at a reasonable pace, then he supports that process. However, he said he hasn't seen any figures as to how well the hydraulic dredge is really doing.

"I'm waiting for someone to say this year we brought out this many cubic yard," Skaug said. "I don't want to drive by and see there's a trench in the water or if there's something I can't see, I just want to measure it."

Mary Perry, who has been a resident of Moses Lake for about 46 years; businessman Bill Bailey, who also ran for a director position during 2011 elections; Larry Tracy, who has practiced law in the area for more than 30 years and businessman Jeff Foster are the candidates vying for one of the two new director positions.

The top vote-getter will receive a three-year term beginning in January. The candidate who comes in second will receive a two-year term, also beginning next January.

Each of the candidates agreed the lake had significant economic value to the community when asked about the lake's economic impact.

Perry said the lake is extremely important to tourism in the area. People from out of town visit Moses Lake to attend fishing derbies, to camp or do other activities on or near the lake, she said.

Tracy said having a clean lake is important when it comes to attracting visitors to the area.

"The better it is, the better it's going to draw for everybody," he said.

Bailey said keeping the lake clean is important for attracting potential residents. Companies that are looking at relocating or setting up in Moses Lake look at what the area has to offer their employees, he said.

"Those folks come here, look at the community and look at the benefits for their employees," said Bailey. "That lake by far is one of the best benefits we have."

Foster said the quality of the lake can also either increase or decrease property values on homes on the lake. That could eventually affect the amount of tax money collected for schools and other entities, he said.