March 1990
A message from your president - the 1990's by Lee Bayley
This is such a beautiful time of year of you have an opportunity to be at Deer Lake. The past few weeks have seen a winter's portion of snowfall around the shoreline. It provides such a peaceful and serene feeling that once you have seen Deer Lake in the wintertime you can understand the charm that has attracted so many people to live on the lake year around - such peace and tranquility!
It is these residents that I hope will come forward and become more involved in our community - to work side by side with their neighbors to better our lifestyle and to preserve the beauty that we enjoy so that these blessings may be passed on to our children. To preserve this beauty will take the continued concern and interest of all residents of Deer Lake. We definitely are not large enough that we need two separate and diverse groups going in a parallel course and not getting together. Yet we are not so big that one group can accomplish much without the cooperative effort of others. We all should be on the same team and there is plenty of room for more volunteers. I do not know what concerns the Concerned Citizens have for the coming years, but I do know that have shown energy and leadership that would be beneficial for all property owners. There are upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors of DLPOA and we would like to invite anyone to be a candidate for that Board. We have so much talent to share: Can you help us out?
As our community continues to grow, and growth we cannot stop, the growth must be such that other's freedoms are not deprived. The lake is the sole source of our existence here. None of us would be together as we are, if our bond was not Deer Lake. The lake itself and the environment around it is what supports our constant diligence to wanting to preserve what we have. That same bond brings people together for the first time and forms lasting friendships that remain through time.
Our reward is renewing that friendship every time we return to the lake.
During the next decade we will see a completed sewer system; an established set of reasonable building parameters; a completed water system for all of us, that we may have safe drinking water; and we should even have cable television. It is not too hard to imagine a wild life preserve at the head of the narrows, and by the year 2000 a paved road circumventing the lake along with some bicycle and walking paths. Many of these predictions will need the continued efforts of all of us for them to come in to existence. Some will take priority of course, others will also come into conception. We need everyone's input. Can we count on yours?
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Emergency Services Report by Jerry Linton
Deer Lake Fire Department
Quetta Collin, Fire Chief at the Deer Lake Fire Department for the last ten years, recently made a decision to step down and let someone else take over the duties of being the Fire Chief. Quetta said that when she accepted the position nearly ten years ago, that she had no real experience and still decided to take over the job as Fire Chief, and at that time there were only two other full time volunteers, Charles Barker and Gorge Wagnon, and one part timer, Les Schneider. Under Quetta's guidance the department has grown to fifteen volunteers at one time and as of now the total is eleven. During her stay, the department has gradually increased its amount and quality of fire fighting equipment. This certainly has been no easy task because the additional equipment had to be approved by the Stevens County Fire Commissioners and Quetta certainly did everything possible at the many meetings she attended with the Fire Commissioners, to make this possible Along with acquiring additional equipment Quetta was also involved with the continual upgrading of training, which involved training sessions of various kinds. Some of this training material, films, etc was offered through the Washington State Training Association, also through Stevens County, also a course in "Handling Hazardous Materials" given in Spokane, and also "Hands ON" training which is a training session in burning a particular building and getting experience from fighting the fire.
Probably the most significant accomplishment that Quetta and her department have achieved is the completion of the addition to the Deer Lake Fire Station. Certainly a lot of time and effort was involved struggling with the Fire Commissioners for several years to gain approval for the addition.
We all want to thank Quetta and her people once again for their achievements. The people that worked on the addition did an excellent job and we all are extremely proud of these people, and our new addition. Quetta said that she enjoyed working with her personnel and that it was a great experience, and that the department is always looking for more help.
We are sad that Quetta is leaving the department after the tremendous job that she has done.
Fire Department Auxiliary
Quetta Collin has decided to form an auxiliary around Deer Lake. She recently decided that she no longer could remain as the fire chief of the DLFD. She would like to continue to help the department by supporting it with fund raising projects, like the pancake feed held in July. There are various other things that she has in mind to assist the Fire Department. For instance, doing work projects at the fire station, clean up at the station, anything that will help the department. Auxiliary members would do many things that the department personnel would normally spend time doing. This would allow the department to focus on more important things such as training, etc.
Barker Heads Fire Department
Ken Barker, the previous assistant to Quetta Collin, will take over as Fire Chief. Ken had six years experience with the fire department in Kirkland, Washington as a volunteer, and has been with the Deer Lake Fire Department about six and a half years. We are fortunate to have a well qualified, aggressive person like Ken as Fire Chief. I'm sure Ken will do everything possible to continue on and do good things for the department.
Randy Scott will replace Ken as assistant Fire Chief. Randy has been with the department about one and a half years. He is a fireman and EMT.
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Pollution Solutions, Education Committee by Virg Gering
Phosphate Detergents
We have all read about the wave of phosphate detergent bans that has been sweeping the Northwest. Spokane and CdA have joined in the bans. Stevens County is considering it. Phosphorus is the trigger element which, when combined with nitrogen, causes the algae blooms we have seen in the past several years. Representatives of the phosphate industry, primarily in southern Idaho, have lobbied unsuccessfully against the bans. One of the primary reasons that the bans have been successful is that it has not been proven that phosphates are essential in getting clothes clean. The sentiment therefore, lines up with the other side. The phosphate detergent ban seems to follow a growing ecological awareness and a common sense realization that we must all take some individual responsibility for polluting the planet. Another point in favor of the ban is the easy enforcement of the law. Many times laws are passed without appropriating the funds for enforcement and justice. With the phosphate ban, the wholesalers will simply not carry the phosphate products and compliance is easily accomplished.
Fertilizers
Another source of phosphorus entering the lake is via lawn fertilizers. Although the EWU study pointed out that septic tanks, drain fields and outhouses contribute the major load of nutrients into the lake fertilizers from lawns are also playing a part in the accelerating eutrophication of the lake. Please limit the amount of fertilizer that you apply. Do not use fertilizer with phosphorus. Cut down on the size of your lawn with landscaping. Do not over water, since this washes the chemicals into the lake.
Diving for Trash
If you have not been skin diving (snorkeling) in Deer Lake, I have a surprise for you. The bottom of the lake is covered with trash. Bottles and cans make up the bulk of the garbage. Near the resort areas the garbage is especially heavy. Much of this is the accumulation of fifty plus years of indiscriminate and careless dumping into the lake. The most effective (and fun) means of removing the trash is by diving for it. Children who visit your lake cabin will have a great time diving for bottles and cans. Some very old bottles and an assortment of fishing tackle are always found. In addition to the swim time, mask and snorkel, you will also need at least two floating diver's flags. This flag is red with a diagonal stripe. Keep close to the flag or tether it to your waist with a cord. Boats which accompany the divers or snorkelers must also display a diver's flag. Avoid areas that have a heavy boat traffic on weekends. It is best to snorkel on week days when the boat traffic is light.
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New Postal Addresses by Lorinda Travis, Postmaster
Work is currently underway to assign street addresses to residents within the 99148 zip code area. Its been several years since Stevens County adopted th rural addressing system and much of the county has already been converted. Loon Lake should have street addresses by early this summer.
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The four digit mileage system used through the rest of the county does not work with 50 foot lots, so another method had to be designed. Deer Lake will have a five digit number along with the county road name for their addresses. The five digit number will be indicative of the mileage from the starting point in Colville, similar to the system used for the rest of the county. Loon Lake will incorporate their existing sewer number with the county road name to form their address.
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Sewer Project Update
In addition to the $1.5 million of low interest loan funds from the State Public Works Trust Fund Loan Program and the $500,000 Federal Community Development Block Grand Funds, which have both already been obtained, there is now serious considerations being given by the Farmers Home Administration to help fund our project. The PUD has had extensive meetings with FmHA officials over the past two months and more meetings are scheduled in the next three weeks. FmHA will make a conclusion after these meetings. There is no question that the hundreds of letters sent by many of you, along with the personal visits and telephone calls by some have created this interest by FmHA! Lets hope that all this effort pays off.
The final construction plans and specifications are nearly completed, and bids will be requested from contractors as soon as possible. If FmHA does contribute funds to the sewer projects, there will be a 30-45 day delay to allow them time to review the plans and specifications. It is hoped that you will agree that this short delay will be more than worth it, if we are successful in obtaining grant funds that will reduce your costs.
Be prepared for some inconvenience during the time construction work is being done in your area. A project of this magnitude will cause some problems for almost everyone at some point so please anticipate this and let's all work toward the common goal of completing the sewer project to help save the lake. Inspectors will be on the job and any problems should be reported by either contacting an inspector directly or by calling the PUD office.
The only property owners who now need to make provisions for providing electricity to a sewer pump are those who will have a pump; that serve their property only.