June 16, 1990
Your Board in Action
This past year has been a continuum of projects begun that are now starting to mature. You will read in this letter, and hear at the meeting, about the sewer project and the time table for construction. You will be happy to hear about our receiving grant money and low interest loans that will reduce our individual anticipated costs to each property owner. Credit must be given by all of us to the Stevens County PUD who with their manager and engineer, Dick Price, have taken the lead in our behalf to accomplish what we, as members, asked of them in 1988. The continued diligence of the PUD in doing what is best for the property owners has not been easy. They have had many obstacles to overcome. The biggest hurdle was to satisfy state and local agencies whose contradictory beliefs and requests led to frustrations that could defeat the most positive of ambitions thinkers. The final results are that we have received a $1.7 million grant, along with a $1.4 million loan. In addition another agency is loaning us $1.3 million at 1% interest. Coupled with last year's $500,000 Block Grant and again this year we were awarded another sizable Block Grand to go with the first. This second Block Grant will allow more low income families to receive assistance in their assessments.
Proposed Water System
An additional stroke of fortune developed when the PUD was offered an unsolicited grant of 40% of the cost to put in a water system around the portions of the lake that is not presently served. Estimated costs to accomplish this is $600,000, and it would be done simultaneously with the sewer project so that construction would be done at one time and then cleaned up. As construction starts, the disruption and inconvenience of torn up roads, dust and blasting will be aggravation for all of us. This has prompted us to accelerate the PUD into engineering a water system and writing specs for it now and going to bid along with the sewer project. This would eliminate future inconvenience in the next couple of years.
Tom Foley provides Assistance
My hat is off to the PUD and their accomplishments. I also want to publicly express my personal thanks to Congressman Tom Foley. Since DLPOA and the PUD met with his Spokane staff to request information about securing Federal monies for our sewer project through the Farmer's Home Administration, doors of opportunity have opened. Congressman Foley, We thank you for your intervention and for your help that you have, behind the scenes, given us. Without your efforts, no grants were possible.
Fire Station Completed
As most of you probably know, the addition to the Deer Lake Fire Station was completed last summer. The additional room allowed for better training facilities. Also our congratulations to our new fire chief, Ken Barker. And our heart-felt thanks to Quetta Collin who fulfilled that volunteer job for the past 10 years. Quetta, you were superb and we all appreciate you and all the firemen who volunteer so much of their time to protect and to serve the Deer Lake community. Remember folks, they do not even get an adequate reimbursement for expenses.
Zoning and Planning
Last year at this time we reported to you that we felt we were close to a conclusion of a Deer Lake Planning District Zoning Ordinance. However, slower times prevailed with many other interruptions including a proposed Deer Lake City movement which failed for lack of enough signatures on the petition to make it valid. There were many other serious concerns that were never discussed. I personally have heard of no more efforts along this line but I am sure similar thoughts will surface in which your input will be necessary. But back to the Planning District - our advisory committee of interested property owners was appointed to develop insight into forming a Planning District. After many committee meetings during the winter, a first draft was presented to the Stevens County Planning Commission in April and was scheduled for a hearing on May 23. The hearing was held at the Loon Lake School and more input was given to Hal Heart, the Stevens County Planning Administrator. A revised plan will be presented to the Planning Commission on June 14. If this plan is approved it will then go to the County Commissioners for final acceptance and approval.
Once this final hurdle is taken, the DLPOA Committee of Ed Sweet, Leroy Johnson, Howard Wohrle, Lee Bayley, Clair Jones, Bill Paton, and Ed Deeble will present to the Planning Commission a proposed Zoning Ordinance. The intent of the Planning District and the Zoning Ordinance is not to stifle development or construction, while at the same time does not encourage development, but sets into place rules and regulations that insures future growth will be planned so that your privacy, the Deer Lake environment and water quality, etc will not be sacrificed. This will be crucial when a sewer system is in place and more land will be developed.
The Planning District encompasses the complete watershed of Deer Lake, with three distinct regions: