By DAVID ADAMS
Freeland Concerned Citizens
When the Low Income Housing Institute, or LIHI, of Seattle purchased the Harbor Inn Motel in Freeland more than a year and a half ago, a lot of promises were made. Unfortunately, very few of them have been kept.
After months and months of delays, mounting questions with no answers, and no homeless being served, the question must be asked of the Island County commissioners who support this disappointment, when is enough, enough?
To date, LIHI has not:
· Solved the problems associated with the motel’s septic system. That system failed twice this month.
· Abated the asbestos problems LIHI themselves identified.
· Installed water meters for each room prior to occupancy as required by the Freeland Water District.
· Obtained the required permits to complete the necessary renovations for occupancy.
LIHI has often said they want to be good neighbors but have held only two public meetings in 18 months to address the concerns of the community. The last meeting with LIHI was a complete disaster. Their staff was ill-prepared, gave empty answers and failed to address the issues citizens brought before them. Clearly, the local residents were not happy with this response and handed LIHI their “you know what.”
Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon said she wrote a lengthy letter to LIHI expressing her dismay at their performance and said not to have any additional meetings until they have answers. It has been more than six months since that meeting, and one would think they would have some answers to share by now. Apparently not!
Commissioner Bacon recently admitted the commissioners denied LIHI’s request for more public money for this project. She said the reason was LIHI’s failure to complete any part of the Harbor Inn project. The commissioners apparently have their own serious doubts about this project and have little faith in its successful completion.
The brief history of LIHI in Freeland is one of complete failure. So, when is enough, enough?
When confronted with these facts during their June 13 meeting, Commissioner Bacon suggested a letter be sent to LIHI requesting information on completion schedules. To her credit, Commissioner Jill Johnson said such a letter should be discussed at their next work session after the county health department provides a detailed report on the viability of the Inn’s septic system. Maybe now, the truth will come out!
The contract between LIHI and Island County states that if LIHI is unable to complete the project, they are to return the $1.5 million grant money back to the county. It’s been about a year and a half with no progress.
Given the nearly insurmountable problems and no end in sight for completing this project, the county commissioners must accept the obvious and cancel the contract with LIHI.
They must answer the question, “When is Enough, Enough?”
