Regarding Poulsbo city officials’ intent to increase Stormwater Utility rates, I am somewhat confused on their justification for doing so.

The Department of Ecology identifies “fecal coliform (FC)” as “waste from humans and other warm-blooded animals.” The presence of FC in Liberty Bay coming from Dogfish Creek, Poulsbo Creek and others would not seem to be a result of this type of waste coming from the “impervious” areas located at the school district sites, Walmart, Home Depot and various apartment complexes.

Subsequently, to further penalize these taxpayers, as well as other residents within the city limits, seems out of line. Perhaps government officials should look to the owners of horses, cows and other farm animals along Dogfish Creek and charge them for clean-up efforts since one needs only to drive Big Valley Road and observe the numerous piles of “waste” decaying in the pastures and filtering into the stream.

Within the city, perhaps they should look to dog owners immediately adjacent to the stream. Of course, there are the many residential sites surrounding the bay which have for years filtered septic systems into the groundwater, which subsequently reaches the bay. Maybe there should be an increased and/or annual fee charged to septic system owners to pay for assisting clean-up of our water resources.

Priorities — perhaps city officials should use their finances to cover current obligations rather than, as an example, waste $450,000 on a roundabout that was not necessary. Those of us on the sewage treatment system should not have to continue to carry the burden of environmental issues such as this.

Paul Tweiten
Poulsbo