POULSBO — Logging of the proposed high school site in Kingston could begin as early as Aug. 9, a date which would not only give the district to get seven weeks of site development in this year but breathing room on its time line to open the school by 2006 as well.
Washington Timberland Management, based in Union, has been awarded the contract of clearing the 22.5 acres of mixed forest at the West Kingston Road site. The school board approved the hiring by a 5-0 vote, at a special session July 28.
The contract with Timberland is somewhat unique for the district, which usually doesn’t receive revenue on its construction projects. The NKSD will get 53 percent of the funds generated by the lumber with 47 percent going to Timberland. The logging company has also agreed that whatever the revenue, a $5,000 “guaranteed base” payment will be made.
The school district recently received (CUP) application from the county, with an appeal period for the permit ending Aug. 4. If no appeals have been made by that date, the CUP will go into effect and the district can then receive the Forestry Practices Permit. If all goes well, Capital Programs Director Robin Shoemaker said the Union-based company can begin work as early as Aug. 9.
“(Timberland) is ready to begin work as soon as we can get a permit,” Shoemaker commented.
She acknowledged to the board that the schedule is contingent upon a tight set of parameters and may run into trouble depending upon if appeals to the CUP are made or other outside factors.
“Obviously, this (time line) assumes a few things,” Shoemaker said. “But it’s been that way all along.”
Board member Dan Delaney, who has mentioned on more than one occasion that the logging be limited and not excessive, echoed his concerns at the July 28 meeting. Shoemaker reassured Delaney that members from the district and the county would be present at times during the logging and that Timberland is aware of the sensitivity to trees on the property.
“We’ve walked the site with them and it’s well marked,” Shoemaker said. “I think if they go beyond what they’re supposed to do, there will be a penalty.”
