During the July 19 Federal Way City Council meeting, Brian Wilson, Federal Way’s Chief of Staff, indicated that the Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club, the owner of Lake Jeane, had a new plan and permit to treat Lake Jeane in 2016. Phil Matonti, the club’s VP, referenced the permit in a letter that appeared in the Aug. 5 Mirror. The following information clarifies pertinent perspectives, the proposed plan and applicable questions.
First, the 2016 water samples were taken at significant scum sites by the residents, as were the photos. Several photos were provided via email by Don Smith in July to Matonti to be shared with the club’s leadership.
Second, the validity of the sampling was challenged because of previous permit activity sponsored by me. The Twin Lakes HOA board assumed I’d indicated that I was a member of the Board, but I’d only indicated I was a member of the HOA and that the lakeside residents were a subset (40 of 1,356) of the total members of the HOA.
Third, the signage explanation mentioned by Matonti was misleading. The posting is required by state guidelines to be posted by local health officials or the owner of the lake. It is a required action, not a voluntary action, when measurable toxic conditions exist.
Fourth, the garbage analogy was presented as an example of a current public nuisance ordinance provision. The intent was to demonstrate that no action for a garbage pile was similar to no action being taken to control hazardous blue-green algae on the lake.
Fifth, the effort to seek resolution to the lack of action by the club’s leadership for the toxic conditions began in April 2015. The quest of the residents’ designated representatives to meet and discuss with the club board was rejected — a missed opportunity to actually communicate!
Sixth, in recent years, the club has not demonstrated the actions of a good shepherd for Lake Jeane or a good neighbor in Twin Lakes. As the “owner” of the lake, the club has not used its existing permit to protect its closest neighbors from exposure to hazardous circumstances.
Lastly, the proposed permitted action requested by the club in 2016 is faulty. The proposal calls for a one-time limited treatment to only a small portion of the lake (5 percent of the 10-acre lake).
The intent is to experimentally demonstrate a reduction of the scum’s odor. Such an experiment is not adequate after three years of delayed reaction because 95 percent of the lake will remain untreated and subject to toxic conditions for the remainder of the 2016 summer season. The club seems to consider the limited experiment to be the only path forward. The demonstrated research can actually be proven if conducted on the club’s No. 3 pond, which is also plagued by the same toxic conditions as Lake Jeane.
Questions remain: Is it to be expected that the Lake Jeane residents must continue to abide by the club’s and the city’s decisions to allow health-hazard conditions to exist at each lakeside back door? How is the city going to address this unnecessary residential blight versus tolerating the current status quo?
What is the specific advice offered by the city’s elected officials to the Lake Jeane lakeside residents if no action is taken by the City during this 2016 summer season?
This matter has been before the City Council since February.
Lake Jeane residents are awaiting specific answers from city officials! When will they be provided?
Bob Woolley, Federal Way
