PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Charter Review Commission has asked the three county commissioners to establish a county trust lands advisory committee in the next three months.

The committee would examine the “history, issues, benefits, challenges and advantages of re-conveyance of county lands to Clallam County,” according to a letter sent to county commissioners by a majority of Charter Review Commission members Monday.

The state Department of Natural Resources manages forests and timber sales for Clallam and other counties with forest board trust lands.

Industry officials and others have criticized the agency and the forces that influence it for not availing the amount of timber that was promised in sustainable harvest calculations.

The letter was prompted by residents, many with ties to timber companies, who have asked the Charter Review Commission to consider placing a charter amendment before voters that would reconvey trust lands back to the county.

Potential amendments

The commission is considering potential charter amendments for voters to consider in the Nov. 3 general election.

Clallam is one of seven counties in the state with a home rule charter. A review of the charter takes place every eight years.

The commission is composed of five members from each of the three county commissioner districts.

The commission will continue to debate potential charter amendments at its next meeting July 20.

That meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Historically, the Charter Review Commission has taken certain issues to the voters and other issues to the Board of County Commissioners, Chairwoman Norma Turner said.

Given the complexity of the reconveyance issue, the commission recommended an advisory committee to review the legality of the transfer and discuss the idea with the DNR, state legislators and others.

If a transfer is found to be in the best interest of Clallam County, the new committee would “recommend such action as may be required to effect this change in the management of these properties,” according to the memo.

“If not in the greater interest of the county to seek re-conveyance,” the letter continues, “the committee should be tasked to provide guidance to ensure a continual engagement with the Department of Natural Resources on how it is promptly and adequately fulfilling its trust land objectives to Clallam County, its taxing districts and its citizenry.”

Turner and commission member Connie Beauvais presented the one-page letter to the Board of County Commissioners in separate public comment periods Tuesday.

The letter was transmitted by 10-4 vote of the Charter Review Commission on Monday night, said Turner, who voted no.

The purpose of reconveyance would be to “more actively manage these lands to generate a better return, to refine harvest plans so that income flows are predictable as well as sustainable, and to demonstrate to the taxpayers an effective management strategy,” the letter says.

“This would also enhance the potential for family wage jobs in Clallam County as well as to provide added assurances to investors in facilities that manufacture forest products.”

County commissioners did not discuss the merits of the letter in their Tuesday meeting. Board Chairman Jim McEntire was absent because he was serving on the state Board of Natural Resources in Olympia.

The letter on reconveyance was originally approved by the Charter Review Commission on May 4, Beauvais said.

The vote Monday was to send the letter immediately rather than package it with other recommendations to the board.

Save jobs

“If we can save even two jobs by taking action earlier on this, then it is totally worth it,” Beauvais said.

“As a private citizen, I am very concerned about our job opportunities, shall I say, out west,” she added.

“I know that our mills have closed basically because of a lack of timber supply and a reliable, sustainable harvest out there.”

The Interfor sawmill in Beaver and planer mill in Forks closed last year.

Allen Logging Co. planned to shut down its West End mill this month.

County commissioners

In other news from the three-hour meeting Monday, a motion to ask voters whether the number of county commissioners should be changed from three to five failed by a 9-5 vote.

But a motion to ask voters whether county commissioners should be elected by district passed 10-4.

Presently, a commissioners race is decided by district in the primary and countywide in the general election.

Voters this November also will be asked whether the county charter should be amended to allow 120 days to gather signatures for initiatives and referendums rather than the current 90 days.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.