Tag: issues

Manson creates a One Voice Coalition to address numerous issues

by Richard Uhlhorn

Manson’s One Voice Coalition held its first public meetings on March 20/21. The coalition is a combination of the following organizations:

  • Manson Community Council
  • Manson Chamber of Commerce
  • Manson’s Historic Main Street Association
Manson Chamber of Commerce Director Timi Starkweather opened the One Voice Coalition meeting on March 20 at the Northshore Church.

Chamber director Timi Starkweather began the meeting by saying, “We are here to shape the community for the next five, ten, 20 years.”

Kim Ustanik heads up the new Main Street Association in Manson. Kim has been an active member of the Manson Chamber since its inception.

Kim Ustanik is heading up the Historic Main Street Association. “It’s a place we are creating,” said Ustanik. The primary goal of the association is to preserve the historic nature of Manson.

MIke Kirk is currently the interim chairman of the Manson Community Council. The five person council is shy two members.

Mike Kirk, Manson Community Council’s interim chairman added that the coalition is a unique chance to address Manson’s priorities.

The main purpose of this coalition is to bring the community together to:

  • Build systems that will support healthy growth in Manson
  • Provide places within the community that create tangible value
  • Support business that will broaden economic opportunities.
  • Tell stories that will attract meaningful investments.
The first meeting was well attended by interested residents.

The first meeting was well attended and the coalition’s consultant Dan Eernisser took up most of the time going over the coalition’s potential direction before turning it over to the public attending for their thoughts. (Note: people need to learn how to use a microphone).

Dan Eernisser, Eernisser Consulting has been hired to help lead Manson through the issues facing the community.

Eernisser asked that the attendees use the sticky note pads to write down their desires for the Manson community and paste them to a wall provided. This generated 10 pages of desires which are summarized below:

Roads:
Over the past several years, the Manson Community Council and residents have been discussing road conditions around Manson, in particular, Wapato Way through the downtown corridor. Speeding cars and commercial trucks during harvest are the biggest complaint by residents living on Wapato Way.

Those attending this meeting specifically stated that truck routes, road improvements and vehicle capacity on Hwy. 150 need to be addressed.

Priorities:
Community priorities include lighting, murals, gateway signage, preserving the historic district, adding more outdoor seating, developing pocket parks and looking towards the County and State for funding opportunities.

Parking:
Parking is a problem in both Manson and Chelan, particularly during the summer months. Attendees want parking availability increased in the downtown area for residents and tourists.

Non-Motorized Traffic:
Everyone was concerned about sidewalk safety. Bike trails and the Northshore Pathway was mentioned more than once.

The Northshore Pathway is being studied once again by the Chelan/Douglas Transportation Council. The pathway would offer an alternative way to travel between Manson and Chelan.

In addition, someone mentioned opening up the old flume line in the Manson Project as a way for residents and visitors to access the variety of wineries, cider houses and other amenities in the area. (Problem… orchardists are against this idea because of spray drift and other concerns.”

Water Taxi:
There is a lot of interest in the possibility of having a water taxi operating in the Wapato Basin. The Boat Company is rumored to be studying this option of travel.

In addition, residents would like to see a Manson stop for the Lady of the Lake or Express. Years ago, the Lady of the Lake stopped in Manson to pick up passengers on the way to Stehekin.

Residents would love to see a non-motorized kayak/paddleboard launch in Manson.

Other issues:
There were many ideas proposed at the meeting including:

  • Cultural history, i.e. apple history available for visitors to learn about Manson’s history.
  • More parks
  • Consistent participation from the County in Manson issues
  • Revamp of the Urban Growth Area
  • Incorporation
  • Development of healthy shoulder seasons.
  • Promote Echo Valley/Echo Ridge year round.
  • Develop an indoor swimming opportunity for residents

Tangible Values:
Farmers Market expansion and development of an indoor market for year round operation

Events:
Events drive business. Manson has several successful events that help merchants. Winterfest and the Lake Chelan Hydro-Fest are two of the annual events that take place.

5-litre hydro planes race to the start/finish line for the start of their race at the annual Lake Chelan Hydrofest.

Residents asked for more spaces for community events and the inclusion of Sports events that would draw outside teams to play in Manson tournaments

Ag-tourism:
Offer farm visits… With the apple industry in a steep decline, this will require some serious attention. Manson has a full-on farm offering many opportunities for visitors to learn about farming. Also Manson Growers offers tours of its production lines and its new business Cider Press offers cider pressing and locally produced foods.

6,500 acres of apple, pear and cherry orchards, and grape vineyards make up the Manson Agricultural Project on the north shore of Lake Chelan.

There was one note that stated that Manson has too many wineries and not enough food options.

Next Meeting:
The next meeting of the group will meet on Thursday evening, June 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and then again on Friday morning, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Join the RESTORE THE BEACH Event this Saturday at 9:30 to 11:30.
For more information go to http://www.Keepitbluelakechelan.org

Poll results from Community forum indicate issues most important to Manson residents

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by Richard Uhlhorn

Community Forum results:
Chris Willoughby, vice-chair of the Manson Community Council, reported to his colleagues at Tuesday’s council meeting, that the Manson Community Forum was extremely successful.

“I’ve been getting feedback and most people want to continue to do this,” said Willoughby. “It worked really well.”

The Community Forum held at the Grange in Manson, had 93 people in attendance to get information from each agency and organization operating in the community. They heard reports of on-going project activity from the council; Manson Chamber of Commerce; Manson Parks Department and Fire District No. 5.

Chris Willoughby, vice chairman of the Council reported the results of the poll taken after the recent Community Forum that was attended by 93 residents and interested individuals.

In addition to the meeting, a poll was available for the public to rank issues based on community importance. Willoughby’s written report to the Council stated the forum was a great way to get information out to a larger group who didn’t have the time to attend each groups meetings.

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Following are the survey results from the Manson Community Forum ranked in order of importance:

  • Traffic flow into and out of Manson on Highway 150. (This is also a major transportation issue in Chelan.).
  • Affordable housing. (Affordable Housing is another major issue in the Valley. No affordable housing for local residents is forcing them to relocate).
  • Protecting Agriculture lands and ag based opportunities. (Small family farms are finding it increasingly tough to stay in business because of regulations, increasing costs and low or not profits off the ag products. This is forcing many struggling to farm to sell their land which then becomes developed sub-divisions.}.
  • Rising property taxes and assessments. (Many residents in the valley are complaining about rising property taxes.)
  • Creating ag business opportunities. (agritourism, adding value added products to the farms or other means to increase sustainability of the valley’s agricultural base.).In
  • Youth activities during non-school hours.

Several other issues lower on the scale of importance included Incorporation of Manson, Lake Chelan Water Quality, Downtown business diversity, Crime and Drug concerns and Transit expansion into more remote areas of the community.

It was suggested that the Council hold a Community Forum quarterly. A date for that meeting will be decided on in the near future.

Colville Tribe Project:
It was reported that the proposed Coville Casino/Resort project has grown to a one-quarter of a billion dollar facility with a conference center. “We should ask them to come and address us,” said Kari Sorenson. “The project keeps getting larger.”

Bob Goedde, Chelan City Council liaison with Manson, said that there was a conference meeting with the Colville’s last week and that Mayor Erin McCardle reported to the Council that the project was on hold indefinitely until the Tribe’s Tri Cities project was completed.

In other business:
Kari Sorenson brought up the right-of-way issue on Pedoi Street. “I still have an issue of the wall in the middle of the right-of-way,” she said. Mike Kirk suggested she ask the county engineer about it. Willoughby replied that neighbors down the street were asking why they were being affected but not the property owners who have the wall.

Right of Way infringement on Pedoi Street is being addressed by Chelan County. One major issue is the home with a concrete wall built over the right of way and residents are wondering what the County plans on doing about it.

“There are some things there that need to be addressed,” said Willoughby

Kari Sorenson and Chris Willoughby were confronted by the home owner about parking in front of their home despite the fact that is on Community property and open to parking.

NOTE: After the council meeting an altercation between the homeowner, Sorenson and Willoughby took place in front of his home. Since his property is on a public street, vehicles are allowed to park adjacent to the illegal wall. The issue is probably going to heat up in the future.

Candidate forum:
It was suggested that the council host a Candidate Forum in September with those candidates still in the November race for elected positions. Locations being considered are the Performing Arts Center or Riverwalk Park. “Let’s put it up to the candidates and if they can’t show, they can’t show,” said Sorenson. The date for the forum was set for Thursday, September 17 with a time and venue to be announced later.

Our Valley – Our Future:
John Olson brought up the on-going Lake Chelan Vision Project and asked everyone to take the community survey. Goedde said the Council needs to ask Mayor McCardle to include them. “It’s more of a ‘What works now and what worked when you were younger… more of a philosophical event,” said Goedde.

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Northshore Pathway update:
Apparently, the Northshore Pathway project has been taken over by the Chelan/Douglas County Transportation Council. The next meeting of the transportation council will be in August. “At some point I’d like to see them open it to the public,” stated Willoughby.

Mike Kirk brought up the need for the Manson Community Council to live stream its meetings. Sorenson stated they had tried in the past but couldn’t get it to work. “It needs someone more technologically advanced than I am,” she said. “I’m out of it.”

Kirk also stated that the Council needs some sort of website where a database and email functions can be used. Willoughby added that a website would help to get community members on board. He suggested that they look at IONOS as a domain and website possibility.

Manson Fire preparation:
Willoughby said that strike teams have been going through the Manson neighborhoods and looking at structural integrity and risks. “They have been evaluating the area for fire”

Singleton Park in Manson is now the home of firefighters working the Pioneer Fire.

Evacuation protocols were also being explored because of the one road in and one road out. “It would not be viable with resources coming and residents trying to get out. Most fire management types feel that Manson residents would be safe at the high school or other downtown locations from any fire that might enter north Manson.