Sullivan appeals for the suspension of Hopkins Drainage Ditch District #2

Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan appealed for the suspension of Hopkins Drainage Ditch District 2 during a county-level public hearing held Tuesday, October 18.

She cited instances in which she thought that the district acted illegally as it annexed 599 properties in The Preserve. The annexation aimed to generate $380,000 in taxes so that the district could improve its facilities to better handle stormwater runoff, especially after intense flooding in the area this January.

“The [three Hopkins Drainage Ditch District] commissioners held a secret meeting to adopt their position and had their decision to annex the Tumwater properties written out before conducting the public hearings,” Sullivan said.

“Next, the district purported to pass a $300,000 estimate of its expenses without providing the required notice to affected property owners,” Sullivan added. “This amount is based on a guess as to the possible costs needed for their operation over the next year. We know that it is a guess because they said so.”

Residents want county intervention

Tumwater residents called for Thurston County to take over the operations of Hopkins District. Anna-Lisa Schorn, president of the homeowners association in The Preserve, said that the ditch needed a bigger entity to manage flooding in the area.

“I think this is something that needs a far bigger entity to make sure that their homes aren't flooded. With its engineers and its workers and its heavy equipment, I think [Thurston County] is well versed to handle this issue so their homes won't flood anymore,” Schorn said.

 “They don't know what they're doing. They're not equipped,” said a Hopkins District resident who identified himself as Eric. “Please take them over.”

Other Hopkins District residents rejected the suspension and appealed for financial support.

“If you suspend it, it seems to me as though [Thurston County] is doing the city of Tumwater’s bidding at the expense of the 140 property owners in the county,” said Hopkins resident Vince Cotone. “The solution is to get the district some money so they can do what needs to be done.”

Hopkins resident Vicki Jacks said that Thurston County would probably not want to take over the job of managing the district. “Does the county have people that go out and catch beavers? Are they willing to do the work to contact all the people before they go on their property?” Jacks said. “I think that the right answer would be to help the ditch people with keeping it clean [and] giving [them] the means because I don't think the county wants this job.”

Hopkins District residents also testified to the effects of the intense flooding in their area this January. Hopkins District Chair Matt Jackmond has been alleging that stormwater runoff from The Preserve led to the overflowing of their area, as supported by hydrologist Joseph Brascher from Clear Creek Solutions Inc.

Sullivan rejected these claims, saying that stormwater in The Preserve flows to the Deschutes River. “The stormwater is routed to storm ponds in the area where groundwater has shown to flow to the north and the east towards the Deschutes,” she said.

Thurston County Board of Commissioners will review the testimonies made during the public hearing. County Manager Ramiro Chavez said that the board of county commissioners will deliberate with their legal counsel to determine their options regarding the possible suspension of the Hopkins District.