Who has responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of fencing that surrounds a “water quality filter” zone? In question is the unsightly stretch of fencing on the south side of Northwest Bliss Road, just west of Northwest 21st Ave. This portion of the fence, which happens to be the most visible to neighbors and traffic, could use a good power-washing and a coat of paint.
It’s one of those local government mysteries. Our own neighborhood investigation has not been able to pinpoint (among local Clark County agencies) who has ownership. We do see worker bees in there occasionally, mowing, etc. Most of these zones have metal fencing around them — far more maintainable than wooden ones that need constant upkeep. A little explanation of who owns what would be helpful.– Ann Foster, North Salmon Creek
Having just studied a situation in Brush Prairie where an inactive homeowner association let its stormwater drainage pond go wild with weeds (see the In Your Neighborhood items in today’s paper), this reporter was willing to guess the property belonged to a similarly dormant group of citizens. There are approximately 1,000 county-owned stormwater facilities in the county and another 1,000 private ones that are supposed to be maintained by homeowner associations, according to the county’s clean water program sustainability specialist, Cary Amstrong. But homeowner associations often go quiet, and their common spaces sometimes get neglected.
Wrong: This little slice of real estate is county property.
“It is a Clark County-owned stormwater facility and a Clark County-owned fence,” said Armstrong.
So how about repainting it? Well, here’s where current economic realities come in. The county doesn’t have a lot of extra dough for aesthetic upkeep of this nature, Armstrong said. Not right now.
