Editor,
Eric Temple, in his latest letter to the editor sent to The Columbian, claimed that the actions of the various agencies are a “witch hunt.” The statement highlights that Mr. Temple has a very casual relationship with the truth. Mr. Temple owns a private company that has signed a lease with the county to provide a service. If any individual, or other company, contracting with the county cleared and graded the land, brought in fill dirt and rock, filled the wetlands, choked off the creeks all without permits, that individual or company should be quickly shut down and have sanctions imposed. Mr. Temple’s company has engaged in all of that unpermitted conduct. The various agencies have advised him on numerous occasions of the need for permits, plans and his obligations to restore the damage he has caused. Yet, so far, he has ignored those directives.
Since March, the residents of the Barberton area have made phone calls to the county permit and code enforcement department. Yet, the County has taken no action to hold Mr. Temple accountable under the lease agreement, and we residents are left to wonder why our elected officials seem to want to grant Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad a free pass despite overwhelming evidence of blatant misconduct to the contrary.
