How these two Republican ideologues sleep at night is beyond me. They are turning the county into a laboratory of cruelty. I refuse to believe that this is acceptable to the vast majority of people in our beautiful county. It’s also embarrassing. If you enjoy watching these two beat up people, stay for the show, bring popcorn. If you don’t, get involved, show up and vote. They’re depending on you to give up. Don’t.
Sad to see that Arne Mortensen and Richard Dahl are so disconnected that they did not do their due diligence and check the facts. Here are the facts - the flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
I called the county on Jan 6, 2022 at the first sight of a problem with the clogged drainage ditch across from our home. After several phone calls alerting the county to the seriousness of the issue, they left it unchecked for 24 hours. By that time, we were unable to traverse our driveway due to the excessive damage.
After submiting the Tort form to the County Risk Pool with detailed documentation, witness statements and pictures; my claim was denied, and I quote "Based on the information we received we cannot find that the water damage to your driveway was caused by county negligence. The Hooper Culvert was never plugged and remained fully functional during the flood event of January 6, 2022. The county does not own the property the water came from during the flooding event."
I am disgused by the lack of effort county employees put into reviewing my case. Their reference to the Hooper Rd. culvert never being clogged tells me they did NOT properly review the clean communications I repeatedly submitted to their offices.
Fun facts! During the Board of Commissioners meeting, it's mentioned that the damage was to a cement and gravel walkway. According to this article the owner is claiming that her driveway was damaged. Her property is adjacent to Abernathy Creek.
The flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
Thanks for opining on this. I see that the DN has also responded, in one of its rare editorials. When I started reporting in 1978, I was surprised to learn just how much city and county funding originates from the state and federal government. Would the commissioners refuse outside funding for roads and the sheriff's office?
I got a very negative response from Mortenson including right wing references. In addition, he forwarded another person’s email and his responses so I could get more right wing info. I’m not sure it’s legal for a government official to send me someone else’s email like that.
I do not pander to the public, so whether you voted for me is irrelevant to the issue.
Over the decades since 1965 we have spent $23 trillion on the war on poverty, and we have more poverty and more issues and more government employees than ever before. This is not a coincidence.
History is replete with experiments such as the massive welfare programs we have, and all have ended in disaster. I recommend that you read some of Thomas Sowell, Mises, Hayek, Gibbons, Rothbard, etc. What is appalling is the request by people to use the government to take from their neighbors and the future generations for purposes other than defense of rights, as outlined in the Constitutions.
I will forward you my response to a previous email that addresses more detail. Be particularly aware that what you read in the paper is only part of the story at best. In this case, one omission is that the person already has the sidewalk fixed.
I am appalled.at your decision to deny state emergency grant funds to someone who qualified. I understand Mr. Weber was the only one with the common sense to vote against denying it. Volunteers, churches and community organizations are already taking care of things you won’t, like the homeless camp. You are putting too much burden on the local community to deny these funds which were already appropriated and this woman met the qualifications. You don’t need to micromanage everything.
I did not, and will never vote for either Mr. Mortenson or Mr. Dahl. Your thinking doesn’t help our county, but hinders it.
So, Arne believes that using tax dollars (or, as he states 'taking from your neighbors') for anything other than 'defense' is unconstitutional? So long libraries, roads, food safety, healthcare, social security, fire/police, our society. Truly a dangerous dork. When is his term up and who'll replace him?
His term is up in 2024. He represents the Castle Rock area, so we need someone from there to oppose him. This is his second 4 year term although he originally said he’d only serve one term.
I’m sorry. I got them reversed. Rick Dahl is north county and Arne is south. There’s no difference in their political views. Dahl bites with Mortenson.
Sad to see that Arne Mortensen and Richard Dahl are so disconnected that they did not do their due diligence and check the facts. Here are the facts - the flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
How these two Republican ideologues sleep at night is beyond me. They are turning the county into a laboratory of cruelty. I refuse to believe that this is acceptable to the vast majority of people in our beautiful county. It’s also embarrassing. If you enjoy watching these two beat up people, stay for the show, bring popcorn. If you don’t, get involved, show up and vote. They’re depending on you to give up. Don’t.
Sad to see that Arne Mortensen and Richard Dahl are so disconnected that they did not do their due diligence and check the facts. Here are the facts - the flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
I called the county on Jan 6, 2022 at the first sight of a problem with the clogged drainage ditch across from our home. After several phone calls alerting the county to the seriousness of the issue, they left it unchecked for 24 hours. By that time, we were unable to traverse our driveway due to the excessive damage.
After submiting the Tort form to the County Risk Pool with detailed documentation, witness statements and pictures; my claim was denied, and I quote "Based on the information we received we cannot find that the water damage to your driveway was caused by county negligence. The Hooper Culvert was never plugged and remained fully functional during the flood event of January 6, 2022. The county does not own the property the water came from during the flooding event."
I am disgused by the lack of effort county employees put into reviewing my case. Their reference to the Hooper Rd. culvert never being clogged tells me they did NOT properly review the clean communications I repeatedly submitted to their offices.
Fun facts! During the Board of Commissioners meeting, it's mentioned that the damage was to a cement and gravel walkway. According to this article the owner is claiming that her driveway was damaged. Her property is adjacent to Abernathy Creek.
The flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
Thanks for opining on this. I see that the DN has also responded, in one of its rare editorials. When I started reporting in 1978, I was surprised to learn just how much city and county funding originates from the state and federal government. Would the commissioners refuse outside funding for roads and the sheriff's office?
I got a very negative response from Mortenson including right wing references. In addition, he forwarded another person’s email and his responses so I could get more right wing info. I’m not sure it’s legal for a government official to send me someone else’s email like that.
What were some of the right wing references?
Ms. Patterson,
I do not pander to the public, so whether you voted for me is irrelevant to the issue.
Over the decades since 1965 we have spent $23 trillion on the war on poverty, and we have more poverty and more issues and more government employees than ever before. This is not a coincidence.
History is replete with experiments such as the massive welfare programs we have, and all have ended in disaster. I recommend that you read some of Thomas Sowell, Mises, Hayek, Gibbons, Rothbard, etc. What is appalling is the request by people to use the government to take from their neighbors and the future generations for purposes other than defense of rights, as outlined in the Constitutions.
I will forward you my response to a previous email that addresses more detail. Be particularly aware that what you read in the paper is only part of the story at best. In this case, one omission is that the person already has the sidewalk fixed.
Best wishes,
Arne
-----Original Message-----
From: Gina Patterson <gpatterson1300@msn.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 12:48 PM
To: Mortensen, Arne <MortensenA@cowlitzwa.gov>; Weber, Dennis <WeberD@cowlitzwa.gov>; Richard Dahl <dahlr@cowlitzwa.gov>
Cc: Gina Patterson <gpatterson1300@msn.com>
Subject: Emergency grant
I am appalled.at your decision to deny state emergency grant funds to someone who qualified. I understand Mr. Weber was the only one with the common sense to vote against denying it. Volunteers, churches and community organizations are already taking care of things you won’t, like the homeless camp. You are putting too much burden on the local community to deny these funds which were already appropriated and this woman met the qualifications. You don’t need to micromanage everything.
I did not, and will never vote for either Mr. Mortenson or Mr. Dahl. Your thinking doesn’t help our county, but hinders it.
So, Arne believes that using tax dollars (or, as he states 'taking from your neighbors') for anything other than 'defense' is unconstitutional? So long libraries, roads, food safety, healthcare, social security, fire/police, our society. Truly a dangerous dork. When is his term up and who'll replace him?
His term is up in 2024. He represents the Castle Rock area, so we need someone from there to oppose him. This is his second 4 year term although he originally said he’d only serve one term.
Dahl represents the castle rock area. Mortensen reps the woodland and Kalama areas
I’m sorry. I got them reversed. Rick Dahl is north county and Arne is south. There’s no difference in their political views. Dahl bites with Mortenson.
Sad to see that Arne Mortensen and Richard Dahl are so disconnected that they did not do their due diligence and check the facts. Here are the facts - the flooding damage was to my gravel driveway being washed out due to county negligence. It is apparent that not only was the County negligent, they were responsible for worsening an already bad situation with the diversion of water thru their engineered culvert/drainage system down the hillside from Hooper Road to Abernathy Creek Road. The culvert the county installed that runs under Hooper Rd. was dumping 1000’s of gallons of water cascading down the hillside over the 24 hours left unchecked, into the culver/drainage ditch across the road from my property that was already clogged and overflowing. The reason for the drainage ditch being clogged is that the county doesn't clear all the drainage ditches of the fallen leaves and deciduous material until late Spring/early Summer.
In the other person’s email, he referred to Davy Crockett and Groucho Marx.