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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew Business /✓l k/ Bt.>5('a s5 / `21' r. 4 fP�'r{r/' 10,eit'�'�5 T,n`7y Julia Medzegian {' From: Ruth Perez Sent: Monday, January 28, 2019 5:28 PM To: Julia Medzegian Subject: Fwd: Cedar Grove Smells Update Attachments: image001jpg Could you please print this chain of emails? Thank you Begin forwarded message: From: Cristie Champlin <callcristie@comcast.net> Date: January 23, 2019 at 10:13:33 PM PST To: "Gregg A. Zimmerman" <Gzimmerman@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Ruth Perez <RPerez@Rentonwa.gov>, "Linda R. Knight" <Lknight@Rentonwa.gov>, Robert Harrison <RHarrison@Rentonwa.gov>, "Julia Medzegian" <Jmedzegian@Rentonwa.gov>, Diane Dobson<dmd821 @aol.com>, <kathy.lambert @ kingcounty.gov> Subject: Re: Cedar Grove Smells Update Hello, I'm truly disappointed to see that HB 1167....actually has media attention and is closer than ever to pass that is NOT what I was told.... I really hope that Renton Council Members take this very seriously and protect their constituents. - Cedar Grove is IMMORAL in how they run their business. This is SOCIAL INJUSTICE. I WON'T STAND FOR IT...AND MANY OTHERS ARE LISTENING...AND SUPPORTING OUR CAUSE. THE CITIZENS IN RENTON DESERVE BETTER!!!! We are one of the richest counties in the NATION...and we are fighting this issue???? Unbelievable. https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/suing-a-compost-facility-could-get- tougher-in-washington-state/281-b0a9547e-e4a0-47f2-a0b3-45309d3fd654Cristie Champlin Mortgage Originator NMLS ID#131339 NMLS#2239 Mortgage Right-Lynnwood,WA Cell-425-417-6088 1 On Jan 22, 2019, at 6:54 PM, Cristie Champlin<callcristie@comcast.net> wrote: Hi Gregg, Thank you, very much, for your response this evening. Although I appreciate your recommendation of the "hotline" for Cedar Grove....I will share my past experience with you on that. I have called the hotline 2 times. The first time, one of the inspectors came to my home. He was respectful. But clearly...he stated - "We know who your are"...from my multiple complaints to PS Clean Air Agency. Cedar Grove receives all of the complaints filed on PS Clean Air...about 2 weeks in arrears. The 2nd time I called...which was about a year ago, a different inspector called me in response to my complaint. He showed up at my home...unannounced....and frankly?? "Got in my face". He came up on my porch and was close to me and said- I don't smell it. We exchanged words. It was intimidating. In addition to my 2 calls to the "hotline"...Cedar Grove reached out to my husband and Ito "have a meeting". Prior to that meeting, I contacted Rick Hess from PS Clean Air. He has been a wonderful advocate and support for this issue. So have the other inspectors there with whom I have spoken. Rick said to me...here's how that meeting is going to go: They will show up with a map. The map will have a"push pin" on it which is your location. And it will have several other businesses as "push pins" ...that are more likely to be the "source" of the odors you are smelling. Well, that is exactly what happened at that meeting. For the record-The people in attendance at that meeting were: Myself, My husband, Scott Adams, Diane Dobson and one other Renton resident...I have to find her name...at this time I don't have it in front of me. The Cedar Grove Reps - Karen Dawson and Kevin, the same inspector that came to my home. They were not willing to sit and talk with us...they simply wanted to dismiss us. After that meeting, I made it my mission, to contact every single business that Cedar Grove pointed out as the source of the odor on that map. I provided that information to the Renton Utility Committee in a meeting last year. 2 In addition - I will reiterate here - PS Clean Air Agency received a request for a permit from Cedar Grove Compost last year. Not being an expert on their operation, I'm not sure what the permit was requesting. PS Clean Air Engineers had questions about what Cedar Grove was requesting. They needed more information prior to issuing the permit. Well...instead of answering the questions PS Clean Air asked...Cedar Grove filed a lawsuit against PS Clean Air Agency...to STALL, DELAY, whatever you want to call it....and keep their dirty practice going without any accountability. Cedar Grove would rather- pay fines from violations issued from PS Clean Air....which was approximately 260,000 last year...than improve and invest in their operation to keep our air CLEAN. Any odors that leave the facility?? A VIOLATION. But they continue this merry go round... King County Council needs to find the money to invest in the overhaul of Cedar Grove Compost. PERIOD. As tax payers, homeowners, citizens....we should not be subjected to this "kick the can down the road" mentality about a very serious issue. Let's face it....Solid Waste??? It's not a very"sexy" issue to get behind. It Stinks... But it is necessary. If King County, with the help of Kathy Lambert AND....most importantly....the HELP and PRESSURE from Renton Council can force the issue of an overhaul of the Solid Waste Division, to REPRESENT their constituents......THAT is what needs to happen. We have owned our home in Upper Kennydale since November, 1999. 20 Years. When we first moved here, we never smelled this odor. It's only the last 6-7 years that things have gotten out of hand. Increased population. More Waste. More Contracts. More Odors. More Violations. More Class Action Suits....and apparently???NO UPGRADES. No Change. WHY...are Renton Residents expected to live with the burden of this issue with decreased home values,decline in quality of life, health issues... I could go on and on.It's NOT RIGHT. Tacoma....FOUGHT for clean air against the Paper Mill. THEY WON. How did they win??? CITIZENS fought back. They would not tolerate this stench in their communities. They demanded their representatives take ACTION. Why can't Renton and King County do the same? 3 I am PRO Compost...I am NOT PRO Cedar Grove Compost. It's unsafe. It contains plastics and all sorts of toxic material that I will CERTAINLY not put in my organic garden. This has been a 3 plus year mission for me. It has been unpopular, but I am gaining a coalition of support. I will not rest until this issue is addressed and a CLEAR solid waste solution that is not antiquated - like the "cheap composting" operation being done right now - is in place. I WILL ALSO REITERATE FROM A PREVIOUS MESSAGE I SENT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS: A: We can continue to file complaints with PS Clean Air, which has been a supportive resource. They could continue to fine Cedar Grove for Violations. Cedar Grove will continue to pay those violations. Citizens could continue to file Class Action Suits against Cedar Grove, get small payouts and a gag order...The lawyers get richer lather. rinse. repeat. OR.... B: King County, with the help of Renton Council and follow up??? Could change the future for ALL of King County by making productive, positive changes to the process at Cedar Grove, to ensure it is a resource instead of a liability. REFER TO GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND... Wouldn't we be best served by a company that provides rich, valuable, SAFE composting material? I sincerely hope, that Renton Council and King County Council GET TOGETHER on this issue and fight for their constituents. I will also call out Reagun Dunn on this e-mail....He has NEVER responded once to me or the Renton Council on this issue. NOT REPRESENTING. In addition - KING COUNTY HEALTH...Yolanda Pon....needs to be educated on this problem and NOT issue permits without REAL CHANGE and ACCOUNTABILITY from Cedar Grove. Going forward, I will ONLY support candidates who value the people they represent. I will share this with all I know. This is not a small issue. It is a 15 year PLUS issue that needs to finally have some resolution. Thank you. Sincerely, 4 Cristie Champlin Mortgage Originator NMLS ID#131339 NMLS #2239 Mortgage Right-Lynnwood,WA Cell-425-417-6088 <image001.jpg> On Jan 22, 2019, at 4:43 PM, Gregg A. Zimmerman <Gzimmerman@Rentonwa.gov> wrote: Dear Cristie Champlin: Thank you for your message. I appreciate being copied when these incidents occur. I also wish to remind you that Cedar Grove has established a "hot line" at(425)417-6721. Residents are encouraged to call this number whenever there is an odor they suspect may be coming from the Cedar Grove facility. I recently called this number to make sure it is still in use. I was told that Cedar Grove has two on-call technicians who will visit the site of the odor, perform an investigation, and touch bases with the resident making the call. I recommend that you call this hot line number each time there is an incident. Not only will this make Cedar Grove aware of the incident and provide them with an opportunity to investigate, it will establish a record. Sincerely, Gregg A.Zimmerman, P.E. City of Renton Public Works Department Administrator 1055 South Grady Way, 5th Floor Renton,WA 98057 Phone: (425)430-7394 Fax: (425)430-7241 E-mail: gzimmerman@rentonwa.gov <image001.jpg> From: Cristie Champlin [mailto:callcristie@comcast.net] Sent: Friday,January 18, 2019 7:57 PM To:Gregg A. Zimmerman <Gzimmerman@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Ruth Perez<RPerez@Rentonwa.gov>; Linda R. Knight <Lknight@Rentonwa.gov>; Robert Harrison <RHarrison@Rentonwa.gov>;Julia Medzegian 5 <Jmedzegian@Rentonwa.gov>; dmd821@aol.com Subject: Re: Cedar Grove Smells Update Hello Council Members, I'm writing this on Friday night at 8:00 PM. The past 4 plus days have been really unbearable. The odors of Cedar Grove are permeating EVERYTHING in our area. Tonight?? It is SO bad...I live on Edmonds and NE 19th Street. It goes for miles...and miles. It is thick and putrid and really disgusting. When you can smell the odor through the car windows...you know it's bad. I'm going to send a message to King County Council members next week. Kathy Lambert is on our side and is working hard. I know that she will respond. No citizens...I don't care where they live....should be subjected to this filthy stench day in day out. Not to mention the health repercussions. I will keep up this fight...until we have some real solutions to end this horrible practice. I hope, that together, we can find solutions and change this dirty practice once and for all. Thank you. Cristie Champlin Mortgage Originator NMLS ID#131339 NMLS#2239 Mortgage Right-Lynnwood,WA Cell-425-417-6088 <image003.jpg> On Jan 14, 2019, at 10:45 AM, Gregg A. Zimmerman <Gzimmerman @ Rentonwa.gov> wrote: Thank you. We're going back through the files and will provide the requested information. Gregg 6 Gregg A.Zimmerman, P.E. City of Renton Public Works Department Administrator 1055 South Grady Way, 5th Floor Renton, WA 98057 Phone: (425)430-7394 Fax: (425)430-7241 E-mail: gzimmerman@rentonwa.gov <image002.jpg> From: Ruth Perez Sent: Sunday,January 13, 2019 10:53 AM To: Gregg A. Zimmerman <Gzimmerman@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Linda R. Knight<Lknight@Rentonwa.gov>; Robert Harrison <RHarrison@Rentonwa.gov>;Julia Medzegian <Jmedzegian@Rentonwa.gov>; dmd821@aol.com;callcr istie@comcast.net Subject: Re: Cedar Grove Smells Update Dear Gregg, I want to let you know that I will be referring the Cedar Grove air quality issue to the Utilities Committee on Monday. Also, I would appreciate it if you could provide to the committee members and constituents of interest, any updated information on any actions that have occurred over the last months, in order to help resolve this issue for our constituents. Thank you, Ruth Perez Councilmember, City of Renton Email: rperez@rentonwa.gov Phone: 425-430-6501 Renton City Hall—7th Floor 1055 South Grady Way Renton, WA 98057-3232 On Jan 12, 2019, at 1:22 PM, Carol Ann Witschi <CWitschi@Rentonwa.gov>wrote: 7 • This issue is rearing it's ugly head again and the attacks on Council by Christie and Diane on Nextdoor are back. Having devoted my day to touring the location and meeting with leadership, it's a little frustrating to be criticized for things we can't control. Last time we discussed this, were were sending letters to the air quality board and King County and we heard nothing back. I called and emailed Reagan Dunn personally and received no response. We need to make a statement, once and for all, outlining a strong position on this issue and what we can and can't do outside of our jurisdiction. They don't seem to be getting the message or understand what jurisdictions are and I'm tired of being blamed for it. A press release or statement will be very helpful since I am not permitted to personally shut them down on social media, as much as I would like to do so. Thank you. 8