We’ve had a marvelous summer/fall in Big Bend this year. Warm temperatures and little to no rain all summer provided ample opportunity for all kinds of recreation and family fun activities. The National Weather Service advised that 2018 was one of the driest summers ever recorded in the Seattle area. Looking forward to the winter we all know the rain is coming. However, this year is predicted to be an El Nino winter with warmer and drier conditions than average. Nevertheless, it’s time to prepare for darker and gloomier days ahead.
Be Prepared
Daylight savings time has just begun and it seems like our late afternoons have quickly become nights. As winter approaches, it’s time to wrap your outdoor pipes to prevent them from freezing and have a plan when the power goes out from the fierce winds we experience every winter. We can also have snow days and icy roads in Big Bend and river flooding is usually an annual event on the Skykomish. Most important of all during the dark days of winter: be extra careful and watchful for kids playing on or close to our roads.
Big Bend Water Plan
Big Bend now has an approved Water Capital Improvement Plan. It was discussed at the annual home owner’s meeting by the engineering consultants from Grey & Osborne who assisted in its preparation. The Plan provides a prioritized list of projects over the next 5 years to improve and upgrade our water system. It includes a $5/yr. increase in our annual water rates to help fund the projects. If you are interested in more detail, the Plan is posted on the water projects page of this web site.
Wellhead Protection Committee
Big Bend and Cadman continued their cooperative work this year as part of the Wellhead Committee. Cadman’s annual water quality monitoring reports have shown no change in the quality/quantity of the ground water used at their gravel operation over the past 10 years. Big Bend also installed two new probes in our well this fall which allow us to track the same water quality parameters as Cadman. Cadman also prepared an engineering report this year which identifies two locations for a new Big Bend well should our well become unusable. Gravel operations are expected to increase at the Gold Bar site in the years ahead due to the closure of several older sites. Cadman’s 2017 Groundwater Monitoring Report is posted on our web site.
Annual Assessments
Annual assessments were mailed out to Big Bend property owners in September. Thank you to all who have paid the assessments or have set up a payment plan to do so. Remember, payments must be made on time to avoid late fees and potential lock-out of your water. Payments should be mailed to POB 1593, Monroe, WA. 98272. Monetary transactions of any kind are not allowed at Board members private residences.
Parking Stickers
You all received red Big Bend parking stickers and guest passes in the September Alert. The new red sticker should be placed on the rear window of your vehicle so it can be seen from the road. The red sticker replaces last year’s green sticker and is effective through September 30, 2019. Vehicles parked at community parking areas located at Park #1(entrance), Park #2(sports court), or Park #3(end of Fir Road) must have the red sticker clearly displayed. Vehicles without a valid sticker will be subject to towing.
Thank You Jim/Welcome Scott
A special thank you to Jim Popper who served the last three years on the Big Bend Board of Directors. Jim provided good ideas and perceptive input to the Board during his tenure. Jim is now the webmaster for the Big Bend website. Also, congratulations and welcome to Scott Hoskin who was elected to the Board at the annual home owner’s meeting this summer. Scott will serve a three-year term on the Board.
We have much to be proud of in Big Bend. It’s our home and our community and working together we can continue to make it as good as it can be in the future.
We appreciate your ideas and comments at any time. Feel free to leave us a message on the Big Bend messaging center line at (360-793-7852) or send us an email at this address: bigbendtalk@gmail.com.
We wish you and your family a very happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season and new year!
