Craft3, the organization that will administer loans for septic system work for islanders in Vashon’s Marine Recovery Areas, will also begin working with islanders to see that more homes have their systems inspected.
Terry Hull, a representative of Craft3, discussed the new program at Monday’s meeting of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council. The VMICC is partnering with the nonprofit lender on the project, which is funded by a $25,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities program.
“This is an effort to engage the community about the importance of doing periodic monitoring and making minor maintenance and repair activities as a way to preserve their assets,” Hull said in an interview.
Craft3 was recently chosen by King County to administer a $350,000 revolving loan program for islanders in marine recovery areas (MRAs) who have been told to repair or replace their systems but can’t afford the work up front. The county secured the funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program.
Hull said that while Craft3 was pleased to be chosen for the loan program, it also wanted to see those with septic systems new and old properly maintain them. Islanders, he said, are known for being hesitant to complete inspections required every year to three years by Public Health Seattle-King County, and septic problems often go undetected.
“A little monitoring cane help identify minor things that need to happen and avoid major repairs at some point, which become very costly,” Hull said.
Traditionally health department officials complete septic inspections, Hull said. However, some communities around the country have developed alternative models, such as having a community representatives do the inspections.
“There are a variety of models out there to be explored,” he said.
Craft3, with the help of islander Susie Kalhorn, an environmental educator contracted to do outreach for the project, will begin to meet with islanders in MRAs to discuss their options and get feedback. Eventually, Hull said, they may also work with the county to implement a new model.
“We want to hear from people,” Hull said. “This is kind of a kickoff.”
VMICC board president Tim Johnson said that after the council, and especially community activist Carl Sells, worked to see the loan program come to fruition, he was pleased to see Craft3 taking it one step further to encourage regular septic monitoring.
Johnson said he hoped the county would secure even more grant money this year, making more loans possible when MRAs expand and more islanders are required to do septic work.
“Our job is to assist King County and get this money out working so we can all go back and get more future funding, because more MRAs will be designated,” he said.
