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Dewatto River Campground deals with vandalism

The Port of Dewatto continues to cope with vandalism at its Dewatto River Campground.

The most recent incident of vandalism was “the carving of racist comments” on the campground’s trees, the port announced on its Facebook page June 8.

The port had already devoted a portion of its commissioners’ May 11 meeting to sorting out the financial effects of an incident of vandalism that had occurred just days before.

Dewatto River Campground Coordinator Joe Newman told commissioners that on May 8 someone burned down the disabled-accessible portable toilet at the campground.

According to Newman, one couple was camping there at the time. They were down by the water, in site 33, but they said they didn’t see or smell anything.

“The porta-potty was there when they went to bed,” Newman said. “The couple sounded legitimate, and we were confident they were not the ones who burned it down.”

Port of Dewatto Manager Jeana Crosby called the sheriff’s department, and a deputy inspected the scene and filed a report.

Crosby took photos of the damage and called AAA Septic, “who we rent from,” and who told her that replacing the portable toilet would cost $2,986.

The port did not have rental insurance on the portable toilet, so they called Enduris of Washington, the port’s insurance company, and were told the port would receive a check for the amount of the loss, minus the port’s $1,000 deductible.

Because of that, Port of Dewatto Commission Chairman Ray Mow suggested the port might add insurance to one or more of its portable toilet units in the future.

The cost of insurance would be $10 per unit, per month, and the deductible would be $250, but port commissioners opted to discuss the matter at a later date after Port Commissioner Ted Edwards suggested the construction of a wooden building to house toilets. Mow pointed out those toilets would still need to be pumped.

Port Commissioner David Haugen said the cost to build such a structure would be much more expensive than what the port is paying for portable toilets.

The port reiterated that all dogs at the campground must be leashed and controlled at all times, and owners must pick up after their pets.

“We do not want to go to a ‘no pets allowed’ system, so please heed these rules,” the port stated in its June 8 Facebook entry.

Author Bio

Kirk Boxleitner, Reporter

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Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
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