Dispute is settled in So. Prairie

Published 11:36 am Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Shawn Skager

The Courier-Herald

It took more than a decade, but the legal battle between the town of South Prairie and RV park owner Dwight Partin has come to an end.

Last week Partin decided to drop his $4.5 million lawsuit against the town.

&#8220It came down to a business decision,” Partin said. &#8220I had to make a decision between principle and a business decision. Principle costs a lot of money sometimes. So I dropped it. There were many accusations that I was in this for the money. I dropped it to prove I'm not. I only filed it (the lawsuit) in defense, they filed their lawsuit first so I had to defend myself.”

According to Partin, in the mid-1990s he filed his suit in response to a dispute over land-use permits and sewer hookups that were promised to his RV park.

Partin, who served on the South Prairie Town Council in the 1990s, said he was miffed that the town reneged after he helped them pay to have a study done on the town's sewer plant.

&#8220They were mandated by the department of Ecology to do a study on the failing plant,” Partin said. &#8220The town couldn't afford it so I financed the study.”

Partin said that in return for his financial assistance the town promised to reward him with land-use permits and sewer hook-ups.

&#8220I did a sewer grant for the town when they couldn't afford it,” he said. &#8220In return I get the first 93 out of the plant. I have to buy them, but I have the option, I have the rights to the first 93.”

In the mid-1990s the Washington State Department of Ecology placed a sewer hook-up moratorium on South Prairie. No hook-ups have been added since.

South Prairie Mayor Peggy Levesque said she is relieved that the lawsuits, on both sides, will be dropped at no cost to either the town or Partin, but there are still issues to be worked out before the matter can be put to rest.

&#8220I'm very pleased to have it done,” she said. &#8220We have a few issues to resolve still, but I'm confident that we can talk to Mr. Partin. I'm sure everyone in town who was named in the suit is pleased as well.

&#8220We'll have to discuss with him the priority hook-ups, because it's just so undoable with the town,” she added. &#8220He has (priority for) the first 93 and then every other one after that - forever - it just ties our hand.”

Levesque said she hoped that Partin would be receptive to negotiating with the town.

Partin said he would be more than happy to negotiate with the town, but expects to be compensated.

&#8220They would like to see some of the hookups return, but what would they have to offer me?” he said. &#8220I'd work with them on amenities for trade. I don't mind the people who live here getting hook-ups, but I won't turn them over just to have them turn them over to developers. I've always left the door open for negotiations with the town.”

&#8220I want to work with the town,” Partin added. &#8220But I'm not sure if the lamb will ever lie down with the lion and get a good nights sleep.”

Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.