While a contractor works on a septic drain field above Beckett Point, representatives of tribes are sifting through an area near the beach where more human remains were found last week.
Jefferson County Public Utility District 1 Manager Jim Parker said Monday that he does not expect more remains found in the path of the septic system project to stop construction, as the first set of about 58 bone fragments almost did in May.
"I'm hoping it doesn't," Parker said.
An archeologist working on the community project, Gary Wessen, was at the site last week and is working to develop a plan to sample the lower section while work on the upper drain field continues. Parker said.
Wessen did not return a call for comment Monday.
While the project as a whole has been waylaid, Parker said, "I think it's too late to turn around, honest. We're too far down the road."
In the meantime, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners learned the county is in line for a $250,000 grant from the state Department of Ecology that can be used to help the PUD pay for archeological services required by the state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.
"They are continuing to work slowly and respectfully," County Administrator John Fischbach told commissioners Monday.
Asked if more than one body was found, Fischbach said it was his understanding there was more than one body.
Jefferson County Treasurer Judi Morris told county commissioners June 25 she has no problem with the county granting PUD 1 funding for archeological services. But she did voice concern about the agreement to extend the PUD a $500,000 line of credit to keep the project going.
PUD commissioners said they didn't want the line of credit anyway because they could get a better interest rate elsewhere.
Before it was stopped, the $2.8 million community septic project was on schedule and on budget.
The state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has given the PUD permission to proceed with work on a drain field that is above the location where human remains were found on county right of way.
"They are proceeding as well as can be expected," PUD Commissioner Wayne King said Monday.
King applauded PUD Manager Parker and Allyson Brooks from the state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation, as well as state representatives, for helping the PUD.
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