(Note: There were over 300 signatures on the petition opposing the plan to chip seal Watmough Head Road, not 200.)

The San Juan County Council, in a three to three vote, failed to pass a motion  to stop Public Works from chip sealing a portion of Watmough Head Road.

The vote came at the council’s  July 26 meeting in Friday Harbor despite a petition with over 300 signatures opposing the plan to chip seal the road.

Residents of Lopez have had a mixed reaction and the Weekly has received various letters on the issue.

For Tony Angell, the chip seal will create problems like drainage runoff, chemicals and the potential for more automobile traffic.

Other neighbors of the road, like Eugene and Renee VanDeputte, support the chip seal as a way to reduce dust and to improve the condition of the road without “altering the unique nature of the area.”

You can read all the letters regarding Watmough Road online at islandsweekly.com.

At the July 26, County Council meeting, Jamie Stevens made a motion, seconded by council member Howard Rosenfeld, to “defer the chip sealing.”

Stevens, Rosenfeld and Lovel Pratt voted in support of the motion and Richard Fralick, Patty Miller and Rich Peterson voted against the motion, which means Public Works will proceed with chip sealing Watmough Road.