Eau de Camas? (Vancouver, Rainier: renter, best schools, earthquake)

[thirtysomething]

I will start by saying I have real all the past threads on this topic, and I know about the EPA changes, etc. However, I am curious to hear from Camas *newbies*....those with no prior memory of the paper mill scent.

Did you notice a smell in the air?

We are former residents of Vancouver/Portland, but it's been 11 year since we lived there. We do remember the days of "Pee-ew!" We are moving back to the area in a few weeks, and I am getting questioned by family members (who no longer live up there) about my choice of Camas, because of the smell. I have reassured them, based on what I have read here, but then I got to thinking that maybe people got use to it, and just didn't smell it as much?

[Ben'sMommy]

I don't live in Camas (we're actually going to be moving from CA to Vancouver in the next few weeks/month), but I have family friends who just made the move up there a few months ago. They have made comments about it smelling. I don't know if us Californians are just sensitive folk, but from an outsider's view (or whiff?), Camas is a tad stinky.

Hope this helps!

[st33lcas3]

Yes it still smells. It doesn't happen as often as it used too, but when it does there is no mistaking it.

[woodguy00]

The mill still creates some bad air. Whether you smell it depends on where you live. On the NW side of Prune Hill near the lake, we may smell the mill 3-4 times per year. Not a problem at all particularly when we enjoy the benefit of the mill's property taxes funding some of the best schools anywhere.

[thirtysomething]

Hmmm. So if, er, when the mill closes, will the schools go downhill?

[thirtysomething]

Oh, and when you say you smell it 3-4 times a year, are those brief moments (a day here, a day there) or or they month-long, every few months?

[Caffreys]

I also heard that the mill will close, but when?
What happens to the funding for the schools that was supported by the mill?

[Topaz]

I just moved to the Holly Hills area of Camas about two months ago and I've never smelled the mill unless I drove to the area right next to it to try a downtown restaurant.

When I told friends in Oregon that I was moving to Camas, they all mentioned the smell. But I think they hadn't visited Camas in ten years. Camas seems much different now than what a lot of people remember when the only thing here was the mill.

[woodguy00]

The mill has downsized over the years. I don't see it closing completely. Camas continues to grow adding more higher end residential to the tax base. Camas has a balanced base currently - I'm not losing sleep about the schools going downhill. People keep moving here for the schools and the quality of life.

Smell issues are way overblown. When I say I smell it a few times a year it is just that. Maybe I go out to the kennel and notice a whiff thinking "hey, there's the paper mill smell". Then not notice it again for a few months until an evening when the air is real heavy and the breeze is from the SE. Not a problem to me.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I just moved to the Holly Hills area of Camas about two months ago and I've never smelled the mill unless I drove to the area right next to it to try a downtown restaurant....

March and April are usually the worst for smell, depends on weather inversions and prevailing winds. It used to make your eyes water as far east as 164th, but not in last 5 yrs. Fisher Elementary had some kids and teachers 'overcome' with an accidental release of ammonia from the mill a couple years ago... not to worry... THAT won't happen again (But I still prefer to live 'upwind') There is always the threat of a volcano or something, (Mt Hood, St Helens, Adams, Rainier - YIKES we're surrounded !!) you just can't be too safe ... Actually our earthquake ~ 7 yrs ago was pretty wild too.

Camas has some interesting tax challenges, but I'm sure it is transitioning its tax base, and has a good infrastructure in place and ADEQUATE impact fees for new.

I definitely would not worry about the schools, especially if this super majority thing gets beat as they predict... schools will never suffer in WA in my lifetime. gosh, they get between $6 and $7k/yr / student, that ought to cover it...

we (property owners) will all be paying for that for a very long time (I kinda think that's why they originally req'd a super majority.. Maybe... just maybe... renters aren't too concerned about increasing the property taxes.) now is a good time to become a renter