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Greetings!
In this Advent time of waiting and turning now to the revolutionary hope of Christmas, the Board of Directors would like to express our commitment to see Holden through this difficult chapter in a grounded and sustainable way. We take this responsibility seriously, and we continue to trust the Holy Spirit to move and transform us all.
The Village has experienced an unprecedented series of events due to the extreme weather. Heavy rains hit the Pacific Northwest in mid-December and caused our forest service road to be totally washed out in several places. The road repairs will probably not begin until late spring and could take several months. In addition, mudslides and fallen trees caused damage to the intake of our hydro-electric plant. This damage put the stay-behind crew in significant risk. Plans are underway to assess and repair the damage, but we want to do so in a way that correctly balances risk and reward.
Our Executive Directors, Elise and Bjørn Peterson, working with the Board, Chelan County Sheriff's Department, and others, made the decision to close the Village and evacuate all personnel. This decision was based on input from geotech experts, weather predictions, safety protocols, and consultation with many people who are knowledgeable about Holden’s infrastructure. The closure was not taken lightly, and the staff worked hard to winterize and protect Village infrastructure to the extent possible. The Holden Board fully supports the Executive Directors' leadership and decision to close and evacuate the Village on Dec 20.
We also want to express our confidence in the leadership of Elise and Bjørn at this time. They have shown themselves to be strategic leaders under pressure, assessing complex situations and making decisions that weigh the assets, risks, needs, opportunities, and both long- and short-term implications for the wellbeing of the Village. We ask the broader community to join the Board in supporting their leadership.
The Executive Directors are working through various scenarios to get back to the Village as soon as it is wise to do so. This climate event has revealed the need for significant changes to several of Holden's systems. The Directors and Board will be planning for short- and long-term adjustments to help Holden better face our current situation. We will continue engaging the most valuable resource of Holden–the community–through thoughtful, strategic engagement.
We thank those of you who have offered your assistance and insights in this process, both for your perspectives and for your patience. We know everyone cares deeply for this place and feels the need to restore a sense of safety and security in the Village's future.
With that said, we do not condone any attempt to enter the Village or fix the systems without the express consent of the Executive Directors. Given the dangers of winter and state of the physical plant, any uncoordinated efforts could have significant unintended consequences for Holden Village.
Instead, we ask you to stay hopeful and open to not having all the answers or taking action right away. We ask that you join us in prayer and deliberation, embracing the angel's message to "fear not."
The Executive Committee on behalf of Holden Village's Board of Directors
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