ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [July 25, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., July 25, 2025.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 30^th week of 2025. Next week is a “fifth week”, which means the Commissioners will not have any meetings and therefore I will not publish a newsletter next Friday. I still plan to attend my usual Monday meetings with citizens next week however (July 28), because I will not be available the following Monday, August 4.

This was a big week for the 2026 Budget—we held 3 (long!) meetings on this issue.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday July 22^nd Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We heard three public comments this week, all from individuals concerned about fireworks. During the Commissioners Comments portion of the meeting, I committed to putting forward a resolution to include fireworks in the list of prohibited items during a Type One Burn Ban, and to make the sale of mortar-style fireworks illegal in Island County (since we have already prohibited their use). My comments at mark 00:26:22 in the recording.
  • We continued the scheduled Abdollah & Kathryn Vafaeezadeh Sewer Distribution System Franchise Renewal to a date uncertain, pending the revision of our franchise policy (discussed last week).
  • The next regular session will occur at 10 am on Tuesday, August 5^th, The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, August 1^st here. 
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • September 9: Capital Improvement Plan/Transportation Improvement Plan
  • October 6:      2026 Budget 
• Work Session.
  • The next work session will be on Wednesday, August 6. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by 3 pm on Friday, August 1, here.
• Three more 2026 Budget meetings were held this week.
  • Eric Johnson of Columbia Policy Advisors (formerly Executive Director for the Washington State Association of Counties) led the elected officials and department heads in a discussion of the laws, authorities, and purpose behind the County budgeting process. Recording.
  • Wednesday afternoon’s budget meeting—we discussed the budgets for IT, the Treasurer, and GSA/Human Resources. Recording.
  • Thursday morning’s budget meeting—discussion of potential uses of Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) due to the recent legislative change that basically combines REET 1 and REET 2 into one pot of money; also a conversation with Sheriff Felici about his deputies’ cars. Recording.
  • Our next Budget workshops will occur on Wednesday August 6 and Thursday August 7. If you would like to listen to future Budget meetings via zoom, contact our office for an invitation.
• The Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) and the Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO) met on Wednesday, July 23^rd. Recordings are not yet available. The IRTPO spent the majority of the meeting discussing spending options for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds. We expect to continue this discussion during a two-hour meeting August 27th. Also in August: the IRTPO will hold a short special session early in the month to continue our discussion on the criteria we will use for the next call for projects.
• Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update: This is a link to the Planning Commission page. You can find details on their meetings and minutes, including Zoom info, here. The agendas are published at least a week in advance. The Planning Commission usually meets at 6 pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville.
• We need to increase our donations to local food shelves again. One example to show the need: every six months, Island County Public Health receives an allotment of vouchers from the Department of Health in partnership with Safeway. Clients are given a six-month supply of vouchers that can be used to purchase fruits and vegetables. Clients must be experiencing food insecurity and be at risk for chronic illness. Community Health staff, in partnership with Human Services, Whidbey Health, and Opportunity Council, distributed all of the vouchers to residents most in need. Due to budget cuts at the state level, we received 30% less of the voucher allotment than we normally do. All of the vouchers were distributed within the first day due to high demand.
• Other Public Health updates:
  • WA Department of Health issued a press release on 7/14 to Keep Washington Kids Healthy with Required Immunizations, reminding parents and caretakers to make sure their children are up to date on all required immunizations before classes resume. Island County Childhood Immunizations Locations can be found HERE. Immunizations schedules for school and childcare are available HERE in multiple languages.
  • Public health shares regular resources and updates on their Facebook page. In addition, Island County has these prevention resources to help everyone stay safe and healthy during extreme heat events and during times of poor air quality from wildfire smoke: • Quick guide for wildfire smoke preparedness from WA-DOH. • Extreme heat preparedness guide from Island County DEM. • Alert sign-up for Island County.
• On Monday, July 28 I will meet with citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland at 3 pm and at the Clinton Community Hall at 5 pm. I will not be available to meet the following Monday, August 4.

Melanie 

“When I figured out how to work my grill, it was quite a moment. I discovered that summer is a completely different experience when you know how to grill.”

~Taylor Swift