Kira Erickson reports from the Island County Commissioners’ work session of Wed., Oct. 9, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
Island County commissioners were astounded to learn last week that an inactive diking district has not paid taxes on two of its properties for the past three years.
Diking District 3, which encompasses an area near Dugualla Bay on North Whidbey, will lose two parcels of land it owns unless a new board is appointed soon to pay the taxes.
They Said It
Jennifer Roll, the board’s clerk, explained to the county commissioners Oct. 9 that Treasurer Tony Lam placed a legal notice in the Whidbey News-Times at the end of August about an application for judgment foreclosure, which is scheduled for Dec. 3.
“Currently, there are no existing commissioners for Diking District 3, and only the commissioners of the district can pay taxes,” Roll said.
Commissioner Melanie Bacon said she was interested in reinstating the diking district’s board. Commissioner Jill Johnson, however, expressed frustration at the lack of communication that led to this issue, suggesting that there needs to be “some kind of administrative huddle about how we got here.”
In an interview, Lam said the amount owed on the two properties is $2,081 and $1,967. His multiple attempts to reach the district’s former commissioners about paying the taxes went unanswered.
On The Ballot in November 2024
| Island County Commissioner, District 1 | Marie Shimada (D-Freeland) Melanie Bacon (D-Langley), the incumbent Damian Greene (R-Clinton), a write-in candidate |
| Island County Commissioner, District 2 | Christina Elliott (D-Oak Harbor) Jill Johnson (R-Oak Harbor), the incumbent |
