ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Oct. 17, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Oct. 17, 2025.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 42^nd week of 2025.

I got my COVID and Flu shot this week and encourage everyone else to do the same.

I will be at the Risk Pool conference at the end of next week. I plan to write a short newsletter on Friday, October 25th, but will probably not write a newsletter the following Friday, October 31^st (5^th Wednesday—no work session that week).

• Regular Session.  This is the agenda and recording for the Tuesday, October 14 regular session.
  • We heard public comment from one individual who would like the County to approve an interlocal agreement associated with the Tourism Board.
  • There were no regular agenda items or public hearings this week.
  • The next regular session will be held on Tuesday, October 21. Here is the agenda. On that agenda: the public hearing shown below.
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • Tuesday October 21:          Planning Permit Fee Schedule
  • Tuesday November 25:      Planning/Community Development Docket &
                                                Work Plan
  • Monday December 1:         2026 Budget
  • Tuesday December 2:        Consolidation of 2 REET funds into 1 fund
  • Tuesday December 9:        2 PBRS applications
• Work Session. This is the agenda for the Wednesday, October 15 work session. This is the recording. Reminder: if you want to scroll through the recording to get to the places I’ve marked, you will need to download the recording to your computer (left-click “download” on the three dots on the recording bar)
  • We started with a discussion on an Office of Public Defense being brought in-house, reporting to the Board of County Commissioners. We will hold a public hearing on this early next year.
  • Because we will be able to pass a balanced budget for 2026 (something not every county in Washington can say; some other counties are facing employee and program furloughs), we decided to rehire for the positions we had frozen over the last couple of months. Mark 0:35:40 in the recording.
  • We discussed our 2026 Legislative Priorities (State) with Columbia Policy Advisors. Mark 0:044:41 in the recording.
  • The Board agreed to move forward with two actions regarding fireworks. As a result: there will be a public hearing scheduled on a proposal to ban the sale of consumer mortar-style fireworks (we banned the consumer use of mortar-style fireworks a couple of years ago). Second: there is support from a majority of the Board to put a non-binding advisory vote on the November 2026 to ban consumer fireworks in unincorporated Island County. Mark 1:44:07 in the recording.
  • The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) agreed with the changes that the Board recommended a few weeks ago. The LTAC grant approvals will go on a future consent agenda. Mark 1:55:54 in the recording.
  • The Board discussed a resolution for imposing an additional One-tenth of One Percent Sales and Use Tax as authorized by the State Legislature. We will have to approve this Sales and Use Tax in order to balance our 2026 budget, due to the expense and changes in State law associated with Public Defense. Mark 1:58:45.
  • Another important item the State has decided to reduce funds for is the Becca program. From Google AI: The Becca Bill is a Washington State law aimed at addressing truancy and supporting at-risk youth, requiring children aged 8 to 18 to attend school regularly. The Becca Bill was enacted in 1995 in response to the tragic murder of 13-year-old Rebecca Hedman, who was a runaway and had chronic truancy issues. Her case highlighted the need for better resources and legal frameworks to support at-risk youth and their families. I spoke strongly about the importance of truancy officers in schools, because children with no high school diploma or equivalent have little chance for success in life. The Board had already agreed to Superior Court to continue to make up for lost Becca funds through the end of 2025; on Wednesday we agreed to continue augmenting the funding through the end of the school year in 2026. Hopefully by then the State or local school boards will have woken up to the need to spend the dollars necessary to keep this vital program going. Mark 2:15:38 in the recording.
  • The Department of Natural Resources brought a new contract for the Shore Friendly program. One enhancement to the program: it will now provide education and assistance regarding septic systems along the shoreline. Mark 2:31:32 in the recording.
  • We discussed two Rural County Economic Development (RCED) projects: extending the Marine Dredging grant received in 2024 by Oak Harbor, and passing the interlocal agreement with Greenbank for their Farm Pond Project. Mark 2:53:08 in the recording.
  • We agreed to hold a public hearing to allow us increased flexibility for the use of REET funds. Mark 3:07:25.
  • Planning brought two items: the Planning Docket and work plan for 2026, and an update on the GMA discussions with the City of Oak Harbor. In November they will bring the Board a revised schedule for the community conversation and adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Update. Mark 03:20:44 in the recording.
  • The next work session will be held Wednesday, November 5^th. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, October 31^st, here.
• Budget. We held our last budget meeting for the 2026 Budget on Wednesday. Agenda; Recording.
• The Council of Governments (COG), Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) and Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO) will meet on Wednesday, October 22 beginning at 9 am. All three organizations will use the same zoom link, which can be found on the COG agenda.
  • COG: a discussion on 2026 legislative priorities; agenda.
  • IRTPO: Project Programming discussion continues.
  • ILIO: Discussion of and voting for top potential projects for consideration for ILIO funding; Healthy Shorelines Target Action Plan.
• The Board of Health (BOH) will meet on Tuesday, October 21^st at 1 pm. Agenda. On that agenda: a presentation on the services offered at the new VA Puget Sound Oak Harbor Clinic at Naval Air Station; a presentation on the veteran services offered in Island County; and an update from the Community Health Advisory Board.
  • There will be no BOH meeting in November; the next meeting after next week’s will be on December 16.
• Island Senior Resources is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast to benefit Meals on Wheels on October 25^th; and a free showing of the hit movie Thelma at the Clyde on Sunday, November 9^th, followed by a discussion on elder abuse and fraud.  For more information on these and other events, see https://senior-resources.org/.
  • I encourage you to watch this moving, entertaining, and informative 3-minute film which was designed by the Benefit Dinner Committee of Useless Bay Golf and Country Club to remind the community of the good work ISR is doing. The terrific film was produced and donated at no cost to ISR.
• Public Health Update:
  • Community Health Planning Open Houses are scheduled for November 5 (Camano Library) and November 6 (Coupeville Library) from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There will also be a webpage with information, including an online feedback form.
  • The latest issue of our Health Matters newsletter is available, and our ABCD program is sharing a new children’s book to promote healthy habits for local families.
  • Respiratory Virus Vaccines: Updated 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccines are now available locally. We are directing residents to pharmacies and providers and advising them to confirm availability and insurance coverage in advance. Find local vaccine availability and information here.
• 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.
• I apologize for missing my normal get-together in Freeland with citizens on Monday—I’ve been pretty sick for about a week and have avoided being around people whenever possible. I hope to be well enough to be at the WiFire in Freeland next Monday, October 20, at 3 pm, but will NOT be available to meet with citizens on October 27, November 3, November 17, December 22, or December 29.

Melanie

Today is Wear Something Gaudy Day. Those of you who know me know I commemorate this pretty much 365 days a year.

“A lot of people have said I’d have probably done better in my career if I hadn’t looked so cheap and gaudy. But I dress to be comfortable for me, and you shouldn’t be blamed because you want to look pretty.”

~Dolly Parton