ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Oct. 24, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Oct. 24, 2025.

There is little Commissioner work scheduled for next week (a fifth week), so I’m taking the week off to be with my grandchildren (I will attend the Tuesday meeting virtually). I don’t plan to write a newsletter next Friday, October 31.

• Regular Session.  This is the agenda and recording for the Tuesday, October 21 regular session.
  • We received public comment from two citizens: one was a clarification on how Oak Harbor Main Street uses LTAC funds, and the other was a citizen concerned about barking dogs from a business in his neighborhood.
  • We held a public hearing to amend the Land Use and Building Permit Fee Schedules. There was no public comment. The resolution passed.
  • The next regular session will be held on Tuesday, October 28. Here is the agenda, including consent agenda items. There are no regular agenda items or public hearings scheduled for that meeting.
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • 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. There was no work session held this week (4^th week). The next work session will be held on Wednesday, November 5^th. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, October 31^st, here.
• The Council of Governments (COG), Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO), and Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO) met on Wednesday, October 22. These were the last meetings of these groups for 2025.
  • COG: a discussion on 2026 legislative priorities; agenda. Recording.
  • IRTPO: A presentation from WSDOT on the Transportation Human Services Report, and a continuation of our Project Programming discussion; agenda. Recording: (audio begins at 00:00:28).
  • ILIO: Determination of top potential projects for consideration for ILIO funding; Healthy Shorelines Target Action Plan. Agenda. Recording.
• The Board of Health (BOH) met on Tuesday, October 21^st. Agenda; video recording.
  • VA Puget Sound Chief of Staff Dr. Jesse Markman gave a presentation on the services offered at the new VA Puget Sound Oak Harbor Clinic at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Mark 0:14:45 in the video recording. In general, in order to use their services veterans will (1) need their active veteran ID, (2) need to have an appointment, and (3) need to already be enrolled at the clinic. To enroll: reach out through your existing VA Care Team to have your enrollment transferred to the Oak Harbor clinic. If you do not have an existing VA care team, contact the VA Puget Sound Enrollment and Eligibility Office at 206-277-1469. Note: expect significant delays to get on base so plan accordingly. To speak with someone at the clinic, call the clinic itself at 1-800-329-8387—do not call the base. For more information.
  • Island County Human Services Deputy Director Bill Larsen gave a presentation on the County Veterans Services program. We now have two Veterans Services Officers (VSO), who have been able to assist veterans to receive $4.8 Million in benefits so far in 2025. This is an extremely successful program, and I encourage you to watch Bill’s presentation, beginning at mark 0:41:57. If you are a veteran needing VA services and frustrated by their bureaucracy, I urge you to contact one of our VSOs—75% of the VA complaints filed by people working by themselves on their issues are denied, but our VSOs have an 86% success rate when filing on behalf of veterans. Their contact information is available here.
  • Public Health invites you to attend one of their Community Health Planning Open Houses: Wed, Nov 5, from 3 – 6 pm at the Camano Library; and Thurs, Nov 6, from 3 – 6 pm at the Coupeville Library. Attend to learn about key health priorities, to vote on what matters most to you and your family, to share your ideas and experiences, and connect with neighbors and local health leaders. 
• Island Senior Resources is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast tomorrow, October 25^th, 9 – 11 am, to benefit Meals on Wheels. 14594 SR 525, across the street from The Goose. Fun time, great food.
• The Clinton Community Council will meet on Monday, October 27, at 6:15 pm at the Clinton Community Hall. On this month’s agenda: a forum with the two candidates for the South Whidbey School Board, Gwendy Gabelein and Ann Johnson, beginning at 7 pm. BTW: the Clinton Community Council has an open position for an at-large member. If interested, go 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 Wednesdays of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville.
• I will NOT be available to meet with citizens for the next two Mondays, October 27 and November 3; also, I will not be at the Clinton Community Hall this next Monday evening. You are invited to join me at the WiFire Community Center in Freeland on Monday, November 10 at 3 pm; also I believe interested community members continue to have these meetings even in my absence, so if you want to just visit with your neighbors and hear what local issues they’re interested in I encourage you to stop by any Monday afternoon.

Melanie

“Halloween is right around the corner. You can tell because all the stores are decked out for Christmas.”

~Stephen Colbert