Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Jan. 31, 2025.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 5th week of 2025.
- Regular Session. The agenda and recording for the Tuesday January 28th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
- There was no public comment.
- We pulled item 4 from the Consent Agenda to discuss it during the Regular Session. This is the contract rehiring Shawn Morris as Island County Director of Public Health. Mark 00:02:22 in the recording.
- One Public Works resolution was approved on the Consent Agenda: C-07-25, which adopted new Solid Waste tipping fees. Also approved on the Consent Agenda: the certification of the 2025 Road Levy.
- We held a public hearing to expand the boundary of the Shangri-La Shores Water System and incorporate the service area into the coordinated water system plan. There was no public comment. Mark 00:05:30 in the recording.
- The next regular session will occur on Tuesday, February 5,, The agenda for that meeting is here. In response to an action by ICE in South Whidbey this week I asked Sheriff Felici to speak at Tuesday’s meeting about Island County and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency; unfortunately he has a previous commitment at the State Capitol. He has, however, provided me with a statement that I will read during the Commissioners’ Comments portion of our meeting.
- Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
- February 25: Race Lagoon Water Franchise
- February 25: Ziply Fiber Telecommunications Franchise
- February 25: Comcast Cable Franchise
- March 4: Sandberg Water Franchise
- Work Session. The next work session will occur on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, February 7, here.
- At the Clinton Community Council meeting on Monday, representatives from Washington State Ferries spoke about plans for electrification of the fleet.
- The Clinton-Mukilteo run is scheduled to receive the first two new hybrid electric ferries in the State’s fleet, in 2028. Diesel will be the backup fuel for these ferries.
- The Clinton Ferry dock is not scheduled to be electrified until 2029. Therefore, for a year or so our new hybrid electric ferries will operate as diesel boats.
- Also scheduled for 2029: construction for overhead passenger loading for the Clinton dock.
- Unfortunately a permanent second boat for the Coupeville-Port Townsend route is still near the bottom of WSF’s ferry replacement priority list.
- 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 meets at 6 pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. The next meeting of the Planning Commission will occur on February 5, 2025; this is the agenda. On that agenda: The Agricultural Resource Committee of Island County & the American Legion will present the findings from their outreach in support of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan. Also: Long Range staff will present on code changes under consideration for Freeland.
- I am now an ex-officio Board member for Island Senior Resources, so will begin to talk about ISR programs here from time to time. For example, ISR operates a free Medical Equipment Lending Library. Do you need a walker, wheelchair or other assistive devices? Or, do you have some to donate? See this webpage for more information.
- The Holmes Harbor Activities Club, which established Freeland Hall over a hundred years ago and continues to operate it on behalf of the County, invites members of the public to participate in their century-long First Thursday Club potluck. If you’re interested in knowing more about this organization and plan to eat dinner next Thursday anyway, check out this web page for more information.
- Musselfest will take place this year from Friday March 7 – Sunday March 9 in Coupeville. Tickets will go on sale next Friday, February 7. If you’re interested in attending the Mussel Mingle, Musselfest Chowder Tastings, or the Mussel Farm Boat tours, you can get tickets beginning next Friday here.
- South Whidbey Fire/EMS is offering CPR/AED and First Aid classes.
- Island County’s Parent to Parent program has a terrific newsletter keeping subscribers informed of their many resources and support programs for families with children or adults with special needs, delays, disabilities and/or complex medical needs. Their latest newsletter just came out. Find it and other great information about this program here.
- I will be available Monday, February 3rd, at Crabby Coffee WiFire in Freeland at 3 pm to meet with citizens.
Melanie
February is National Black History Month. Tomorrow, February 1st, is National Freedom Day, which honors the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a joint resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865.
“I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate February 1, 1949, and each succeeding February 1, as national Freedom Day; and I call upon the people of the United States to pause on that day in solemn contemplation of the glorious blessings of freedom which we humbly and thankfully enjoy.”
~President Harry Truman, Proclamation 2824, January 25,1949
