Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Sat., Sep. 17, 2022.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 37th week of 2022.
Regular Agenda: You can watch Tuesday’s meeting at this link.
- We authorized the Treasurer to wire $650,000 from the conservation futures fund to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s Lagoon Point Community Forest Acquisition Project. This acquisition of three properties totaling more than 200 acres of undeveloped forestland will expand on existing protected lands to create the approximately 300-acre “Lagoon Point Community Forest,” a wonderful addition to our local parks and trails, and important protection of wildlife habitat.
- Here is the agenda for our September 20th meeting, including how to attend virtually.
Upcoming Public Hearings
September 20th, 10:00 a.m.:
- Franchise PW2022-0009 – Kerry M. and Susan M. Wenthin for sewer collection line; (Whidbey Island); Section 31, Township 30N, Range 2E.
- Franchise PW2022-0008 – Double View Community Club for water distribution line; (Whidbey Island); Section 3, Township 31N, Range 2E.
- Franchise 447 – Faranda Community Water Association for water distribution line; Plat of Faranda Division #1; (Whidbey Island); Section 19, Township 33N, Range 2E.
- Franchise PW2022-0037 – City of Oak Harbor – within Urban Growth area; water distribution line; (Whidbey Island); Section 31, Township 30N, Range 2E.
- Franchise PW2022-0038 – City of Oak Harbor – outside Urban Growth area; Balda Road water distribution line; (Whidbey Island); Section 10, Township 32N, Range 1E.
October 18th, 10:00 a.m.:
- Resolution C-57-22 – Expanding the Boundaries of the W & B Waterworks 1 Water System, and Incorporating the Service Area Boundaries into the Coordinated Water System Plan.
This week’s Work Session. Link to agenda here; audio here.
- Note: the Auditor’s Office was not ready to discuss their agenda item, so we heard only from the Prosecuting Attorney and the Facilities Director this week.
- The conversation with the Prosecuting Attorney was really interesting. We talked about inflation and its impact on salaries, about the greater impact inflation has on employees at the lower end of the salary schedule than it has on people making a higher rate of pay, and about the need to pay our prosecutors in line with their peers. But the part I want to especially call out for you is the dialogue between Commissioner Johnson and PA Banks on the pay for Public Defense, which starts at mark 00:48:36 in the audio above.
- The agenda for next Wednesday’s work session, including information on how to attend virtually, can be found here.
Our new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, Kenesha Lewin, sends out a “Friday Nugget” to employees each week, which I will share with you from time to time. This week, she noted that “Equity isn’t always equal” and included this link to a short illustration that very clearly shows the difference between “equity” and “equality”.
Coupeville Ferry Advisory Committee: Per RCW 47.60.310, each ferry system in Island County must have a Ferry Advisory Committee. Unfortunately, there are 3 vacancies on the Coupeville Ferry Committee now—which is a real shame, because this is a ferry system badly in need of citizen attention. The committee appointment has a four-year term; the qualifications are that you must be a resident of Island County, and the Board may not appoint more than two members of the same major political party. I would REALLY like to fill these seats and get an active committee going again. If you’re interested, contact Jennifer Roll at j.roll@islandcountywa.gov. This is what you would do as a member of Coupeville Ferry Advisory Committee (info from WSDOT):
- Provide input to WSDOT on problems experienced by riders and by ferry communities (RCW 47.60.310)
- Participate in reviews of allocation of vessels to runs, schedules, and the adequacy of terminals (RCW 47.60.310 and RCW 47.60.300)
- Participate in developing fares and fare policies (RCW 47.60.290 and RCW 47.60.300)
- Review plans for changes to route service levels (RCW 47.60.330)
- Participate in developing rider surveys with the Washington State Transportation Commission (RCW 47.60.286)
- Review rider survey responses (RCW 47.60.290)
- Participate in developing plans for capital and operating investments (RCW 47.06.050)
- Meet with WSDOT twice each year as an executive committee to review ferry system issues (RCW 47.60.310)
The County saw two more COVID deaths this week. This week’s “Health Matters” newsletter talks about the new Bivalent Booster. If you are an immunocompromised individual, I encourage you especially to get this new shot (I plan to schedule mine as soon as I finish writing this newsletter). Finding shots on South and Central Whidbey can often be challenging, so the great folks on our COVID team put together the following information for me to share with those of you who live in my district.
The following providers in Central and South Whidbey have been administering the Bivalent Boosters:
| Provider | Location | ICPH Supplied Quantities | Website | Other |
| Island Drug | Clinton | Moderna 20, Pfizer 360 | https://islanddrug.com/pages/covidvaccine/ | Walk-ins available; can register in store. |
| Pediatric Associates of Whidbey Island | Freeland | Moderna 0, Pfizer 90 | https://www.pediatricsofwhidbey.com/ | Established patients only |
| RiteAid | Freeland | (Federal Partner) | https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler | No appointments available |
| WhidbeyHealth Community Pharmacy | Coupeville | Moderna 20, Pfizer 60 | https://whidbeyhealth.org/rx | Walks-ins possible depending on appt volume. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Moderna Bivalent is in very limited supply, and many locations have exhausted their inventory. The Department Of Health estimates ordering may reopen Thursday, 9/29, for deliveries in early October.
- Pfizer Bivalent is readily available for ordering, and ICPH (Island County Public Health) has placed regular weekly orders. Island Drug has adequate inventory, and ICPH will have over 1,000 doses on hand after transferring 420 to WHMC this Monday.
- Availability of specific vaccines and appointments changes frequently; providers advise patients to check on their websites often to get the latest information.
Monday Tea with Melanie: 3:00 p.m. at Crabby Coffee in Freeland in the WiFire Community Space, 1651 E Main St, Freeland. Tea is on me.
Anyone else feeling gloomy about the weather already?
Thanks,
Melanie
“September tries its best to have us forget summer.”
~ Bernard Williams
