Rep Dave Paul has secured funding for a pilot program that will focus on improving mental health outcomes for young people. Rep. Paul secured a $750k carve-out from the state’s operating budget for a two-year pilot program that will allow Island County to address the mental health needs of youths...
Kira Erickson reports from South Whidbey: South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District officials are hoping to get a healthy slice of Island County’s coveted federal stimulus dollars…. During a meeting Sept. 15, commissioners for the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District considered submitting a $2.9 million funding request to the...
Island County is taking action to stop people from camping on the beach alongside the road at Ebey’s Landing. The County Commissioners were informed there has been an explosion of unregulated campers who are leaving garbage, gray water and animal feces behind on the pristine beach. A local resident told...
Island County officials took a second shot at finding a legal way to funnel American Rescue Plan Act money to county staff to compensate those who have to work with the public and are exposed to risks associated with the Covid pandemic. After Prosecutor Greg Banks concluded that the original...
The two largest law enforcement offices on Whidbey Island are facing the loss of significant numbers of commissioned officers this year. For some departing Oak Harbor Police Department officers, the significant changes in laws regarding how police officers operate affected their decision to leave. Oak Harbor Police Chief Kevin Dresker...
There will be a three-day special filing period on August 9-11 to allow candidates to sign up to run for 10 Island County offices that currently have no candidates. For a listing of the positions, see the Island County Auditor elections website. For more details, see the story by Kira...
Island County Commissioners are considering many different ideas on how to spend the $16.5 million of taxpayer dollars given to the County thru the federal governments American Rescue Plan Act. Commissioner Jill Johnson suggested giving $9 to $10 million to Habitat for Humanity for purchasing property and putting in infrastructure...
Based on advice from Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, the Island County Commissioners have rescinded a resolution that would have provided Island County essential employees bonuses for their “incredible work” during the Covid pandemic. The problem is that Washington state law and the state constitution does not allow for retroactive...
