Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent out this newsletter on Feb. 25, 2022.
Hello everyone!
Thank you for reading this 8th week update for 2022.
- You may recall that Governor Inslee appointed me to the Pandemic After Action Review Task Force, representing the counties of Washington State. Yesterday was our first meeting. Around half the people on the call represented governments and agencies that responded to the needs of the people; the other half represented people who depended on that response. It’s an interesting group and I look forward to the work. We will be meeting once a month; there will be a preliminary report in June 2022 and a final report in June 2023.
- Like you, I am concerned about what’s happening with the hospital in Coupeville. I want to assure you that the county is in conversation with their executive board. The Board of County Commissioners will be discussing our concerns next week. I’m paying particular attention because recent events have emphasized to us how critical WhidbeyHealth is:
- we are still experiencing a public health emergency that has shown us all how important it is to have a community hospital centrally located on Whidbey Island, and
- the recent approval by the voters of a tax levy increase for the hospital shows how much the citizens value the financial health of this institution.
- I was part of several meetings this week with various committees that discussed the importance of the county partnering with the other local jurisdictions to develop a Climate Action Plan with clear roles, responsibilities, dates and deliverables. I wanted to let you know that this is happening.
- Thankfully, this last week saw no new COVID deaths in Island County. Like the rest of the world, the county is experiencing a sharp decline in serious COVID, as indicated by a sudden increase in hospital bed availability. Here is this week’s COVID Response Community Guidance newsletter: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WACOISLAND/2022/02/25/file_attachments/2087343/Newsletter%20Vol%202,%20No.%204.pdf
~Melanie
“And so, when we feel weak, all we have to do is wait a little. The spring returns, and the winter snows melt and fill us with new energy.”
–Paulo Coelho
