Island County Commissioners – Work Session

The Island County Commissioners meet in Work Session routinely on the first three Wednesdays of each month (unless otherwise scheduled). Work sessions are public meetings which provide an opportunity in an informal workshop format for the Board to review in detail ongoing issues with individual departments and elected officials. This time also is used for the Commissioners to meet with other agencies, committees and groups to discuss specific topics of mutual interest. Items are typically first reviewed at Work Session before being scheduled on the agenda for the Commissioners’ regular business meetings held on Tuesdays. The agenda for this meeting may be found at this link.

Topics of interest include:

• 9:00 AM: Human Services: two contracts for consulting services related to overall employment success of people who experience developmental disabilities.
• 9:15 AM: Health Department / Department of Natural Resources: an amendment to the agreement with the state Department of Ecology for Island County Marine Resources Committee operations and projects
• 9:25 AM: Human Resources: requests for the commissioners to approve two new positions within the Recovery Navigator Program for an outreach case manager and a peer outreach navigator.
• 9:35 AM: Treasurer’s Office: discussion of the June Treasurer’s report and staffing at the Treasurer’s office; a request to schedule a tax title properties sale in July 2022. (Tax Title Lands are tracts acquired by the county for lack of other bidders at a tax foreclosure sale.)
• 10:05 AM: WSU/Extension Services: discussion of the role WSU “can and has played in assisting with Emergency Responses” and on the process for an interim director and selection of a new director at the Island County extension.
• 10:35 AM: Public Works: an update on the countywide speed evaluation, a newly created tool to provide suggested speed limits on Island County roadways; contracts with three vendors for materials to be used in paving projects as part of the 2022 road maintenance program; a consulting agreement for emergency management planning support; and a request by Island County Parks for $100,000 for maintenance and operations of thirteen Conservation Futures acquired Parks for 2023.
• 11:45 AM: Commissioner’s Office: requests for re-appointment by Shirley Anne Bennett and Bob Monize to the Northwest Senior Services Advisory Board
• Noon – Break
• 1:00 PM: Budget Manager: a presentation by the Port of South Whidbey on a request for a grant of $135,000 from the Rural County Economic Development (RCED) fund for the Port’s workforce housing proposal at the fairgrounds; a presentation on the status and forecast for the Local Tourism Advisory Board; and early estimates for revenue and expenses for the county’s 2023 budget.