ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Oct. 4, 2024]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Oct. 4, 2024.

This is a very stressful time for all of us, which makes it particularly relevant that next Thursday, October 10^th, is World Mental Health Day, a dedicated time to raise awareness about mental health challenges and support causes around the globe.

• Island County’s 94-page Community Health Assessment is now available. It identifies Mental Health Care Service Availability as one of our community’s four top needs.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 41^st week of 2024.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and video recording for the Tuesday October 1^st Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We heard public comment from one individual regarding funding for the IRTPO staffing.
  • As I mentioned here last week, I moved the Freeland Park Dock repair and renovation contract from the consent agenda to the regular agenda for public discussion. Mark 00:06:46 in the recording. It’s taken a long time for the County to receive the necessary permits from the Dept of Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corp of Engineers, but we have all the necessary permits now and expect to get these repairs completed yet this year. The repairs will include replacing the decking with fiberglass grating; replacing hinges and damages brackets; replacing bull rails, sleepers, rub rails and skids; and replacing damaged structural elements as needed. The floats that were upgraded in 2017 remain good so we don’t need to replace those. We expect the repaired dock to last us for many years to come.
• The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8^th. Here is the agenda and links to documents.
• Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • October 15: Sewer system franchise transfer (Camano), Louis Saekow/Yaowapa Trongtham & The David L. Wood Living Trust
  • October 22: Finalize the 2025 Work Plan and Docket to comply with the Growth Management Act (GMA) for the Comprehensive Plan update process.
  • October 22 (pending Board approval of date): Planning Work Plan docket
  • December 2 (pending Board approval of date): Finalize Budget
• Work Session. This is the agenda for the October 9^th work session. On that agenda: a proposal from Island Disposal to add residential curbside collection of recyclable materials to current curbside collection programs; a discussion of the obstacles to recruiting a Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney; a Comprehensive Plan discussion on the requirements for the Capital Facilities Element; a recap of a recent Planning Team discussion with Oak Harbor on their Urban Growth Area (UGA); and a discussion on the Board’s prioritizations for Code amendment items.
• I’m writing this newsletter from my hotel in Leavenworth, where I spent the last two days attending a very informative Board of Health conference sponsored by the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (WSALPHO).
• Island Transit News: Next Friday morning, October 11^th, the public is invited to meet the finalists for the agency’s Executive Director position. This event will take place from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, at Island Transit’s Operations & Administration Building, 19758 SR 20, Coupeville.
  • The HR Manager position will be posted next week. Interested applicants should check here for further information.
• 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 next Planning Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 16th.
• Budget Workshops. The next Budget meeting will be held on Tuesday October 8^th at 1 pm. This is the agenda and zoom info.
• The Island County Auditor has posted the Voters Pamphlet for the November 5^th general election here. This pamphlet includes information on all of the initiatives and candidates that we’ll find included on our ballots when we receive them in a couple of weeks..
• I am available in Coupeville and Freeland on Mondays to meet with citizens interested in discussing County issues: at Cedar & Salt in Coupeville, 1:30 – 2:30, and at the Wi Fire Community Space in Freeland, 3 – 4.

Melanie

“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.”

~ Matt Haig

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