ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: County eyes priorities for federal funds (WNT) (AUDIO)

Jessie Stensland reports for the Whidbey News-Times from the Island County Commissioners work session on Jan. 4, 2022.

Island County commissioners are seeking federal pork, possibly for a new trash compactor that would squish trash into tighter bales.

During a work session Wednesday, County Administrator Michael Jones asked the commissioners to select a project for which to seek federal earmark spending. ..

Jones said he worked with facilities and public works staff to come up with a list of four potential projects for the commissioners to consider.

They Said It

Commissioners Melanie Bacon and Janet St. Clair said they didn’t want to make a final decision without Commissioner Jill Johnson, who was out sick.

Bacon said her top priority was likely to be the improvements to the law and justice building, while she was struggling to choose between the highway or transfer station project as her second priority.

St. Clair spoke in favor of the improvements to the transfer station, emphasizing the importance of resiliency to emergencies. The transfer station, for example, was closed temporarily in April because the railroad company was unable to provide shipping containers.

“I don’t want to tell people we’re not going to pick up your trash for the next three months,” she said.

In addition, St. Clair identified the highway project as her other priority, although she said she could be convinced to support the law and justice building project.