Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Commissioners’ work session of Wed., Oct. 9, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
Island County commissioners have a preliminary timeline for moving forward with a proposed jail replacement project and are planning on contracting with consultants to help with plans.
County Administrator Michael Jones and Facilities Director Ryan Beach presented the board with a report on the status of the effort during a workshop meeting Wednesday. Jones explained that the Jail Replacement Steering Committee has discussed such issues as controlling “project creep,” needs of a facility, the scope of the project and funding options.
Jones said it may be difficult to get grant funding for the project, so voters will likely have to decide whether to fund it. He said the committee hopes to get a measure before voters by the early part of 2026, though the exact funding mechanism hasn’t been chosen.
They Said It
[Jones] pointed out that the need for an updated facility is driving the timeline, plus keys players like the sheriff and prosecutor will still be in office at that point.
Commissioner Melanie Bacon discussed the challenging of getting community buy-in on a jail project.
“I don’t think the citizens are going to be interested in giving criminals a pretty new place to live,” she said, adding that people would be much more willing to support a facility where people can get help with fentanyl addiction or mental health problems.
Jones said the jail does an impressive number of services and programs in a constrained space, but officials would like to have additional options — such as work release.
On The Ballot in November 2024
| Island County Commissioner, District 1 | Marie Shimada (D-Freeland) Melanie Bacon (D-Langley), the incumbent Damian Greene (R-Clinton), a write-in candidate |
| Island County Commissioner, District 2 | Christina Elliott (D-Oak Harbor) Jill Johnson (R-Oak Harbor), the incumbent |
