Latest Headlines from Island County

The following article about Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon appeared in The Crab Cracker, issue 317 (Jan. 14-27, 2022): Melanie Bacon, chair for the Island County Board of Commissioners for 2022, will represent all of Washington state’s 39 counties on a task force formed to improve the response to, and...

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent out this newsletter on Jan. 14, 2022. Hello everyone, In my second GovDelivery of 2022, I want to give you the highlights of my second week as chair of the Board of Island County Commissioners. This is important work! Please consider serving! COMMITTEE...

Kira Erickson reports that Island County COVID response manager Don Mason presented some “harrowing” information to the Island County Commissioners. As much as 2% of people who contract Omicron are likely to experience serious cases. The current surge in COVID cases could bring the number of deaths in Island County...

Jessie Stensland reports that the Island County Commissioners, after noting that fast-food restaurants on Whidbey Island are paying more than what some county employees earn, have decided to establish $20 per hour as base pay. The Commissioners also instructed the County Human Resources Director to approach the unions about the...

The Island County Democrats Dec 2021 newsletter includes messages from county chairman Joseph Busig and US Representative Rick Larsen.

In a story by Jessie Stensland, she reports that the Island County Commissioners are going to hold a public meeting on January 18 for discussion on a proposed sales tax increase of on-tenth of 1%. The increase would raise approximately $1.2 million per year to construct, purchase, maintain and operate...

Jessie Stensland reports: Island County commissioners hired Connie Bowers to replace Bill Oakes as the county public works director and county engineer. Bowers worked with Oakes for 13 years, first as a traffic engineer and then as the assistant county engineer. Bowers will earn $130,000 a year. They Said It:...

Karina Andrew reports: The Port of Coupeville was recently awarded almost $5 million from the Washington State Public Works Board to expand broadband internet access in Central Whidbey. Expansion of fiber optics infrastructure is expected to help level inequities in education, business and healthcare as households that have long been...

Both candidates who underwent the interview process to become Island County’s first county administrator have declined to take the job. Commissioner Jill Johnson said the commissioners are “disappointed” but that “it can be difficult to recruit people to work in the county.” She went on to say that “the idea...

For the first time ever, Island County will soon have a County Administrator. This person will run the daily operations of Island County departments that the commissioners directly operate and supervise. The departments the County Administrator will run are those who do not have a publicly elected head which include...