Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Jun. 17, 2022.
Happy Juneteenth! Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 24th week of 2022.
- Yesterday afternoon I hosted a meeting at the Trinity Lutheran Church. It was highly attended, with as many as 125 people. Hindsight, with the different COVID variants, the thought of everyone’s safety came to mind. I know there are those that have not been vaccinated who attended the meeting, and those that were gracious enough to wear masks – I applaud all those who did. I am thankful to County staff who so kindly attended in response to my request. Due to the large number of attendees, I will be paying careful attention to the South Whidbey COVID numbers over the next couple of weeks. It was only at the end when one citizen was talking to me and I felt his breath on my face (an experience I hadn’t had in over two years!) that I truly realized what the real toll of the evening might be. I will pray that everyone that attended continues to remain healthy.
- About that meeting: this was not an official meeting of the Board of Island County Commissioners—it was a meeting I held with my constituents as their district’s representative on the Board. It came about because Island County has been in conversation with Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and their intent to purchase the Harbor Inn in Freeland in order to provide supportive and transitional housing to Island County residents. We expect to be asked to sign a contract in mid-July to grant them $1.5 million dollars of county funds set aside for purposes like this.
- There has been quite a bit of push-back from citizens who are worried, to be very frank, that this use of the motel will be a magnet for drugs and crime to come here from Seattle. They are also concerned about the zoning, the ability of the septic system to manage this changed use, and the availability of water. They are also mourning the loss of the only motel in unincorporated South Whidbey.
- I had representatives from Island County Human Services, Planning, and Public Health with me to talk about the need for this type of service for our citizens; about the legality of the zoning; and about the process for permitting the septic.
- There is a lot of frustration about what seems to people like a backwards process: we don’t have definitive answers from Planning and Public Health because no one has applied for permits yet. LIHI hasn’t applied for permits because they are not yet the owners. They aren’t yet the owners because we haven’t given them the $1.5 M in matching funds they need from the County in order to close the deal. Many citizens don’t want us to give them this money until we have the definitive answers—which we don’t have because no one has applied for permits yet. Welcome to government. For example, one gentleman wanted me to commit to not signing the agreement until we have the site plan and the numbers, and I think some people were angry with me because I didn’t understand how to answer that question. But since no change is intended to the existing motel layout, I don’t expect to see a site plan. If they have to change the septic or drain field, I will see a site plan for that—but we won’t know that until the application is filed and the Public Health process begins. And I’m not sure what he means by “see the numbers,” because the County’s number is $1.5 million—I don’t know what other number he’s looking for. I think in reading this paragraph, you probably get a sense of the frustration the citizens had last night, as well as my own.
- There was also a lot of distrust expressed toward the government—which I had to take kind of personally, since I was the elected representative of the government in the room and this was my meeting. One gentleman actually implied money was being exchanged for the deal, which really offended me (do I actually have to assure you no one at the County is accepting bribes for projects?). Another example: LIHI uses the term “low barrier housing” in their documents. If you google “low barrier housing”, it’s defined as emergency shelter that doesn’t require background checks or sobriety. But Island County is ADAMANT that our Human Services people WILL be screening the applicants and making referrals for the housing—this is not a drop-in facility, or a place for people and their friends to flop between drug doses—we intend this as a place for people who are working to improve their lives and just need safety and a little assistance from the government to help them transition to the next, better phase in their lives. Yet as often as I say that, there are still folks who keep insisting that since LIHI calls it “low barrier”, what I say doesn’t matter.
- Lest you think that everyone in the room was opposed to the project—that was not the case. There were some people who spoke up in favor of it, who were not treated particularly respectfully by everyone as a result. People came up to me afterward to express support for the project. And we have received emails in support. But the loudest voices in the room (other than my own, which I confess was pretty loud once or twice) were certainly the voices of people who are worried that this project will cause harm to this beautiful place that we all love so much.
- Since this was not an official County meeting, I did not record it. I did give permission to people that if they wanted to record it they could—and there was a member of the public there with a camera. So you might be able to watch the meeting sometime if they make it available somewhere online—but not through the County website. And really, I’m not sure this was a meeting anyone would want to watch. In my view, nothing was resolved. I doubt that anyone who already had their mind made up before the start of the meeting left with a changed point of view. But I did get the sense that people were glad to have had an opportunity to publicly express their thoughts and concerns. At any rate, after the end a lot of people—even angry ones—thanked me for the meeting. I sincerely hope they don’t get COVID. As for me, I’ve been downing zinc all morning.
- Another thing that happened last night: our Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with other law enforcement including Homeland Security, responded appropriately to a hate crime threat in Oak Harbor that had the potential for a very dangerous outcome. I am very proud of them and grateful to live in a community where our law enforcement officials take threats to our citizens seriously.
- Resolutions & Proclamations passed this week.
- Resolution No. C-43-22 (Consent Agenda): Petition to vacate a portion of county road right-of-way known as Ships Haven Drive. There will be two Public Hearings held in association with this: one to vacate a portion of the county road right-of-way and the other to open an unopened county right-of-way, both to be held on July 12, 2022.
- At our Tuesday regular meeting the Board discussed our new County Administrator, who will be starting next month. If you’d like to hear those comments, you can find them at this link beginning at mark 00:18:30.
- This Week’s Work Session. Agenda Audio.
- Every month Wanda Grone, our County Treasurer, provides the County with Treasurer Reports. The Treasurer’s agenda begins on page 50 of the link above. This month’s meeting with Wanda was particularly enlightening, and starts at mark 00:24:33 in the audio above. At mark 00:31:15 she talks about the foreclosure processes we follow at Island County, and how, due to the proactive work of her staff to assist citizens facing foreclosure, we were able to go from 58 properties subject to foreclosure at the beginning of the year to only 12 properties by May 31. At mark 00:33:58 she talks about the importance of the senior exemption program for property taxes—and if you or your friend are a senior facing distress due to increases in your property taxes I encourage you to listen. At mark 00:55:20 she talks about the tax title property sale in July. Buyers beware: most of these properties are not buildable; others are mostly unbuildable. The citizens of Island County have been well served by Treasurer Grone, who is retiring at the end of this year.
- Public Works is working on a Traffic Safety Plan and walked us through that process. You can find their presentation beginning on page 70 of the agenda above, and hear the presentation beginning at mark 01:06:11 of the audio.
- Dr. Timothy Lawrence, outgoing director of WSU Extension, Island County, introduced us to Mike Gaffney, the Assistant Director of Extension for WSU. Dr. Gaffney spoke with us about the many ways WSU could assist us that we are not taking advantage of as yet. You can hear this conversation beginning at mark 02:20:05.
- Next Monday, June 20, will be the first time in Island County history that we will celebrate Juneteenth Independence Day as an legal Island County holiday. Most of the offices of the County will be closed.
- This is the reason we celebrate Juneteenth: News of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States, in particular the State of Texas and the other Southwestern States, until months after the conclusion of the Civil War and more than 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. Black people who had been slaves in the Southwest celebrated June 19, commonly known as “Juneteenth Independence Day”, as inspiration and encouragement for future generations, and continued the tradition of observing Juneteenth Independence Day for more than 150 years.
- It is important that all Americans recognize and celebrate the end of slavery in America. What started out as a Texas holiday spread out to other states. Our own state of Washington adopted it last year as a paid holiday for State employees, and the Board of Island County Commissioners also made the decision last year to enact this date as a paid legal holiday for Island County employees.
- The Executive Director for the Housing Authority of Island County is retiring and her position has been posted. Many, if not most, of the executive directors of our partner agencies have retired recently—and in each case, like this one, it’s crucial that they be replaced with an experienced and talented person who is committed to moving their organization to the next level. If you or someone you know is interested in this position, you can find the posting here: you can find the posting here.
- COVID. Vaccine eligibility will be expanded to include kids from 11 months of age and older in the coming weeks. Shots will likely be authorized for the youngest kids by June 20th and shipped June 21st (we’ve already submitted our orders). These shots will be available at local pharmacies and most places where these kids get their health care. Read the June 17 COVID Brief.
- We have a port district on Camano, the Port of Mabana. Like the other port districts, the Port of Mabana has three elected commissioner seats. The key is: to be elected (or appointed) as Port Commissioner for the Port of Mabana, you have to live in the port district. Right now, all of the seats are empty except for one, and the County is required to appoint a port commissioner to serve out the term of the most recent Port Commissioner, who retired in January. The appointment will continue through the next general election (Nov. 2023) and until a successor is elected and qualified. The County has been asking for volunteers for the last six months, but no one has stepped forward. We hope to have interested community members submit their letter of interest/application by Monday or be subject to the terms of this RCW:
- RCW 42.12.070(5): If the county legislative authority of the county fails to appoint a qualified person within one hundred eighty days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the county legislative authority or the remaining members of the governing body of the city, town, or special district may petition the governor to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. The governor may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy after being petitioned if at the time the governor fills the vacancy the county legislative authority has not appointed a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
- So in order to avoid the Governor stepping in, we are really desirous to see someone volunteer to serve in this position. If you are interested in learning more, you can read about the position and the port district boundaries here or call 360-679-7385 for more information.
- This Sunday is also Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all of you fathers out there! My own father, Robert Bacon, turns 91 in July and I will be going to California to visit him, which might impact my ability to get my 27thweek newsletter out as scheduled. My Dad remains mentally and physically strong and is the mainstay of our family. So I really don’t want to get COVID now—Daddy just got over it a month ago.
- Monday Tea with Melanie happens from 3 – 4 every week at Crabby Coffee in Freeland (in the WiFire Community Space, 1651 E Main St). Tea is on me.
Thanks,
Melanie
“Fathers, be good to your daughters. You are the god and the weight of her world.”
—John Mayer
