MELANIE BACON: A Message from Commissioner Bacon (May 27, 2022)

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., May 27, 2022.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 21st week of 2022.

• I was extremely busy every day this week, but most of my meetings were with individuals, either staff or members of the public. So, this is a short newsletter.
• We hold work sessions the first 3 Wednesdays of the month only. On the 4^thWednesday of the month, we hold meetings of the Council of Governments (COG), the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO), and, once per quarter, the Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO). At the COG meeting this week, Jim Childers, the interim CFO of WhidbeyHealth, provided an update on the hospital’s finances and activities. I was particularly heartened to hear that the hospital is increasing its services for women’s and maternal health, and that no services are being eliminated. To listen to Jim’s update, go to mark 00:35:58 here.
• On the 4^thThursday of every month, I attend a 3-hour meeting of the Governor’s “Pandemic After Action Report Taskforce”. I don’t have any findings to share with you yet—but each month I leave the meeting with more confidence that we will end up with a good product that can really help the state’s preparations for the next time we face a public health emergency. Information on this task force here.
• If you’re interested in listening to the county’s Electeds and Department Heads Roundtable discussion this week on the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), you can find it here.
• This week I signed a letter on behalf of the Board awarding Shelter Resources, Inc. a contract to develop mixed income affordable housing in Oak Harbor on property owned by the County. I appreciate the story Jessie Stensland of The Whidbey News Times/South Whidbey Record wrote about this.
• Resolutions & Proclamations passed this week. To see the supporting documents, click on the links in the agenda:
  • Resolution No. C-36-22 (Consent Agenda): Supporting Snohomish, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, and Skagit (SWISS) Regional Partnership with the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC)
  • Resolution No. C-37-22 (Consent Agenda): Adopting the Island County Data Governance Policy
  • Resolution No. C-38-22 (Consent Agenda): Site Specific Zoning Amendment of a Split-Zoned Rural and Commercial Agricultural Parcel into Rural Agriculture with No Change to the Comprehensive Plan
  • Resolution No. C-39-22 (Consent Agenda): Initiating a County Drainage Project (Penn Cove Road Culvert Replacement)
  • Resolution No. C-40-22 (Consent Agenda): Initiating a County Road Project (Freeland Business District Improvement)
  • Resolution No. C-41-22 (Consent Agenda): Approving Plans & Specifications and Authorizing Calls for Bids for 2022 Whidbey Island Hot Mix Asphalt Overlays
• Per Jamie Hamilton, COVID Response Epidemiologist: “Cases have moved into another shoulder and remain relatively high. Camano Island is seeing its second week of unusually high transmission. Hospitalizations continue to modestly climb regionally and locally. There are no new deaths of Island County residents.”
• Next week is one of our odd weeks in Island County government (I know; and yes, odder than usual). It’s a 5^th Tuesday—and we don’t hold our regular Board meetings during the 5^th week. But it’s also the 1^stWednesday—and as I said earlier, we hold work sessions the first 3 Wednesdays of the month. So, if you’re one of our regular Board meeting attendees, don’t worry when you don’t see us on Tuesday. You can watch us on Wednesday instead!
• I am starting a new tradition this next week: Monday Tea with Melanie. From 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. you will find me at Crabby Coffee in Freeland (in the WiFire Community Space, 1651 E Main St). Stop in to visit if you want to chat—or if you just want to join me for afternoon tea. I’m planning to be there every Monday—but if for some reason the building is closed (this is Whidbey, after all, and things happen), we’ll have to try again the following week.
• All three County Commissioners are attending a variety of Memorial Day events this weekend. At least two of us will be marching in Saturday’s Memorial Day parade in Coupeville, and I think all three of us will be at the Service of Remembrance at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor on Monday. Memorial Day was set aside as an opportunity for us to honor those who have died defending our country in all of our wars. Your three County Commissioners wish you all a day of peace and reflection.

Thanks,

Melanie

“America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.”  

— Paul Tsongas