Latest Curated Headlines from Oak Harbor and North Whidbey

Editor Jessie Stensland wrote an In Our Opinion column in the Nov. 10 edition of the Whidbey News-Times, urging the Oak Harbor City Council to consider changing from a mayor-council form of government to a council-manager system. They Said It Jessie Stensland: …Oak Harbor has had its share of political...

A week after the results of a staff morale survey were released, the Oak Harbor City council unanimously passed a resolution to give a retroactive 2% cost-of-living raise for this year and then another 2% raise for next year to all non-union staff. These raises also apply to to all...

Jessie Stensland reports: A relative newcomer to city politics says his apparent landslide victory over an experienced and established member of the Oak Harbor City Council points to a widespread dissatisfaction with city leadership. Shane Hoffmire predicts significant changes will occur once he and two other newly elected council members...

The Oak Harbor and South Whidbey School Board incumbents all retained their seats in the last election. South Whidbey School Board member Marnie Jackson said “I’m really pleased. I think that this is a resounding vote of confidence from the community for a safe, inclusive, equitable education that the incumbent...

Jessie Stensland reports: Voters on Whidbey Island approved a measure in Tuesday’s election to increase the public hospital district’s property tax levy. At the same time, it appears that voters are replacing a hospital commissioner with a candidate new to health care administration. They Said It Candidate James Golder said...

Jessie Stensland reports: Demand hasn’t been as high as anticipated for what Oak Harbor staff call “Poo-Cheetos.” Mick Monken, the city’s interim public works director, told city council members last week that he wanted to move forward with creating a “biosolids sustainability plan” that would offer several specific options for...

Jessie Stensland reports: An Oak Harbor subcommittee charged with reviewing ideas for spending federal stimulus money came up with a $2 million list of expenses, from iPads for council members to new city employees. They Said It Councilmember Tara Hizon, a member of the subcommittee, said the list is for...

Tying into the controversy surrounding the Oak Harbor City Councils vote of no-confidence in City Administrator Blaine Oborn and Mayor Bob Severns subsequent defense of Oborn, the mayor asked city employees for anonymous comments. In the results, there were shots taken at both sides of the issue. The comments covered...

The Oak Harbor School Board approved a 22 year bond that will be on the ballot in February 2022. The bond funds will be used to build three new elementary schools, a new transportation center, and a new HomeConnection/Hand-in-Hand early Childhood Learning Center. For more details on exactly what this...

Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns went through a PowerPoint presentation at the City Council meeting that addressed the City Council’s no-confidence vote in City Administrator Blain Oborn. Mayor Severns went through each point raised by the council’s motion of no-confidence to explain the reasons why the complaints were either misleading...