Jessie Stensland reports that Councilmember Jim Woessner stated he was “absolutely shocked” to learn that the water bill to operate the city’s water park for two months last summer came to $100,000. Apparently, the high cost is due to the fact that the water park does not recirculate the water...
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...
In a story by Jessie Stensland, the City of Oak Harbor is facing a tough decision concerning the funding of an access road for a U-Haul facility currently under construction on the north end of town. The proposed small section of a road off Fakkema Road, which would provide access...
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:...
Jessie Stensland reports: Under newly redistricted maps, Whidbey Island will remain in the state’s most politically competitive legislative district as well as a slightly more competitive congressional district. Under the new maps, Island County remains in a geographically larger Congressional District 2 and a mostly unchanged Legislative District 10. US...
Oak Harbor City Councilmembers have raised questions as to why the city is planning to pay an estimated $700,000 for the Fakkema Access Road project. The road is about 2,000 feet of a public road that will provide access to 7 different parcels that front Highway 20 and access to...
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...
During last Wednesday’s City Council workshop, Mayor Bob Severns floated the idea of rebuilding the windmill that used to be in Windjammer Park. He commented that the city council said it would be rebuilt when it was torn down in 2017. Councilmember Jim Woessner reports being approached by a grassroots...
