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...
Oak Harbor has reached an agreement with developer Pacific North Group, Inc., headed by Scott Thompson, that allows for flexibility in, among other things, adhering to city code concerning the filing of final plats for the development of a housing project on the hill above Walmart. The City Council approved...
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...
Jessie Stensland reports: The city of Oak Harbor and the corporation that is building a 192-house development on the hill across from the Safeway store may enter into a unique agreement that could be a first in the state, according to city officials. City council members will consider the development...
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: 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...
