Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Commissioners board meeting of Jul. 19, 2022.
A nonprofit group’s plans to protect a 300-acre tract of rare forested land in Central Whidbey got a $650,000 boost from the county this week.
The Island County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to award the Whidbey Camano Land Trust with Conservation Futures grant funds for the ambitious project.
A video recording of the meeting is available at this link. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust presentation begins at 7:31; the presentation and ensuing discussion last for approximately nineteen minutes.
They Said It
Commissioner Janet St. Clair said it was a priority for her that protected properties have public access.
“I believe that when people have access to these things they learn to protect what they love,” she said.
Likewise, Commissioner Melanie Bacon expressed strong support for the project.
“I also wanted to express the fact that it is to protect large parcels like this is one of the reasons I ran for county commissioner,” she said.
Commissioner Jill Johnson, however, said she was confused by parts of the presentation which she felt did not match the paperwork presented to the board. She also questioned the price the Land Trust would be paying for the land.
In response to her questions, Elting explained that a Bay Area developer had offered $3.25 million to the owner of a 155-acre parcel. The Land Trust’s appraisal, however, set the fair market value at $3.49 million; he explained that the Land Trust always pays fair market value.
Yet Johnson argued that the market doesn’t support the price since it’s beyond what the developer offered.
On The Ballot in August 2022
| County Commissioner, District 3 Tim Hazelo (R-Oak Harbor) Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island), the incumbent Rick Hannold (R-Oak Harbor) |
