01/09/2007: "Vacancy On The Land Bank"

With the swearing in of Gene Knapp as one of the three new County Council members (see story above), a vacancy has been created on the Land Bank Commission. In addition, one of the other Commission members, Amanda Azous, will have to resign from her current position as a representative from Orcas, since she no longer lives on Orcas. Azous has asked to be named as a "member at large".

Councilman Ranker told the County Council that he had researched the law, and found that it would be inappropriate to simply appoint Azous to the position without going through the process of asking for other volunteers to serve in the "at large" position.

Ranker suggested the Council accept a letter of resignation from Azous, then advertise the position, and, he said "If we end of picking the Azous, then since the other three applicants to be on the commission are all from Orcas, this should all work out".

Anyone interested in applying for a position on the Land Bank Commission (or for more information on the Land Bank) may go to their website at http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank , or call 378-4402.

About the San Juan County Land Bank
In 1990, San Juan County voters approved funding for the San Juan County Land Bank through a one percent real estate transfer tax. This tax is paid by purchasers of property in the County. Land Bank funds are set aside expressly for the purpose of preserving the scenic and natural heritage of the San Juan Islands. Through conservation easements or outright purchases, the Land Bank protects special properties in the County. These may be shorelines, wildlife habitat, woodlands, wetlands, homesteads, or farmland. The Land Bank has protected 4,773 acres of important conservation lands throughout the San Juan Islands; an example of which is the story below about Turtleback Mountain