[Previous entry: "Six Probable Swine Flu Cases in State"] [Next entry: "Flu Hits Orcas??"]

05/01/2009: "George Post Resigns From SWAC"

After over twenty years of serving on the SWAC Committee SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Committee), George Post of Orcas Island has resigned his membership.

Post made the announcement to the SWAC after he asked the AWAC to enter into a discussion on the County Council decision to pursue a lease option to purchase the Sutton Road transfer on San Juan Island.

Post told the committee “We just spent two years coming to a recommendation that was overturned [by the County Council],,it might make us reassess our validly.”

SWAC Chair Carrie Lacher responded that “I was really pleased with the decision, I think it doesn’t devalue SWAC as a committee; for me what was great about it was that it demonstrated that the process in fact worked.”


Post countered that "the County in all of their questioning and everything, the issue of solid waste management were never a consideration. The idea that we were going to make a commitment to a waste reduction program as to how cheap can we get this off the island without offending anybody in any way -which is the way I believe it was decided- is very discouraging to me, because that was the decision I wanted to see made in this county to reduce our waste.”

Post added that not only has the Council not talked about reducing waste, that it was “clear to me that has not been a priority in any way. It has not even been the subject matter.” Post said that for him “has been the most discouraging thing.” As a result of the Council not following the SWAC recommendation to build a new facility at the Beaverton Valley property, Post said “the political expediencies are guiding solid waste management in our program, so I have decided to not be on this committee any more.”

SWAC member Sam Jacobson said “it is important that as an advisory committee we don’t necessarily fight the direction they [county council] are going; they are our leaders, they are elected officials, they have decided this is what is in the best interest of San Juan County as a whole, and our job is not to drag our heels, but rather to embrace what it is they have decided to do in their leadership role -our job is to advise them in ways they have asked us.”

Chair Lacher thanked Jacobson, and said she agree with him. Lacher told Post that it was hard to acknowledge all of the work that you have done George, and your vision and enengery, so I’m very sorry that you are leaving.”