Council Removes FAC Chairman & Reprimands A Member

In a sometimes Alice In Wonderland set of actions, the County Council called a special meeting late Friday afternoon to hold an executive session on the following Monday morning, to conduct a “public employee performance evaluation” of two members of the SJC Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC).

At the end of the day, FAC Chairman Alex MacLeod was removed from the committee, and Ed Sutton narrowly escaped being put on “probation” for a year, but instead will receive a reprimand. The formal letters informing them of the discipline and removal will include praise for the years of hard work and service they have contributed to the FAC.

Hauling citizen volunteers into an executive session has never been done in San Juan County; let alone when the committee they sit on has no power except to give advise. And the matter becomes more confusing due to the unique status of the FAC as an advisory body to the Washington State Ferries (WSF), and also by County ordinance to the County Council. The County Council is required by RCW to appoint five members in SJC to the FAC.


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Call For Artists: SJI Summer Arts Fair 2008

Although the Summer Arts Fair is months away, the deadline for submission is March 17.

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce invites local and regional artists to participate in the "Splash of Summer Color" weekend, by joining in the Summer Arts Fair 2008, July 19 and 20, outdoors in Friday Harbor.

There will be approximately 50 Artists Booths, a Kids Creative Zone, a Sidewalk Art Contest, Music on the Courthouse lawn, a Pancake Breakfast, a Food Court and Farmers' Market!

Applicants may request an application by contacting Debbie Pigman at the Chamber, chamber@sanjuanisland.org or 360 378-5240

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Have An Idea On "Sustainable Growth?"

The San Juan County Council is seeking input from the community on sustainable growth as it relates to the San Juan Islands. The Council has discussed this topic previously at a Council retreat workshop in 2007, at the John Pagini Lessons of Nantucket/Principles of Smart Growth workshop last April, and at other times since.

With its upcoming retreat the Council will again discuss Smart/Sustainable Growth to determine whether it would like to consider this subject in the setting of future goals and whether to include tasks in its 2008 work schedule.

The Council would appreciate hearing from you on this important topic. Such input would include your opinion on the value of the subject as well as your suggestions as to the tasks that need to be accomplished in a work plan on sustainable growth.

If you have an opinion, please send it in writing to the Council by February 15, 2008. Please send your comments to Laura Tuttle, Council Clerk, 350 Court Street #1, Friday Harbor, 98250.

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An Essay

An Essay on the Origin of Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church

(First School HOuse- Portland Fair Hill, San Juan Island. -photo courtesy of Leith Wade)

by Dr. Joe Bettridge

As Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church anticipates its 150th anniversary in 2010, a brief review of the church’s origins seems in order. Looking around the Island reveals a number of obvious physical landmarks that testify to the congregation’s longevity.

There are three church buildings still in existence. They are: the current Spring Street church (1988), the 1897 church also on Spring Street that now serves as an office, and the historic Valley Church (Presbyterian) located at the San Juan Cemetery (1882).

In addition, a number of the town’s streets are named after prominent Presbyterians beginning in the19th Century. This includes names like Tucker, Blair, Guard, Jensen and Carter.

The question should be asked: can we rely on the traditional 1860 date as the beginning point for Presbyterian ministry and mission on San Juan Island? Francis Seels wrote her outstanding history of the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church in 1987. The Presbyterian Story on San Juan Island begins with the following paragraphs:

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Bad Week On The Coastline

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Coast Guard continue response efforts in several incidents this week along the Washington coastline.

The first incident occurred Monday evening when the 69-foot fishing vessel Haeshin struck a jetty near Westport. The Coast Guard rescued three crew members before the vessel sank in the navigation channel in 30 feet of water.

Early reports indicated the vessel’s tanks contained at least 540 gallons of diesel when it sank. Attempts to remove fuel from the boat Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful due to strong currents, ocean swells and poor visibility for salvage divers.

A state Department of Fish and Wildlife vessel, the G.H. Corliss, used its sonar technology Wednesday and today to try to find the sunken boat. At this time, the Haeshin is believed to have drifted from its last known location and has been lost in deep water. A work boat from the Coast Guard Cutter Fir is continuing the search today for the sunken vessel. No additional reports of diesel or sheen have been reported.


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ARC Has A Coordinator

Tim Clark of Lopez Island is the new Project Coordinator for the Agricultural Conservation Easements Education Campaign

Tim will be assisting the Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC) as the Project Coordinator for its Agricultural Conservation Easements Education Campaign.

He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Soil Science. Following college he moved to Lopez Island and has continued his work through further studies in Holistic Resource Management and wetland delineation.


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ORCA Recovery Plan Released

In May 2003, NOAA Fisheries Service designated the Eastern North Pacific Southern Resident stock of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Puget Sound as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The agency also announced preparation of a conservation plan to restore the stock to its optimal sustainable population.

NOAA Fisheries Service has now released its final recovery plan for Puget Sound’s killer whales, saying that recovery of the region’s iconic marine mammals will be a long-term effort requiring community support and that its plan provides a roadmap to help restore the population to healthy levels.

Killer whales appear in Puget Sound typically in May, with some remaining into the fall before most leave for the open ocean in the winter months. Puget Sound killer whales are officially known as Southern Residents and this distinct population was listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act in late 2005. Today’s recovery plan is a requirement of that listing.

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Port Of Friday Harbor Director Marilyn O’Connor

The Friday Harbor Port Commissioners have made their selection, and the new Director for the Port is the current Interim Executive Director, Marilyn O’Connor.

The Commissions started off with 35 applicants for the position, got down to a short list of four, including O’Connor, and have now announced their decision.

The other candidates were Brian Windrope of Friday Harbor, Jack Crider of the Port of Tillamook, Oregon, and Kristy Armstrong of Rhode Island.

The next meeting of the Port is scheduled for Wednesday the 23rd, and the first item on the agenda is the introduction of the new Port Director; who of course needs no introduction, having been with the port for a number of years in various positions, most recently as the port auditor, overseeing the port budget of eight million dollars.
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Planning Commission Rejects/Accepts UDC Change

( Planning Commission meets in Friday Harbor)

The PC (SJC Planning Commission) has rejected a request to allow the UDC (Uniform Development Code) to be revised at will, but recommends an interim ordinance for controlled changes up to four times a year, but with a two year sunset clause.

In an at times contentions meeting on Friday, the Commission debated the pros and cons of allowing what one of the members of the PC said was a request to allow the CD&PD (Community Development & Planning Department) to take the annual UDC review of recommended changes and “throw it out and say ‘do whatever you want, whenever you want”, and added this “doesn’t really make it work for me.”

Both CD&PD Senior Planner Shireene Hale and Director Ron Henrickson told the Commissioners that the requirement for an annual review of proposed changes to the UDC had “only been in place since 2005.. that it was not in the code prior to 2005.” Hendrickson stated “I almost think that in 2005 it was an oversight by a staff person.. there is no discussion that we can find related to it.”

This caused some raised eyebrows on the PC members, and mumblings in the audience by those who have over the years been involved with County planning. Henrickson has had a problem in the past of proposing changes without understanding the past history of the subject, and this was another example of that, which became embarrassingly obvious when former planning director Laura Arnold testified the provision had always been there, and that Henrickson and Hale had misread the history of the UDC.

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Builders Question Building Department on Timelines

(SJC Builders Association meet on Orcas with County Staff)

The San Juan Builders Association invited County Administrator Pete Rose and Community Development & Planning Department Director Ron Henrickson to a county wide meeting to discuss some of the issues the Association had with the CD&P, and specifically how permitting could be improved.

Past county wide meetings have been fairly well attended, but there was standing room only as the meeting took over Bilbo’s Restaurant on Orcas for the meeting. Former County Commissioner John Evans led the meeting, while Rose took notes with a promise to “get back with answers” to the questions and issues that were raised.

Evans started off by presented a study he had conducted of the relationship between the number of employees/hours departments in other counties spend per year, and how that relates to the number of building permits issued for single family residences in those counties.


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Local Man Takes CEO Role At SNS Project Inkwell

Strategic News ServiceT (SNS) today announced that its CEO and publisher Mark Anderson has been named as CEO of SNS Project Inkwell. Project Inkwell is an international consortium of global vendors whose goal is to accelerate the worldwide deployment of student-appropriate technologies and teacher training for K-12 in a one-to-one computing and learning environment.

The consortium includes IBM, Microsoft, Red Hat, IDEO, Gateway, Clearwire, Promethean, QED, Steljes, Inspiration Software, and many other companies in educational technology and content.

Inkwell was the first international industry group organized to (re)design appropriate K12 technology, the result of years of planning with vendors, teachers, administrators and students; and it remains the leading multi-vendor effort in this industry.


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Overflow Crowd For Dino Rossi

(Standing ovation for Governor Candidate Dino Rossi at dinner in Friday Harbor)

The San Juan County Republican party kicked off the start of the election season in the county this week by holding Lincoln Day celebrations on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island.

The organizers of the events expressed some surprise at the turn out, when double the number of people from last year showed up on Lopez, and there was a sell-out -and a long waiting list for tickets for the San Juan event.

The keynote speaker at the San Juan dinner was Governor Candidate Dino Rossi, who has returned once again to make a bid for the Governor’s mansion. Rossi lost the last election by 129 votes, in an election marked by charges of widespread voter registration fraud.

Since then the Sectary of State has removed 176,373 thousand registered voters from the polls, for reasons ranging from voters registered who are dead; to voters who have registered twice; and the removal of felons who no longer have the right to vote.

The County GOP will be holding caucuses on February 9th, and the County Convention on March 29th, 2008. These events will result in the election of delegates to the Washington State Republican Party convention later in the year, all culminating with the November elections

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How’s That? Bureaucrat Says “My Fault, I’ll Pay”?

(Cul-de-sac for school parking lot in Friday Harbor sans required sidewalks)

The Town (Town of Friday Harbor) has standards that are to be met when installing curbs, gutters and sidewalks. In 2006 the School (San Juan Island School District) submitted plans to the Town for a cul-de-sac, as a part of their site development plans for school ball fields.

The plans approved by Town Administrator King Fitch did not require formal concrete sidewalks. King -and some members of the Town Council- believed the plans as submitted were adequate, since the cul-de-sac was, while legally part of the Town street system, was to be closed off to access from Town streets, except for emergency use only, and served only the school parking lot.

The only reason it was installed at all was because the plat required it, and it was quicker and easer to install it, then change the plat.

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Immediate Action Urged Against Whooping Cough

All Orcas and Lopez residents with a persistent cough are urged to see their health care provider for evaluation, testing and treatment of pertussis (whooping cough). Immunization of children less than seven years of age is critical for control of pertussis.

The County Health Department is continuing to investigate more than 40 cases of pertussis on Orcas Island. After starting among a few childcare facilities, the outbreak has become a community-wide outbreak.


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One Word Change & The Planning Process Changes

When a rule or a law becomes a speed bump to attempts to drive though a change in the regulations that enforce the Comprehensive Plan, one thing that can be done is to slow down and follow the law, or one can attempt to change the law.

On January the 18th the Planning Commission will discuss a proposed amendment (see agenda below) to the UDC that will allow changes to existing land use regulations to occur faster than are now allowed. If one likes a proposed change, that could be a good thing, but for those who do not like a proposal, it may be a bad thing.

What is driving this proposed change is the desire of the CD&P (Community Development & Planning Department) to avoid the existing yearly process they are required to follow (called “the docket”), and allow the Council to make changes in land use law more quickly.

The Planning Commission is being asked by the County Council to recommend the Council remove, or retain -among other things- the phrase “this code” from the UDC (Unified Development Code). What that will do is remove a requirement that the UDC “may not be considered more frequently than once per year.”


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AG McKenna, & Rossi In SJC Saturday

State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Governor Candidate Dino Rossi will be coming to San Juan County this weekend for a number of speaking engagements on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez.

Orcas has the first event on Friday night at the American Legion on Crescent Beach at 5:30 pm. Rob McKenna, who recently defended the people's right to initiative before the state Supreme Court, will be speaking at the Orcas Dinner.

The initiative that Rob defended was the I-960 issue on the fall ballot -not the local Storm Water Initiative. Initiative 960 passed the state, helping to close loopholes to slow the raising of our taxes once again. Contact persons on Orcas are Bob and Terry Cairns at 376-5802

Saturday starts out on Lopez with a luncheon at 12 noon at Woodman Hall. Dino Rossi (photo left) and Doug Roulstone will speak at that event. Darlene Demetrick is the person to call for reservations at 468-2043. Both Lopez and Orcas events are by donation at the door.

On Saturday night there will be a social hour at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm, at the Yacht Club on San Juan Island, and is already a “already a packed out event” to hear Dino Rossi Speak. John Towson at (360) 378-3843 may be contacted for further information.

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Community Hospital Committee and PeaceHealth Initiate Feasibility Assessment

The San Juan Community Hospital Committee and PeaceHealth, a not-for-profit healthcare system with hospitals and medical centers throughout the Northwest, announced today that they will study possible partnership opportunities to expand the provision of healthcare services to the residents of San Juan Island.

Both organizations emphasized that discussions are at a fact-finding and exploratory stage only at this point in time.

The two organizations will spend the next four months identifying and analyzing potential healthcare service expansion opportunities, including the addition of a small, state-of-the-art Critical Access Hospital that would be located in Friday Harbor.

The Committee will provide periodic updates to the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 (SJCPHD#1) Board of Commissioners and to the community through public meetings, the Committee’s website and periodic news releases.

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Councils Concerns On Ferry Service

(County & Town Councils have a lunch & discuss issues of concern)

The question of ferry service came up at the Tuesday joint-meeting between the Councils of the County and the Town of Friday Harbor, when County Councilman Alan Lichter gave a report on the current state of affairs of the ferry service.

The ferry system is part of the state highway system, and Lichter said that because the ferry service from Anacortes to the Friday Harbor is legally part of state highway 20, service cannot be denied, but the level of service can be.

Councilman Gene Knapp warned the two councils they needed to careful not to be “obnoxious with the state legislature [and if] they change that stature, it is no longer part of the state highway system.. so continue to use good judgment.”.

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Fundraising Dinner For Senior Center

Reservations are now being accepted for a fundraising event at the Mullis Community Senior Center on Saturday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.

There will be a concert by Devorah and a sumptuous banquet by Farhad Make your at. Devorah will present a musical history of her various styles including original compositions from her last three years’ performances in Seattle and New York.

Tickets are $50 each and the show will be great whether you can make it or not! Call 378-2677 for information or stop by the Mullis Center to pick them up. Help fund the programs of the Senior Center.

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Tossed and Found

By David Dehlendorf

During 2007, volunteers picking up litter on San Juan Island roads found numerous items that you may have tossed, either intentionally or accidentally, and have not yet found.

Several, but by no means all, of these items are shown here and below.

If you recognize one of these tossed and found items as yours and would like to claim it, you can contact the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Initiative and arrange to pick it up during normal business hours.

-See additional items below:
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New Paramedic Joins SJI EMS

Ryan Nelson has been hired by San Juan Island EMS, effective January 1, as a paramedic. Ryan is returning to the Island, where he first served as an EMT in 1997. He will alternate with Jim Ricks and Weyshawn Koons as the primary response paramedic and participate in providing all other EMS services.

“Adding Ryan as our third paramedic will provide a greater response capability during peak seasons. It will also allow for longer distance, paramedic transports,” said EMS Chief Jim Cole. “We’re very glad to welcome Ryan back to San Juan Island EMS.”

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EDITORIAL

Training Is Always A Good Idea
The recent oversight of the FAC (Ferry Advisory Committee) to advertise a meeting (see story below) is but another example of why the County Council needs to pay greater attention to their obligations to give full support to the committees they appoint to advised them.

This is not the first time that one of the many county advisory groups have failed to follow proper procedure. There have even been cases where the public has been denied the right to attend and observe meetings that are required to be open to the public.

While the ultimate responsibility for following the rules rests with the committees, the Council must share some of the blame, since it is they who appoint them, but then send them off with no training or instructions; and individual committee members are not even given a copy of the rules, regulations and policies that govern their participation.

Councilman Ranker used the recent FAC illegal meeting as an opportunity to once again acknowledged that the Council needs to hold training sessions for the groups -something that some members of the public have pointed out for years that needs to be done- to educate them on their responsibilities.

The Council asked Gaylord if he and County Administrator Pete Rose could set up a yearly training class for all of the committees, and both indicated that it was already being discussed, and would be done.

A step in the right direction.

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Ferry Advisory Committee Hit By A Squall

The FAC (Ferry Advisory Committee) ran into some turbulent waters on Monday (Jan 14) when they forgot to post a formal notice of a meeting they held in Friday Harbor.

The County Council was holding a Regular Work Session Meeting in the new Legislative Building when members of the FAC wandered by on their way to their meeting in the same building. This took the Council -and attending members of the press- by surprise, and when it became apparent the FAC had not advertise their meeting as required by their own rules a couple of council members became a bit concerned.

Councilman Ranker said this was not acceptable, and put in a call to Prosecutor Randy Gaylord. Gaylord researched the question, came over to the Council meeting, and said that while the FAC is not subject to the Open Meetings Act, their charter did require them to advertise their meetings.

While the Council was awaiting Gaylord’s ruling, Ranker became increasingly upset, and said the FAC would have to be told to not hold the meeting. Councilman Lichter and Peterson also expressed their concern, but cautioned Ranker the council should not overreact to what Peterson said may simply be an oversight.

Lichter suggested Council Chairman Rosenfeld simply drop in and advised the FAC members that their meeting was illegal because they had not advertise it, and they would need to desist.

Rosenfeld walked over to the meeting, talked to them, returned to the Council meeting, and after the ongoing discussion of the issue between Ranker, Lichter and Peterson had died down, said in a soft voice “What do you do when they refuse to end the meeting?”

Rosenfeld and the Island Guardian were both informed by the FAC members that they had simply forgot to advertise, would not forget in the future, but would continue the meeting for discussion purposes only, and take no action.

This set Ranker off again, and also did not sit well with some of the other Council members. It was decided to draft a letter to the FAC advising them of the importance of following their rules, and to express the Councils concern that the FAC had failed to suspend the meeting when told to do so by the Council.

FAC Chairman MacLeod told the Island Guardian that “there are emergent, pressing issues related to WSF's statement that we will have the Hiyu "indefinitely" (see related story below) that we had to discuss now, and we were all there, which is a hard thing to arrange and we weren't going to go home and wait for two weeks' public notice to be given.”

He added that “the oversight in not having the council clerk post the meeting is mine.” While MacLeod acknowledged his oversight, he asked for a vote by the members present if they wished to suspend, or continue the meeting for discussion purposes, but take no action. All agreed to continue the meeting.

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Now The Klahowya Replaces The Evergreen -- What Next?

The New WSF Plan: The Klahowya arrived Sunday to replace the Evergreen State, which will replace the Klahowya on the Talequah-Pt. Defiance run at the south end of Vashon Island.

Alex McLeod, the chair of the FAC (SJC Ferry Advissory Committee) said “ WSF can't say when the Evergreen State, which was supposed to go out-of-service for hull repairs and engine rebuilds next week, now will go into dry dock. Whenever it begins, it will be out a minimum of six weeks. The odds are overwhelming that it will not be in time to return to inter-island service by the start of the spring schedule.”

McLeod told the Island Guardian “the Klahowya, also an Evergreen class ferry, was developing engine problems on that short route because its engine never got hot enough. The Rhododendron, the usual ferry on that route, has been out of service since early December when a Coast Guard inspection found serious hull problems. It is scheduled to get into the Todd drydock, along with the Chelan, on Monday”.

The Hiyu will come out of Dakota Creek early in the first week of February, not next Wednesday as WSF said earlier this week, and will replace the Klahowya. It will be the inter-island boat "indefinitely." McLeod said “That doesn't bode well for us.”

McLeod add that all of this “this makes a couple of things abundantly clear:



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Growth Board Grows “Impatience” With County

County and State officials warn no more building permits for Eastsound and Lopez Village unless the county comes into compliance on UGAs
San Juan County has asked -and received- extensions from the State to bring the County into compliance on the Eastsound Sewer District, and on Jan. 8, they also asked for a 180 day extension to meet state requirements to comply with GMA orders for the Lopez Village Urban Growth Area plan.

The Board (Western Growth Management Hearings Board) administers the state’s GMA (Growth Management Act), and in the face of the repeated requests for extensions, the Board has become a bit testy.

Former Lopez County Council candidate Steve Ludwig is concerned that “SJC can't afford to meet the State mandated requirements for protecting public health in UGAs,” due in part to the high cost of installing infrastructures in areas designated UGAs. He also points out that “neither can it [the County] admit that it made a mistake in designating Eastsound and Lopez Village as UGAs” in the first place.

Former County Commissioner John Evans was part of the original GMA process, and while critical of the Board’s demands, said that "Lopez Island and Orcas Island need to have GMA compliant UGA's in order to meet present and future needs for housing and commercial activities."

Ludwig states that as a result of County action, and then inaction, the “landowners in the two areas have been left in limbo since 1999.” At least to that extent, Evans and Ludwig are in agreement. Evans believes “The future citizens of the Eastsound area should not suffer simply to meet shortsighted planning goals of the Growth Hearings Board."


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New Septic Maintenance Program Passed

(San Juan County Board of Health -file photo)

It may take some getting used to, and it is going to cost homeowners some money, but the State of Washington has imposed new operation and maintenance regulations on twelve Puget Sound Counties to develop and submit an On-site Sewage System Management Plan to the State Department of Health (original story) , and the SJC Board of Health has done just that.

In July of this year the Board of Health passed new rules that would dictate when, and how, septic systems will be maintained and inspected. The rule approval then went to the State for their review and approval, then the SJC Board amended the local SJC sewage code to put it into effect.

The entire “On-site Sewage System Operation & Maintenance Program Plan” can be read by clicking here, or going to the county web site at: http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/health/ehswaste.asp, but the part that will be of most intrest to homeowers and Realtors is the section that deals with what must be done, and when, as follows:

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Free Renewable Energy Workshop Thursday

Rainshadow Solar and the San Juan Islands Conservation District are sponsoring a free evening presentation January 17, 2008 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at The Funhouse, on "Local Green Power - Renewable Energy for San Juan County”.

The workshop is intended to help the public take action toward reducing their carbon footprint with conservation efforts, efficiency, and the use of renewable items and components. Information for new and existing local green power producers will be provided, and it is hoped the information will inspire the start up of a branch of the San Juan County Renewable Energy Producers Cooperative.

A new proposal to cover the Funhouse with Photovoltaics will also be presented, and Funhouse Director Pete Moe said he is "excited The Funhouse will be working with Eric and the community on sustainability related projects and education, because it's the responsible way forward."


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One Step Closer to Public Access On Cady Mt.

The San Juan County Land Bank purchased 10 acres from Bruce Clark in December 2007 adjacent to its existing Cady Mountain Preserve on San Juan Island.

The Clark acquisition has added a shady fern-filled ravine and a fringe of Garry Oak woodland to the Preserve’s existing Garry Oak savanna, mature forest and open meadows. “Perhaps more importantly”, said Land Steward Eliza Habegger, “it takes the Land Bank one step closer to its goal of a primitive, public trail that could one day lead from the county road to the mountain’s top.”

Land Bank efforts to protect forest land on Cady Mountain began in 2002 with the purchase of 40 acres. The effort continued in 2005 when an acquisition from the Department of Natural Resources kept an additional 80 acres in public hands. With the new purchase the preserve now consists of 130 acres and features outstanding views.

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RSVP For Free Seminar On Wells

Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands, Inc. is sponsoring a “Wells in San Juan County” seminar free to the public on Thursday, January 17th Seating is limited so RSVP early to 378-2101.

The seminar will be held at the San Juan Island Fire Department located on Mullis Street in Friday Harbor. Local industry specialists will offer a presentation and lead a question and answer session for the topic.

Al Mauldin, of Mauldin’s Well Service on San Juan Island will address the new regulations, drilling of wells, water testing, well maintenance and the different types of systems. Mark Tompkins from SJ Heath Department will also be in attendance to field any questions.

Everyone is encouraged to attend this highly informative session. The class will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

For more information please contact your Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agent or call 378-2101.

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Avoiding Fines For Water Quality Violations

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) can have a big hammer when it comes to enforcing water quality violations; but why and when or if, they will swing it or not, is not always clear.

Think for a moment of a construction site in San Juan County, be it in the private sector, or some ground disturbance by public works ( related story), and then read what a company in Seattle was cited for that resulted in a $16,000 fine:

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SJI Transfer Station May Get A Roof

On Tuesday the County Council was informed Public Works has hired a consultant to review the “tipping floor” at the SJ Island transfer station as the first step to bringing it into compliance with the Health Department and the state Department of Ecology.

A roof over the dumping area (the “tipping floor”) was removed in 2005 ( previous story) after Public Works noted it had received damage over the years, and asked the Town of Friday Harbor to inspect it, which they did, and then informed PW that it should be removed or repaired. Town Administrator King Fitch said he then received a call from Public Works Director Jon Shannon that the roof would be removed.

Once the roof was removed the facility was out of compliance. Both the County and the State have granted extensions to the County over the years, and now PW plans to address the problem; but how and when was not explained to the Council.

The comments were made during a progress update on the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) schedule that is being conducted on the current site and proposed new sites for a transfer station; a process that is now expected to last at the least until March of 2009, at which time a Final EIS will be completed. This would be the first step in a permitting process for a Conditional Use Permit to construct a new transfer station on San Juan; that is, if one of the proposed sites is selected.

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David Chancellor Black

May 31, 1932 ~ December 24, 2007
Committed to family, education, land preservation, and environmental issues, David Chancellor Black passed away peacefully at home on Christmas Eve 2007 after living 13 months with pancreatic cancer. He will be remembered by his family and his many friends for his integrity, humility, kindness, gentle spirit, sense of humor, and enduring optimism. His generosity and commitment to serving others inspired all who knew him.

There will be a community Memorial Celebration of David's Life on January 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Lopez Island Community Center. There will also be a Memorial Celebration at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12 at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. East in Seattle.

Click here for the full obituary
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Have Ideas On Improving The Building Department??

County Administrator Pete Rose informed the County Council On Tuesday that two staff openings in CD&PD (Community Development and Planning Department) that have been open for over a year have finally been filled. Rose said that a new plans examiner and a new permit coordinator have obtained housing on the island and they will report for work in two weeks.

Later in the day the Council held a public meeting on adopting a new version of the Building Advisory Council (BAC), to make it consistent with the Charter, and in the process they expanded it’s membership and instructed the County Administrator to make it an active and viable organization.

Councilman Rich Peterson asked Administrator Rose if the BAC was active, and Rose said that to his knowledge it was not.

The purpose of the BAC is to:

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Seattle Opera Comes To San Juan Island!

Puget Sound Concert Opera's production of Verdi's IL TROVATORE at the Benefit Players Theater on January 12th at 2:00 pm only. As with all Benefit Players performances, admission is by donation.

This is a new opera company based in Seattle who will be coming to San Juan Island as part of their performance tour this January. We fully expect the performance to "sell" out (admission is by donation) - free Seattle-quality opera on San Juan Island is a never-before-seen occurrence, as you know!

Puget Sound Concert Opera proudly presents a concert performance of Verdi's Il Trovatore with some of the Pacific Northwest's premier performers, including Friday Harbor soprano Corinne Stevens (San Juan Singers concert soloist, opera singer with Skagit Opera & San Juan Performing Arts Society)!

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Hiyu to Replace Evergreen State On Inter-Island Run

Beginning on January 16, the Hiyu will replace the Evergreen State on the San Juan Islands inter-island route while Washington State Ferries (WSF) takes the Evergreen State out of service for necessary maintenance and repairs.

“The Evergreen State needs both main engines overhauled and other long overdue maintenance, including steel replacement along the hull,” said Paul Brodeur, WSF Director of Vessel Maintenance and Preservation. “It is one of the oldest vessels in the fleet and we must complete this work to ensure its ongoing safety and reliability.”

Depending on drydock availability, the Evergreen State could be out of service until the beginning of spring schedule on March 30. During this time, the Hiyu will operate on the same schedule on the San Juan Islands inter-island route.


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Missing Person

Christopher Lawrence Ogle
Date Last Seen: 01/01/2008Mr. Ogle lives on San Juan Island. He drives a Black 2003 Chevrolet Silverado Extended cab pickup, WA. LIC/PAINTSJ

Ogle was last seen on January 01, 2008 in Friday Harbor, WA. There has been no bank or cellular activity since January 02, 2008.

Mr. Ogle walks with a cane.

If Chris Ogle is located please call San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 378-4151

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CC Meets For 1st Time In '08', & In New Bld

(County Council -Myhr absent- meets in one of the small meeting rooms in new bld)

Almost on schedule, the County Council held their first Regular Staff Meeting Council Work Session Monday morning in the new County Administrative Building. .

Staff has moved out of the court house into the new building (formerly know as the Carlson Building ) and as soon as the new Council Room furniture is installed -and the telecommunications installed- the council will start holding their meetings in the new building; in the meantime they will continue to hold the Regular Meetings in the court house.

County Administrator Pete Rose told the council he is looking forward to the many various county groups and advisory committees being able to use one of the new meeting rooms.

In addition to County use, the County and the Town of Friday Harbor have have signed a "letter of intent" to continue with negotiations that may lead to a leasing agreement allowing the Town some limited use of the new Council meeting room. It is hoped that the new large meeting room will be ready in the next week or two.


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Chimney Fire, But No Damage

(Firefighters wait in case they are needed as others work inside the building)

This is the time of the year for chimney fires, and there was a minor one Monday morning in Friday Harbor, when a block and mortar chimney with -it is assumed- a buildup in the chimney decided to help out in producing a little additional heat, resulting in the call for assistance from the resident of the house.

The response resulted in the blocking of Guard street as a hose was connected to a hydrant across the street, and the house was entered to determine the extend of the problem. The fire was brought under control, and there was no damage to the structure,




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Meetings On Upcoming Bluebird Releases

(Photo by Nan Moore)
The first of three meetings will be held tonight on the SJI Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project. The project members will hold a series of community meetings on Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas Islands this week as they are preparing for another round of releases this coming spring.

There will be three Community Meetings:

Tuesday Jan 8 6:30pm, Grange Hall, Lopez
Wednesday, Jan 9 6:30pm West Sound Community Center, Orcas
Friday, Jan 11, 7pm, Pelindaba Cafe, Friday Harbor

The public is invited to come to the meetings to learn about the attempts to reestablish a breeding population of the Western Bluebird in the San Juan Islands, & how you can get involved!

Topics of discussion will include bluebird natural history, Garry oak ecology, and the reintroduction process. Contact Kathleen Foley at 378-2461 for info.

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SJC Audubon’s 108th Christmas Bird Count Summary

By Barbara Jensen

This year’s count was another great year even with wind and rain. Most groups reported that they saw fewer birds with the poor weather but this was the highest species count on record with 111 different species of birds seen in the 15-mile diameter circle.

There was a downward trend in most species and could be attributed to poor weather conditions. This year saw the highest number of participants, 72, with 23 people new to the count.

Two new areas were included, Brown and Canoe Islands! Audubon would like to especially thank private land owners who allowed us to go on their land for the first time. It was the highlight of the count for me.

Below are some of the numbers of interest.

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$16K In Donations For OIFD Defibulators

(Provided Photo: BACK ROW: Jason Maderios, Bruce Brackett, Toby Brown, Val Harris, Jim Scheib, , Jim Schuh, Kari Schuh, Garth Eimers - AROUND TABLE: Chief Harris, Jaylin Peacock, Hilary Canty, Lance Evans, Gregg Bronn)

When someone is having a heart attack, seconds count. Getting advanced medical life support to the scene FAST is critical.

The $ 21,238.30 for an additional 15 AED units was not in the budget. So the Association went to the community and asked for help. The response was $16,495 in donations!

The Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Association extends a “Thank You!” to the community that made it possible to fund the balance needed to purchase the additional 15 Zoll AEDs.




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New Controller Of Islanders Bank

Marilyn Corrie of Friday Harbor has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Controller of Islanders Bank. The announcement of the promotion was made Friday by Dick Kneipp, CEO; and Bob Coleman, President of Islanders Bank,

Marilyn has been actively involved in the local banking community for many years, having begun her banking career with the former San Juan County Bank.

Marilyn joined Islanders Bank eight years ago, and most recently she served as Assistant Controller of Islanders Bank.

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Consumer Alert On Warranty Notices

The Attorney General’s office is warning that if you receive an official-looking postcard in your mailbox warns that your car’s warranty is about to expire, and urges you to call a toll-free number to ensure you’re covered, think twice before you dial.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division says these mailers are advertisements aimed at pressuring you into buying an expensive service contract.



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“Uninterruptible Power Supply" Interrupts Power Supply

(Sheriff dispatch crew doing their job at emergency backup location)

Nothing like starting the year off with a bit of irony, and that is what happened when an “uninterruptible power supply” failure took the County -and the Sheriff- off line on Thursday morning. The good news, and there is some, due to proactive planning for an emergency, the County was able to race down to the Sheriff's backup emergency dispatch center at the fire station on Mullis Street, and was quickly back doing Sheriff and other emergency communications.

Dispatcher Tom Eades said that he opened the emergency operations dispatch center less than 5 minutes after the primary system went down, and Sheriff’s dispatch supervisor Robin DeLaZerda said it does not appear that any calls were missed. Dispatchers continued to work out of the emergency center until shortly after noon on Thursday.


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New Magnifier At SJI Library

The San Juan Island Library today announced that they will begin offering the Bierley MonoMouse – an easy to use, hand held electronic magnifier – as part of an innovative loan program designed to help visually impaired members of the community.

The magnifier, which is similar to an oversized computer mouse, is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in the palm of a user’s hand. It connects to a television, and whatever the magnifier is moved across appears large and clear on the television screen, making small text especially easy to read. The mouse comes with an attached standard RCA plug to make connecting to a television extremely easy.

For more information about the MonoMouse Magnifier at the San Juan Island Library, please contact 378-2798 or ask any librarian the next time you visit the library; and read the rest of the story below:

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Part Time Council? Some More Than Others

Out of the approximate 200 work days in 2007, the County Council formally met 76 times. Less than half of those meetings lasted 2 hours or less, and the remaining lasted about 5 hours each. Of those 76 meetings, Councilman Bob Myhr set the record for the year, missing over 20% of the meetings (we count 23.68%), with Ranker coming in second, having missed 17% of the meetings.

Councilman Rich Peterson missed 6% of the meetings, Alan Lichter missed 2%, and only Gene Knapp and Rosenfeld had 100% attendance.

Of the 18 meetings Myhr missed, 11 were (by our count) unexcused, and only 3 of Ranker’s 13 absents were unexcused. Myhr stated off his record pace by missing 6 meetings in a row. The Charter states that “An elective office shall become vacant when…a legislative body member [is] absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings without reasonable cause”, or “..absence from the County for thirty (30) days without being excused…”

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Credit Card Policy For County Reviewed

Back in 1991 the County had a credit card it allowed county personnel to use. It was assumed it would be helpful in making some county payments to vendors, and one card would keep one stream of records of it’s use. But that came to an end when then auditor Si Stephens sent out a memo to county departments stating he had canceled “the County VISA card ”due to constant misuse.”

Auditor Milene Henley has reported to the Council that by1995 the state passed legislation (RCW 43.09.2855) that authorized credit card use by local governments, as long as there is a ”tracking system of the distribution, authorization, control, credit limits, and payments”. Oh, and it also forbids “cash advances.”

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