The Final Four Selected

Interviews Scheduled For County Administrator


(Lloyd Halverson, Pete Rose, Mark Weinberg -No Photo for Dick Grout)

The County Council met behind closed doors to select their final four applicants to be considered for County Administrator, and their choices are:

Lloyd Halverson, City Administrator of Camas, Wa.
Pete Rose, City Administrator of Woodinville, Wa.
Mark Weinberg, past City Administrator of Inglewood Ca.
And Richard Grout, Director of the Bellingham Field Office Department of Ecology, and a former Planning Director of SJ County.

The announcement of the final list of names took a number of people by surprise when Richard Grout's name showed up on the list. There was immediate speculation that the name could not have come from the normal process of Waldron & Company forwarding his name to the Council as one of their choices, for the simple reason that Mr. Grout does not have the experience or formal training as a city or county manager as the other applicants. Mr. Grout is a longtime resident and home owner on San Juan, and is no stranger to county government; and having served for a number of years as the Director of Planning in the county, he is also no stranger to controversy. His inclusion on the list has raised additional concerns about the selection process (Previous story), not the least of which is, as one Court House insider asked: "Why is his name on the list?".

Based on the superficial information that is available on the other three candidates (no information was supplied by the Council about the applicants, not even where they came from), their inclusion is nonetheless obvious, since all three are mature professionals with years of experience as managers and administrators of large -and very large- cities; and each of them has some specific experience in their current, or past professions, dealing with issues that are important and relevant to those of San Juan County.

Mr. Weinberg was with Englewood when it went into a partnership with Los Angeles County to build a joint-use City Hall and Civic Center; a concept that the County and the Town of FH are discussing. Mr. Rose has experience in controversy, for it was Woodinville that was in the news when a local church and citizens group wanted to build a tent city for the homeless. As for Mr. Halverson, he has been at the helm as Camas has evolved from a mill town to a fast growing city that has attracted international companies, but still works to retain the values, traditions and lifestyle of a small town.

The Council had retained Waldron and Company to advertise the County opening for a professional County Administrator, and also to both solicit and "weed-out" the applicants. Once the list was complete, they would present the list to the Council, and then advise and assist the Council in making the final list of candidates to be interviewed by the Council.

This has now been done, and now that the Council has decided who the final four are, the process has opened up somewhat, at least to the extent we now know who the candidates are, and a part of the final selection process will be open to the public next Wednesday (June 7) when a County Staff and a citizen panel are allowed to ask some questions in a public forum, and then report their impressions of the candidates back to Waldron and Company. The members of the citizen panel are: Lynn Bahrych, Charles Bodenstab, Lisa Byers, Stephen Garrison, Larry Hendel, Lovel Pratt, and Brent Snow.

On Thursday the Council will once meet behind closed doors to decide who will be the County Administrator, and it is expected a final decision will be made on Thursday.


[more..]

New Principal Selected For FHHS

Ms. Patricia Scott, currently Principal of Peninsula High School in the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, WA, is being recommended to the school board as the new Principal of Friday Harbor High School. Ms. Scott has been principal of Peninsula High School since 1997. She will be at the school board meeting Wednesday evening, May 31st, for her appointment by the school board.

Superintend Michael Soltman said "We are delighted to have a such a capable person follow Marilyn Luckman. Ms. Scott has a wonderful reputation in her school district as an effective leader, great communicator, and as a 'people person'". And extended an invitation to the community to "Please join us in welcoming her to our District".

[more..]

The British Are Coming

Island Rec is pleased to announce that one of the most respected and experienced soccer training organizations in the US, Challenger Sports British Soccer Camps is coming back to Friday Harbor this summer. This innovative soccer organization is rapidly establishing itself as the premier soccer camp company in the country.


[more..]

Parade & Ceremony For Memorial Day

(After the parade and ceremony at Memorial Park in Friday Harbor, members of the American Legion honor their fallen comrades)

Under solemn overcast skies, and before a large turnout for Memorial Day in Friday Harbor, the annual parade and ceremony to honor those who have served was held at Memorial Park in Friday Harbor. The park was re-dedicated by the mayor, and the special guest of honor, Army Sgt Richard Robertson gave a heartfelt speech on the origins and the meaning of Memorial Day. The spectators responded to his speech with thunderous applause that lasted far beyond the expected norm, and was indicative of the sincere emotion that Sgt. Robertson's speech had conveyed. (We will post a copy of the speech for our readers in the near future)

Link below for additional photos of the parades in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor


[more..]

Triathlon Discount Registration

Save $10 by registering for the Jon Pettingill Memorial Triathlon by June 2. The discounted fee is $40 per triathlete and $30 per relay race member. Kids entering the splash, pedal and dash event pay only $15 for registrations received by June 2. All registrations include a triathlon t-shirt, food and refreshments and race bag.
[more..]

Elaine Loretto Fleming

Elaine Loretto Fleming was born July 7, 1925 in Newton, Massachusetts and died peacefully on May 22nd after a brief illness. A Rosary will be said for Elaine on May 31st at 7:00pm at St. Francis Catholic Church in Friday Harbor, and a Memorial Mass on June 1st at 11:15am, with a potluck luncheon to celebrate her life at the Grange afterwards. Please bring your favorite Elaine story. For information please call Ruth 378-5462 or Barbara 378-2541.
Obituary

[more..]

Ferries Start Summer Season

On Monday, May 29, the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route will be on a Sunday schedule, which provides an additional sailing from Orcas Island in the afternoon at 4:15 p.m.; Friday Harbor gets additional capacity at 4:15 p.m. which means that the 4:55 p.m. sailing off Lopez will take some vehicles, but there will be additional capacity on the 5:35 p.m. sailing from Lopez.

[more..]

Use Of Grinder Still Not Settled

Hearing Examiner Wick Dufford, and Planner Lee McEnery review new information)

The Conditional Use Permit Application of Thor Black to operate a tub grinder on property near the end of the Friday Harbor Airport, and next to a residential area, has been bounced back-and-forth as the attorneys for the applicant, Thor Black, and the neighbors, represented by Mr. & Mrs. Cable, have battled it out in front of the Hearing Examiner ( Previous Story), who decided a permit should be approved, and then when that decision was appealed by the neighbors, to the current County Council members -siting at the time as the BOCC.

The BOCC heard argument that the Hearing Examiner failed to adequately take in account the compatibility of the proposal to the surrounding neighborhood and ruled against the issuing of a permit to Mr. Black. (Previous Story)

It was then Mr. Black's turn to appeal, but this time the appeal went to Superior Court, where, it was ruled the Hearing Examiner should take a second look at the application, and in particular review his findings on the compatibility/noise issue.

So the County, Black, Cable and all of the lawyers went back to argue the case in front of the Hearing Examiner, but this time the discussion was restricted to the noise of the Tub Grinder.

[more..]

Teen Library Assistants Sought

Do you want to learn more about your public library? Want to be involved in providing services for your local community? Want valuable work experience? ---Want to earn some money?

The San Juan Island Public Library is opening 2 Teen Library Assistant positions to begin this June. This may be arranged to include internship credit. This is a paid position - duration: 10weeks, 6 - 10 hrs per week. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 2nd.

[more..]

Oops! Car Ends Up On Sidewalk

Hopped the curb, but avoided people and the flower bed.

No one was injured when a San Juan driver ended up on the walking path at the Friday Harbor convalescent building. Police and other first responders did not have to travel far to reach the scene, as the accident occurred next to the SJI Medical Center and the EMT building.
[more..]

Interviews Scheduled For County Administrator

Council appoints citizen panel to interview candidates for the County Administrator position. They are: Lynn Bahrych, Charles Bodenstab, Lisa Byers, Stephen Garrison, Larry Hendel, Lovel Pratt, and Brent Snow.

On Wednesday, June 7, the Council has planned rotating interviews with each of the finalists with two panels. One consists of a panel of three Elected Officials, three appointed Department Heads, and the Administrator Pro-Tem. The second panel is made up of seven selected citizens representing a broad range of interests and backgrounds from each district. These interviews will be open to the public. The Council will interview the candidates in an Executive Session on Thursday, June 8, 2006. Waldron & Company will facilitate the interviews for each panel.

With the assistance of the professional search firm of Waldron & Company, the County Council has narrowed the original field of 59 applicants and has scheduled two days of interviews along with a planned social event for the public. Councilman Bob Myhr offered, "We are please to report that there are four finalists being considered for the position of County Administrator. Each of these candidates is highly qualified."

The County Council has scheduled a social event in order to give citizens the opportunity to meet with the finalists at the Pepper Mill Seafood and Steakhouse restaurant, 680 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, on Wednesday, June 7, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Councilman Alan Lichter restated, "I believe it is very important that any citizens interested be provided the opportunity to meet with our finalists. All San Juan County citizens are cordially invited to attend the planned social event"

[more..]

How Much Land Do You Own?

In a May 3 memo to the County Council, Assessor Paul Dossett told the Council that "Property owners need the confidence that SJC is consistent in determine Simple Land Division acreage..". Dossett asked the Council to "Please change the UDC (Ed: the code that controls land use) to allow "equity, uniformity, and consistency" in acreage determinations.

Dossett was highlighting for the Council the fact that some property owners may "own" more or less than they thought they owned. Depending on what process was used to define a parcel of land, it is possible to come up a little short- or for some folks, a little long in the acre size of a property. For most of us this poses no problem, but for some it can mean the difference between being able to cut off a section of property to create a new parcel, or it may restrict -or allow- one's ability to qualify for one of the county programs that allow a reduction in land taxes, such as the Open Space program.

The problem is well known and understood, and results from the evolution of survey methods that have evolved from, to use an extreme example from Texas, a survey being conducted by someone floating down a river and describing boundary lines as terminating at the base of a cottonwood tree, or some other mark on the river bank, to the precise use of satellites and GPS technology that has become the standard of today. But the new technology is just that, new, and some of the maps are still used today result from drawing straight lines, on a flat piece of paper, that are intended to reflect curved lines on a somewhat round planet. Works fairly well, but that 20 acres Joe owns, and that he plans to cut into two ten acre pieces, as allowed by the zoning he lives in, turns out to be 19 and some fraction of an acre. So Joe cannot do what he had planned to do, because Joe is on the wrong side of the necessary adjustments of some portions of parcels, that have been made to compensate for the curvature of the earth.



[more..]

HELP! "Runner" Missing

Have you seen one of these somewhere? If so, please return them:

"Our Runners have run away! Sometime over the week-end two of our promotional life-size runners, attached to the fence at the Fairgrounds, apparently came to life and took flight.

They must really be excited about the upcoming Health & Fitness EXPO and Marathon and decided to get in a little training time. But their running buddies need them back to help them promote these events to all who pass by.

Have you seen them? Have they run your way?

If so, please tell them to return to the Chamber Office or to the fence where they took their first steps. No questions asked!"

If you have information, contact:

Debbie Pigman
Executive Director
San Juan Island Chamber

[more..]

Small Gasoline Spill At Port Of Friday Harbor

A small spill of ten gallons of unleaded gasoline sent a number of agencies to the FH Port to respond to gas being discharged from a broken fuel line at the Fuel Pier.

The spill was noted just before noon Sunday, May 21st. The fuel was mostly contained under the fuel pier by floats, although some fuel drifted toward the Spring Street Passenger Pier and the Washington State Ferry slip. Because of the uncertainty of the extent of the potential hazard, the facility was evacuated and emergency dispatch was phoned.

The Town of Friday Harbor Fire Department responded with engine number six and the fireboat Confidence along with members of the Island Oil Spill Association, the Town's Public Works crew and employees from Island Petroleum Services and the Port of Friday Harbor. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified but didn't respond to the event.

.Nearby boats were evacuated from the area and Washington State Ferries took extra precautions during their approach to the ferry slip. The fuel was removed with the use of absorbent pads and by evaporation. No immediate damage was noticed from the spill although the potential for damage was great without an immediate response. An investigation identified the cause of the spill as a failure caused by chafe in a drop hose that carries fuel from the pier to the floats. The fuel pier re-opened at approximately 2:30 p.m.

[more..]

FH Principal Interviews Begin Today

Interviews for the new Principal at Friday Harbor High School Begin Tuesday, May 23rd. Here is the schedule of interviews this week:

Tuesday, May 23rd: Michael Sita, Administrative Intern/Small Schools Site Coordinator, Evergreen High School, Highline, WA
Patricia Scott, Principal, Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor, WA

Wednesday, May 24th: Diane Lashinsky, Assistant Principal, Mountlake Terrace High School, Edmonds, WA

Thursday, May 25th: Rick Hiser, Assistant Principal, Lindberg High School, Renton, WA
Marc Vermeire, Administrative Intern, Friday Harbor High School, Friday Harbor,

WA Parents and community members are invited to meet the candidates each day of the interviews at 3:15 p.m. at the high school. Brief bios of the candidates follow:

[more..]

Three & Counting: Leadership ‘06' Class Graduates

(Front Row: Co-Chair Gretchen Krampf, Chinmayo, Bonnie Bossler, Helen Venada. Susie Teague, Shannan Sword, Deborah Hopkins; and Program Coordinator Shannon Calverley
Back Row: Richard Civille, Nick Teague, Katherine Hagn, Matthew Maher, Annemieka Neenan, Kris Bayas, Kristine Odle - Jack Cory photo)

The Leadership San Juan Islands program graduated the class of 2006 on Saturday. The members of the 2006 class included members from Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island. They are the third class to graduate from the program. Leadership SJ Islands is a countywide program, founded in 2004, to educate and motivate emerging community leaders. It is a tuition-based program to educate and motivate community members interested in developing their professional leadership skills, and in learning more about issues affecting San Juan County.

Community leadership programs are a means by which local communities take the initiative in developing a trained network of people engaged in community work. These programs train future politicians, business leaders, agency heads, educators, board members, and volunteers. Leadership San Juan Islands began in Fall 2004 under the auspices of Skagit Valley College, United Way San Juans, and the Economic Development Council. LSJI has Alumni committed to service in many areas of the County including agriculture, transportation, environmental issues, business development, land use, governance, education, community development, recreation, and the continuing success of LSJI.

For those interested in learning more about the program, their website is at www.leadershipsanjuanislands.com


[more..]

Be A Docent At Whale Museum

The Whale Museum needs you to help us educate the public during the upcoming busy summer season. We are seeking volunteers to participate in our docent training program that will provide background information on whales as well as successful strategies for working with the public in the Museum's exhibit hall space. By utilizing the exhibit displays, text panels, and hands-on specimens, docents will be able to explain to visitors the characteristics of a marine mammal, what marine mammals live in the area, and the interactions between humans and whales over time.

The dates for this program are June 13, 14, and 15 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. All training sessions will be held at The Whale Museum, 62 First St. N.

The fee for this program is $25 for non-members to cover materials costs and is free for current museum members.

For more information or to sign up, please call Marcy Kober, Education Curator at 378-4710 extension 23.

[more..]

County Asks For Help To Study Groundwater

Island residents are invited to participate in a study of the county's aquifers by the citizen volunteer Water Resource Management Committee. The study will involve testing of wells to obtain information about sustainable capacity, sea water intrusion and potential nitrate contamination as part of a long-term resource management program. Priority areas include Lopez Island, Eastsound, and Deer Harbor, but a selection of wells throughout the county will be included.

The study will involve installing automatic data recording equipment in 35 wells to monitor changes in water levels in response to daily, monthly, and seasonal variations. Water quality samples will be taken twice a year. This is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of areas at risk for declining well yield and sea water intrusion. The results of the analysis will be provided to the well owners, including information about their water quality and susceptibility to sea water intrusion.


[more..]

Bush approves federal storm aid for San Juan County

SJC Press Release: President Bush has approved Washington Governor Christine Gregoire's request for federal assistance following a winter storm in February of this year. This decision makes available federal funds to assist public agencies with the cost of rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the storm.

"Here in San Juan County, the two affected agencies were the County Public Works Department and Washington State Parks," according to Department of Emergency Management Director Brendan Cowan. "A handful of shoreline roads were impacted by coastal flooding, State Parks had significant damage to their properties on the outer islands, and sections of the seawall in Westsound on Orcas Island were knocked loose," explained Cowan.

The federal assistance will help with up to 75% of the cost of rebuilding. There may also be some funds available to help agencies mitigate against similar damage happening in the future.

There is no federal support for private property owners who sustained damage from this storm. "That's fairly typical following a disaster," said Cowan. "There's a misconception out there that the federal government steps in to help out individuals after disasters, but the reality is that even following catastrophic events, help from the federal government for private citizens is minimal at best. A reliable insurance policy is the only real protection there is."

In addition to San Juan, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Snohomish, and Wahkiakum counties were included in the declaration as well.


[more..]

Replacement Sought: SJC Board Public Health

Friday Harbor, WASH. – Commissioner Robin VanHyning resigned from the Board of San Juan County Public Health District #1 at their meeting May 19, 2006 ending six years of service. Ms. VanHyning is leaving due to employment changes. The Hospital Board is seeking candidates for appointment as an interim commissioner who will serve until the next general election.

"Robin has been a very active and contributing member of the Board for over six years," said Hospital Board Chairperson Lenore Bayuk. "We will all miss her."

Hospital Board Commissioner is an elected office. However, when a member resigns, the Board appoints an individual to fill the position on an interim basis. The Board is seeking an interested and qualified community member to fill the recently vacated position until the next general election. Anyone interested in serving on the Hospital Board and being involved in an exciting growth time for the Hospital District on San Juan Island should call Commissioner Lenore Bayuk, Chairperson at 378-3636, ext. #1.

[more..]

State: Listening Session For Public Feedback

OLYMPIA -- A new "Listening Session"on mental health issues is planned in San Juan County later this month, according to the "Partnerships for Recovery and Resiliency"project. A meeting to discuss mental health issues is planned in Friday Harbor from 2 p.m. to 4 pm. on Thursday, May 25.

The Partnerships project is a five-year statewide work group that is reviewing mental health needs and services at all levels of government in Washington State. Washington was one of seven states to receive the $2.7 million-a-year grants from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

[more..]

SWAC & Consultants At Work On Solid Waste

No Plans To Close Dump

No Plans To Close Dump
Taking a hard look at possible solutions, and coming up with some viable options, is the task the SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Committee ) has now embarked on, and guiding and assisting them will be a team from Norton-Arnold & Company out of Seattle. Norton-Arnold describes itself as a company that "specializes in facilitation, conflict resolution, public involvement, and environmental mediation"; in other words, they are just what SJ County needs, if it is going to make any headway on dealing with solid waste problems in the county, and on San Juan island in particular.

While there has been some general opinion expressed that the existing transfer station on San Juan could be "closed at anytime", that opinion is not shared by the SJC Health Department if needed modifications and repairs are made to it. SJC Health is the lead agency that rules on approval of permitting and operation of landfills and transfer stations in SJ County. If Public Works, who runs the transfer station is unwilling, or unable, to maintain the facility at the level necessary to meet required standards, then while it is possible it would be closed, at the present time there are no plans or enforcement actions pending that are expected to close the dump. This gives SWAC time to come up with preferred options of dealing with garbage, and then forward those recommendations to the County Council for action.

The SWAC is a longstanding volunteer citizens group appointed by the County to review, plan and advise the County on all matters relating to solid waste -which most of us still refer to as "garbage". As the population of the county continues to grow, so does the amount of garbage, and as the number of regulations, and the enforcement of those regulations continue to increase, so then do the problems of solid waste disposal.


[more..]

2 Days Left: Young Authors Writing Contest

"Danny Jones was a funny guy...." finish that sentence with a short story, submit it by 6:00 PM this Friday, and you may be a winner.

"Danny Jones was a funny guy...." is the prompt to the San Juan Island Library's fourth annual Young Authors' Writing Contest. The Young Authors' Writing Contest for middle and high school age students to show off their writing talents in a piece of short fiction, judged by a panel of talented writers from the community.

The contest rules are that the submission must start with the sentence: "Danny Jones was a funny guy", be no more than 600 words, be typed with 12 point font that is easy to read, be double spaced on 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper and only one submission per person will be accepted. The author's name must not be on the actual story, instead a cover sheet should be used. The submission deadline is Friday, May 19, 2006 at 6:00 PM. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2006 at 6:30 PM. at the San Juan Island Library when the winners will be announced. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place authors at the Middle and High School levels.

[more..]

Fire Insur May Fall If Near Hydrant

If your house is near a fire hydrant, your fire insurance premium may go down. Hard work on the part of the San Juan Island Fire Department District 3 has paid off in the form of an improved fire insurance rating for the fire district. Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (WSRB), the agency responsible for determining fire protection classifications has awarded the district a Class 7 rating. The rating is an improvement over the Class 8 rating the fire district has held for the past 20 years.

The improved rating should translate to a 10% to 20% decrease in premiums paid for homeowner's insurance for homes qualifying for the new rating. The rating applies to homes and businesses located within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant on San Juan Island. And there may be a break for home owners who can prove a steady and available source of water, such as having a stand pipe that is connected to a pond, and is known, and clearly & constantly available to the fire department.

[more..]

Tax Fails To Pass

54 voters on Waldron thought it a great idea, but the rest of the county defeated the proposed new tax on the sale of property. Had it passed, it was projected to raise 20 million dollars for affordable housing.
[more..]

CC Gears Up For CA Interviews

The County Council (CC) will soon begin the interview process for the applicants that made the final cut from a starting field of 47. The CC has cut the list down to 12, and as of Tuesday, two of the twelve had removed themselves. The selection process has been held in meetings closed to both the public and county staff, but now that the final selections have been made, the public and the staff will be able to play a limited role, but the final interviews will be made behind closed doors.

On Tuesday the CC agreed that the process will include two appointed panels that will be able to meet the candidates, and then share their impressions with the consulting firm of Waldron & Company, and they in turn will forward their impressions, of the impressions of the panels, on to the CC.

One of the panels will be made up of elected officials and department heads. The second panel will be comprised of seven hand-picked members of the public: 1 each from Shaw & Lopez, 2 from Orcas, and 3 from San Juan Island. The members selected by the CC will not be identified until after they have agreed to be selected by the CC. Councilman Myhr said the members would represent a "broad spectrum" of the county, but did not explain what the criterion might be for such a selection.

The process will kick-off on June 7, with the 2 panels and the Council meeting the six candidates, then at the end of the day, from 4:30 to 6:30 the general public will also be allowed to mingle with them in a public setting.

On Thursday, June 8th, the CC will conduct interviews in a session closed to the public. The decision to close the meetings behind closed doors was pushed by Councilman Lichter, and opposed by Myhr. Lichter wanted the meetings on both days closed to the public, but both Myhr and Ranker voted him down on the Wednesday meetings. Lichter then asked to close the Council interviews on Thursday (June 8th), and again Myhr said no, but on this request, Ranker, while admitting such meetings have not been closed in the past, voted with Lichter to hold the interviews behind closed doors.

Lichter had again cited Waldron & Company as the reason for closing the meeting, stating that they "had strenuously advised us to keep it private" (See previous Story on this topic). Ranker stated he believed it was important to have candid dialog with the candidates. What sort of candid dialog he felt the public should not be privy to, he did not say.

[more..]

CC Moves Forward On Vesting Ordinance

On Tuesday the council held a second work session on a vesting ordinance to address the problem of existing guest houses that are now legally seen as their "principal residence", a finding that prohibits them from having a guest house and a main residence, even when the County had originally approved their proposal to have one of each.

Although the agenda item was to be a work session, there was no work done, except to praise staff or correctly making the minor changes to the ordinance the council had requested at the previous work session.

The heart of the ordinance is the time frame of the new regulations, which go back to November 30, 1991 to set the starting date, and then continue from the date of adoption forward for five years, at which time the window of opportunity will be closed.

Now for the bad news: "the landowner has the burden of proving that a property is eligible". The ordinance does not set standards for compliance, so what will count as proof may get a little dicey, unless some general guidelines -as opposed to set standards- are generated. For those few who have a guest house that was identify as such on county records, or on the submitted plans, the proof is obvious. But there have been cases where the former permit coordinators at the front desk instructed the applicant to remove the word "guest house" from the plans, because there was no other house on the property, so ipso facto, how could this be a guest house?

Now for the good news. Some guidance is provided as to what constitutes a guest house, and in simple terms, it is simply one that meets the limiting criteria in County regulations that pertains to Accessory Dwelling Units (aka Guest Houses) such as a guest house cannot be over 1000 SqFt. The really good news is, that according to the Director of planning, Ron Henrickson, the proposed ordinance will not have to be sent to the Growth Management Board for their review and approval.

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held. To read the entire draft ordinance, click below


[more..]

SJ Preservation Trust Receives $100,000 Gift

LOPEZ ISLAND, WA., May 15, 2006 – The San Juan Preservation Trust today announced that it has received a $100,000 contribution to its endowment fund from the Seattle-based Neukom Family Foundation.

"With this very generous gift, the Neukom family is helping to provide for the long-term financial health of our land trust," said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. "Our growing endowment fund will help us to remain a strong and effective land conservation organization that will continue to protect cherished island places for many years to come."

The Neukom Family Foundation was established by William H. Neukom, former executive vice president of law and corporate affairs at the Microsoft Corporation and chairman of Seattle-based law firm Preston Gates & Ellis. Endowment funds enable non-profit organizations to invest and generate funds that can be used in perpetuity to support the organizations.
To become a member of the Preservation Trust, visit www.sjpt.org/support/.


[more..]

GUEST EDITORIAL

Cowboy Council
No matter what your political persuasion, it is clear that we have a county council problem. From the wage issues to the hiring practices, to the rejection of the advice of counsel, to the unformed, waffling and half-baked positions on ADU's and the rejection of the advisory vote. These are not the actions of an accountable representative government, these are three men attempting to implement their own personal agendas.

So where is the outrage? Where are the feminist women? Where are the accusations that this local government is a "boy's club"?

Just because you voted for these county council cowboys does not mean that you can't have a change of heart. A change of conscience. Make an effort to rope them in. Become a voice for adult, rational, responsible behavior. Show that you are not as naïve and uninformed as they think you are.

It is time for everyone to stand up and be a little "d" democrat, even if you are a big "D" and these are "your cowboys". They are off the ranch, they are punch drunk with power and they are acting like they are pretty sure you can't stop them.

Alex Gavora ("d")


( Alex Gavora is an attorney, and a longtime resident on San Juan Island)

[GUEST EDITORIAL ">more..]

Court Grants Partial Stay Request -Good/Bad News

The Washington Court of Appeals recent decision to grant the County Council's request to continue a stay on their decision may be good news for some, and bad news for others; but who it helps or hurts is not clear. The Council had asked for an additional 180 days to their original request for a stay Previous Story to allow time for the Council to pass an ordinance that would satisfy the Growth Management Boards order on ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). But the bad news for the Council is the decision by the Court to only grant a stay until July 31, which is a shorter time than was requested.

If the Council can continue to move as quickly as they have, they still have a chance to run the ordinance through the process and have it submitted to the State prior to the end of the stay. Previous Story.

But more bad news was included in the Court order for the Council when the Court also stated the Court would accept the new filings of Amicus Curiae briefs of Orcas land owner Margaret Manning Previous Story, and -really bad news- also one from Clallam County, Previous Story both of which argued that the Court should not extend the stay, and instead they should issue a decision on the appeal that had originally been filed by the C

[more..]

Friday Harbor Flare Shoot-Out

The public is invited to bring their expired flares to Jackson Beach where they will be instructed in the safest and most effective techniques for using flares. The flare shoot-out will be supervised by Past Commander Travis Smith of the Friday Harbor Power Squadron, Captain Frank Chaffee of the Town of Friday Harbor Fire Department, and Katie Shipley, manager of the West Marine store in Friday Harbor.

The Friday Harbor Power Squadron in conjunction with West Marine and the Town of Friday Harbor Fire department will hold the island's first public Flare Shoot-Out at Jackson's Beach on May 20th at 2:00pm. The event is being held at the beginning of National Safe Boating Week, May20-26, a nationwide campaign to promote safe boating practices.
[more..]

SJ Preservation Trust Members Elect New Trustees

The San Juan Preservation Trust has announced that its membership has elected four new trustees, and re-elected six members to its board of trustees. Past Story on SJP Trust The new trustees are: Charles J. Bodenstab; Katie Hover; Steve McKeon;and Dianne Pressenda. The trustees re-elected are: David Ashbaugh; Will Hamilton; Harvey Himelfarb; Sara Longworth; Joseph Todd;and Jonathan White.

To learn more about the trustees, and the more than 1,500 member SJ Preservation Trust, click below:
[more..]

New Faces At San Juan Island Library

The San Juan Island Library announced the hiring of Emily Wolf and Adrienne
Bourne as a part-time library associates. The two have begun training and
will be seen in the library.

Emily Wolf will answer questions at the reference desk and have Diana
Warner's former duties adding new books to the catalog as Warner moves into
the volunteer coordinator position. In addition, she will coordinate the
Sponsor an Authorprogram that allows the public to get first crack at new
books by favorite authors and support the library. Ms. Wolf has been
working as a substitute for other staff members for the last year, and has
also worked with Skagit Valley College and the library in creating an
evening enrichment program for the children of English language learners
taking the college's English as a Second Language class. She holds a Master
in Education degree.

Adrienne Bourne, who holds as Masters in Library Science, will be working
in the library's outreach program, focusing on delivering library services
and programs to children and families. Ms. Bourne has previously worked at
the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington. She will help expand
the outreach program for the library which currently delivers books to
homebound islanders, provides weekly visits to Islands Convalescent Center
and the Mullis Community Senior Center, and sponsors special programs.

Diana Warner receives a promotion as she takes over the volunteer
coordinator position for the library due to Kathy Babbitt's upcoming
retirement. Ms. Warner has worked at the library for the last six years.

Kathy Babbitt will be retiring at the end of May after more than 4 years at
the library, her second retirement after a career in banking in California.
[more..]

CC Takes On Guesthouse Vesting Ord Again

The County Council has received a proposed draft ordinance from the Planning Commission, that is intended to provide relief to landowners that have found themselves caught in the Accessory Dwelling Unit battle. The appeal of the ADU regulations has resulted in a number of property owners being denied a right to construct their main house, because they had first constructed a "guest house", and now cannot build a "main house"; unless they remove the kitchen from the guest house, in effect turning the guest house into sleeping quarters.

The council is attempt to provide a vesting mechanism that will allow those trapped by the ongoing legal battles to have a window of opportunity within which a main residence may be constructed. Randy Gaylord, the County Prosecutor has addressed the issue by preparing a draft for Council review, but it was rejected by the Council for the Planning Commission version, which is a modification of the O'day and Bahrych proposal presented to the Council in February. Previous Story: "PA & CC At Odds..Again"


A work session was held on the draft ordinance on Tuesday, but the Council was unable to complete the work, and will hold a second work session prior to moving their work product to a public hearing, not yet scheduled.


[more..]

State Allows Additional Days Of Crabbing

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided recreational crabbers will get more days to fish during the week of July Fourth

By the commission's action, crab fishing in six marine areas will get under way Saturday, July 1 and remain open through Saturday, July 8, rather than closing July 2-4 as originally scheduled.

Waters affected by that action include marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 7 South (San Juan Islands). Those areas will then be open Wednesdays through Saturdays and the Labor Day weekend, with the possibility of additional fishing time in fall and winter.

[more..]

Serious Questions On CC Selection Process

Who's idea was it?
The County Council recently met to review a list of applicants the consulting firm of Waldron & Company had selected as potential candidates for the County Administrator position. The process involved the weeding out of over 50 applicants that Councilman Myhr labeling as "well qualified individuals" . Myhr said it was "Difficult to get down to the twelve" candidates that now form a group that will be thinned down to a final list of 3 or 5.

The process of making the 12 choices was made in executive session, which is the normal process when the County discusses the qualifications of job applicants. But what was unexpected -and may be a first for the County- the Council excluded their Human Resources manager, Becky Rusnak, as well as Karen Vedder, their attorney, and also pro-tem County Administrator David Goldsmith from the meeting. Rusnak and Vedder had just sat down for the meeting, when Lichter announced that the room was to be cleared for the executive session. Vedder asked Lichter "You don't want me to be here?" Lichter replied that only the Council and the Waldron representative would be involved in the meeting.

The exclusions has raised some eyebrows and some questions, both within and outside of County government, as to why would the Council not want local, and also possible legal input, on such an important decision from their Human Resources director and their attorney. In yet another unexpected development, Becky Rusnak, SJC Human Resource Manager, announced her resignation to the Council, and will be leaving before the end of the month. Asked if there was a relationship between her sudden announcement and her exclusion from the meeting, Rusnak simply said that "it is time to move on". The question remains as to who came up with the idea to exclude staff from observing, and being a part of, the first selection process. The Council said Waldron & Company is the reason, but an executive at Waldron, says no, that is not the case.

[more..]

CC May Form CA Review Committees

The Council plans to hold interviews with each of the final 12 applicants that have now been selected by the Council for the CA (County Administrator) position. These interviews are expected to be held in executive session, but Councilman Myhr has increasingly shown concern about just how much of the process should be conducted behind closed doors. There is also the question of will these interviews be conducted by only the three council members, or will other appropriate members of county government -and the public- be allowed to observe and comment?

Based on a press release issued last week from the Council, now that the final 12 candidates have been selected, "a panel of Elected Officials, appointed Department Heads, and the Administrator Pro-Tem will individually meet with each candidate throughout the day. At the close of the day's interviews, with input from the two panels and the Administrator Pro-Tem, the Council will review and evaluate the final candidates' qualifications" . While Chairman Lichter is on record as stating "I believe it is very important that any citizens interested be provided the opportunity to meet with our finalists," the question being asked now is, can persons other than the Council members ask questions of the candidates, and give input to the Council

The Council office had issued a statement following the executive session on the 15th, that "the Council may meet in Executive Session to complete the review the qualifications of the candidates, but hopes to conclude discussions and select a final candidate for County Administrator in open public session that day. .

Based on past actions of the Council (see story above) It had seemed unlikely at this late a date that a broad range of stake holders from the public would also be a part of the interview process, and be allowed to give input on a decision that will affect them. And while Ranker is quoted in the press release as stating "This is one of the most important decisions we will make as a Council, I am pleased with the thoughtful and involved process so far". So is that the end of the discussion on the selection process? Perhaps not.

Councilman Myhr told the Island Guardian that " I do not consider that the final decision about the process has been made by the Council. So stay tuned. ". The former Freeholders and other interest parties are still tuned in, and are paying attention, and sure enough, at the next Council meeting (Tuesday the 8th) the question of "transparency of the process" came up again, both at Citizen's access time, and also later in the meeting after Bob Myhr gave a report on how the selection process may proceed in the future.

In response to questions raised at the meeting by Susan Robins and by The Island Guardian, Myhr said he believed review committees should be assembled by the Council that would hold their own separate interviews of the finalists, and then be allowed to submit a report of some type to the Council for Council review and consideration. In addition to the members of county government, Myhr said there should also be a group formed that broadly reflected members of the community.

As Councilman Myhr said: "Stay tuned".

[more..]

Volunteer Opportunity: SJC Chamber of Commerce

SJI Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center is seeking volunteers, starting immediately. Three-hour shifts are now available at the center for anyone interested in joining a great team, welcoming visitors to our island. Lots of fun! High energy! Call the Chamber office at 378-5240, or stop by, 135 Spring Street.


[more..]

Island Rec REC X summer programs

Island Rec Press Release: Are you looking for activities for your middle school age child to do this summer that is constructive, yet fun and fulfilling? If so, Island Rec has just the thing. We are offering numerous summer programs for this specific age group.

Each program will introduce new skills, provide hours of enjoyment and offer your child a positive recreational outlet. If you are interested in finding out more information on any of our summer REC X programs please contact Corelia Peacock at 378-4953, look us up online at www.islandrec.org, or come by our office at 580 Guard Street.
[more..]

Sign-up Now For June 3rd and 4th Mammograms

The Swedish Breast Care Express, a self-contained mammography clinic on wheels, will visit Friday Harbor on June 3rd and 4th in conjunction with the San Juan Island Marathon Health and Fitness Expo. Women can get mammograms aboard the mobile coach which will be parked at the San Juan County Fairgrounds on both Saturday and Sunday.

Mammograms must be scheduled in advance of the visit by calling San Juan Health Care Associates at 378-1338 by May 31st. If you do not have insurance the cost is $180, which covers the digital imagery and reports for you and your doctor.

Low-income women without insurance and over the age of 40 may be eligible for coverage under the Breast and Cervical Health Program (BCHP). You will need to pre-qualify for this program before scheduling the mammogram. For more information on BCHP contact Planned Parenthood (378-6010) or the Inter-Island Medical Center (378-2141).

[more..]

Rosenfeld Announces

"Howie" Rosenfeld is announcing as a candidate for County Council. "After consultation with my colleagues on the Friday Harbor (FH) Town Council and with Town staff I have decided to become a candidate for San Juan (SJ) County District 3, which represents the Town of Friday Harbor on the County Council. I have been urged to run by many in our community including the current and past two Friday Harbor mayors. They feel that whoever represents the Town not only be a strong advocate for the Town's interests but also have a good understanding how the Town works" he said.
[more..]

Fair Board seeks donations for free admission

The county Fair Board is throwing a four-day party and would needs help to throw the doors open and let every one in for free. The Centennial San Juan County Fair -- August 16-19 -- celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1906 county fair. During the past 100 years residents from all the islands have gathered to show off their best flowers, wool, apples, quilts, sheep, chickens, goats, pigs, paintings, photographs, pies, canned goods, etc.

While the world has changed since the first county fair on the docks in Friday Harbor in 1906, there is still much to be gained by gathering as a community. The fair is the only entertaining countywide event (unless you count OPALCO annual meetings).

[more..]

Full Of Gas

By Gordy Petersen

The finger pointing over gas prices is at an all time high. It is not just index fingers either. I have heard that Iraq, Iran, China, OPEC, "Big Oil", and Bush, are to blame. Everyone is gouging us. But there is one obvious reason that has been overlooked. Are consumers paying too much for gas in Washington because of the actions of San Juan County? The simple answer is yes, and here is how it happened: Full of Gas
[more..]

Council To Hold Another Public Hearing On ADUs

In the last episode of our continuing saga of the Council attempting to come up with a solution to the guest house lawsuit/appeal/proposed ordinance revision, of the last revision, of the prior revision, Previous Story we watched the Council instructing the staff to prepare a new draft ordinance, based on the Council's verbal comments made during the Council meeting on Tuesday (May 2). The new draft would then be made available to the public, when the Council met three days later on Friday (May 5) of the same week to take a look, at the draft.

At the Friday meeting the County Council was expected by many to dive into the latest rendition of the proposed ordinance, and attempt to work out some of the nagging details that just don't seem to go away, then pass it, and set a new date for a public hearing on it. Myhr had fine-tuned his draft solution, had made copies available to the public, and launched into an explanation of the details (photo, right). Myhr wanted to get down to discussion and analysis, but to the surprise of many, and seemingly including Councilman Myhr, Lichter and Ranker decided they were satisfied sufficiently with the draft that staff had prepared for them, and voted to stop discussion, and go ahead with setting a date for a new public hearing on the new draft proposal.

[more..]

Local Group Formed To Inform On Health

Our aim in founding Islanders for a Healthy Environment has been to learn about and inform islanders of environmental causes of diseases such as cancer. We would like to notify islanders of our first report: Asbestos in Drinking Water.

Drinking water for Friday Harbor, like that of many US cities, is transported through asbestos/concrete pipes (25% asbestos). Inhaled asbestos is well known to cause lung cancer and other serious illness, so we checked into known effects of drinking asbestos. To briefly summarize research directed at the question: Can drinking (or eating) asbestos cause cancer?, the answer is: Yes. Our report and a short summary are available at http://www.mindspring.com/~sjccancer/default.htm

[more..]

"Thank You" On National Teacher Appreciation Week

By Friday Harbor High School PTSA members

In our polarized nation, where so many of us interact only with those who think as we do, our public schools remain one of the few places where America's gorgeous mosaic is still fresh and vital. At Friday Harbor High School, our teachers and staff educate everyone, no matter their ethnicity, political orientation, economic background, religious affiliation or social standing. And not just any education: Friday Harbor High School is the most outstanding small school in the state. Our teachers and staff make it that way.

May 7-13 is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Please join the Board of the Friday Harbor High School PTSA in expressing our gratitude to those who help our children grow into the next generation of adults. Thank you, FHHS teachers and staff, for all that you do.

The PTSA offers special thanks to retiring principal Marilyn Luckman, who has done so much to make Friday Harbor High School shine.

(PTSA members: Bryn Barnard, President Lisa Brown Vice President Cathy Cavanagh, Treasurer Cathy Youngbuck, Secretary Deborah Nolan, Volunteer Coordinator Sonia Nash, Membership Coordinator Kathy Nelson, Honor Roll Coordinator Kate Schuman, Senior Parent Liaison Sarah Anderson, Student Liaison Friday Harbor High School PTSA)
[more..]

Steven Swanberg Has Passed Away

Longtime San Juan island resident Steven Swanberg passed away at home on Friday, May 5th. Steve had been battling cancer for two years, and until recently was able to continue his walks, and visit his vineyard on Roche Harbor road, but in the last few months he was at home, with his wife Yvonne at his side, and still visiting with their friends and associates.

There will be a memorial service later this month, Additional information will be made available to our readers at a later date.

[more..]

SJI Community Foundation Funds Available

The San Juan Island Community Foundation is accepting proposals for the 2006 grant cycle. Funds will be available from the foundation's general endowment to support tax-exempt organizations on San Juan Island in the following areas: The Arts, Environment, Human Services and Rehabilitation, and Youth and Education. In addition to the general endowment, funds will be available from the foundation's Women's Fund and several Donor Advised Funds. The latter are sub-funds created within the foundation by generous individuals wanting to support our community.

The grant application forms, process, and procedures are available on the foundation's web site at www.sjicf.org. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than June 15 and mailed to the San Juan Island Community Foundation Grants Committee, P O Box 1352, Friday Harbor. Grantees will be notified in September and receive their grant at the annual Breakfast of Champions on September 29th at the Mullis Center.


[more..]

17K Raised For Preschool Programs On SJI

( Full attendance for fund raiser on San Juan Island)
The Family Umbrella Group Recently held their 8th annual luncheon and auction in Friday Harbor to help raise money for their activities. The Family Umbrella Group raises money for preschool scholarships as a means to furthering comprehensive learning programs for young children on San Juan Island.

This year the program began with a silent auction, lunch and a short speaker presentation, and then a live auction. The event brought in over $17,000.00 dollars.

[more..]

Clallam County Files Against SJC Motion For Stay

Clallam County has filed an Amicus Curiae ("Friend of the Court") brief in opposition to the motion by the SJ County Council to stay the proceedings on a ruling by the Court of Appeals on allowing guest houses in rural areas. The County Council has asked the Court to not rule on a SJC appeal that was filed by the prior Board of County Commissioners, in which they had asked the court to rule in favor of the county, and against the Growth Management Hearings Board, and the guest house appeal filed by the Friends of the San Juans.

The attorneys for Clallam County argue in their brief that the Court "has the opportunity to resolve a fundamental legal issue…does it violate the Growth Management Act to allow detached accessory dwelling units at densities greater than one dwelling unit per five acres outside urban growth areas?"

Clallam and Snohomish County have an interest in the outcome of the SJC appeal to the court, since they too have ADU issues that will be effected by the court's ruling, and a decision by the court will give guidance not only to what counties in the state can allow in their regulations, it will also define the Growth Management Hearings Boards rulings on future appeals against county regulations. According to the brief "Clallam County and others would benefit from the issuance of a decision as soon as possible".

The Clallam brief to the Court also gives voice to another aspect of the guest house issue that is relevant to them, and of particular relevance to SJC, and that is: "It is of considerable public interest to clarify the latitude the GMA grants to counties to utilize detached ADUs as part of their rural strategies, in particular to accomplish affordable housing goals.."

The move by a Clallam County may be the final push that will result in the Court of Appeals refusing the latest request by Councilmen Lichter, Myhr and Ranker to not rule on the case; a request that SJC Prosecutor Randy Gaylord has advised them is not in the best interest of the County, given that recent Court decisions have changed how the Court may rule on SJC's appeal to the Court. Gaylord's advise to the Council is also echoed by the Clallam County argument to the Court, stating that "In the recent Viking case, the Court found the urban density mandate to be erroneous,…hearings board do not have the authority to make public policy.."

At the last County Council hearing, Councilman Myhr stated that he now believes the County could argue to the Growth Management Board for some detached ADU's. Ranker has been back-and-forth on should the Council ask the Court to rule or not, but Lichter has been adamant that the Council needs to pass their ordinance before the Court rules.

Lichter and Ranker's justifications for sidestepping the Court has been based on a concern the Court would impose greater limitations on ADUs then their ordinance will. This concern has not been shared by the majority of the members of the public, who have testified in the recent hearings on the ordinance proposed by the Council.

Given the number of briefs now filed, and the unusual willingness of the Court of Appeals to allow them to be heard by the Court at such a late date, the Court may be on the verge of refusing to grant a stay of proceedings, and instead issue a ruling that will give true "closure" to the matter, as Councilman Ranker recently stated was an important goal to achieve.



[more..]

Council "Holds" short Illegal Meeting?

Councilman Myhr and Lichter admitted at the Tuesday ADU meeting that they had, for a short time, been together, and in conversation with, members of the public outside of a formal advertised meeting.

The matter came up un-expectedly after a break in the hearing on ADU's, when Chairman Lichter announced to the audience that he and Myhr had been observed last Tuesday after the ADU meeting, in conversation with members of the public who had attended the public hearing on ADUs.

Lichter said correspondence had been received from Wanda Evans that she had "witnessed a meeting outside on the deck of the ferry between Councilman Alan Lichter, Councilman Bob Myhr, Vice President of the Friends of the San Juan, Lynn Bahrych, Secretary of the Friends of the San Juans, Roger Collier, and a man that I don't know,,,"

[more..]

Guest House Decision Continued to Friday

Approximately 30 people showed up on Tuesday to observe the continued deliberations by the County Council on the ADU ordinance. Having run out of time last Tuesday Previous Story , the CC had continued the meeting to the following Tuesday (May 2), but were still unable to come a decision, and over the objections of Bob Myhr, broke early, and continued the meeting to Friday, May 5.

What the Council had in front of them was the PC (Planning Commission) proposed ordinance that had been submitted to the CC by the PC for their review, but the severe restrictions on ADUs the PC came back with were contrary to what the CC had sent to the PC for their review.

In response to the PC draft, Councilman Myhr had introduced his draft proposal at the previous meeting, and by the May 2 meeting Chairman Lichter had also submitted -in writing- his idea on how to solve the ADU problem. At the start of the meeting Lichter gave a history of the ADU legislation and appeals, then asked Myhr to make his comments, followed by Ranker, after which Lichter would give his opening remarks.

Myhr explained his thoughts that led to the ideas contained in his draft. The Myhr draft would allow some freestanding ADUs, in addition to also allowing them to be attach to accessory structures, or to a main house, as long as all of the structures were contained in an 80' circle; a point that he was adamant on, but did not explain the reason for the 80 foot number. He also suggested a "cap" be put on the number of units that would be allowed.

Ranker did not have any specific draft language, but stressed the need to make a decision that would bring the County into compliance with the state. He noted that there seemed to be a consensus by the Council to allow some detached ADUs, and he was in favor of informing the Court of Appeals that the County wished to withdraw their request for a stay on the Court's ruling. He also expressed a concern that the County may lose out on grants if they continue to be out of compliance.

Lichter then spoke. With respect to Myhr's comments on the allowing of free-standing ADUs -which Ranker had previous stated he was in favor of- Lichter said "It is a crazy idea. We have already been told that GMA (Growth Management Board)will not allow them!" Myhr demurred, stating he would "love to make the argument before the GMA", and that things have changed at the state level. Lichter also dismissed Ranker's comments as "general terms" and that "his suggestions will lead to all kinds of problems…there are too many detached buildings that would end of allowing too many ADUs"

Lichter suggested that the Council adopt his proposal, which was to take the first four pages of the original ADU ordinance that the CC had sent to the PC, and "insert" them into the draft ordinance the PC had sent back to them. He would also remove and altered some of the language in the PC draft ordinance.

Myhr asked Randy Gaylord if the changes would require a new public hearing, and was told the it would. The Council agreed to continue the deliberations to Friday, and asked the staff to make adjustments to the proposal to insert the four pages of the Councils draft into the Planning Commission draft that would reflect some of the ideas that had been expressed by the Council in the meeting.


[more..]

CC May Decide On Guest Houses Today

The County Council will continue their deliberations Tuesday, May 2, in the Council Chambers on the proposed ordinance sent to them by the (Planning Commission). Based on past comments, it is expected that all three of the Council members will have suggestions as to how the PC proposal can be improved. Previous Story

Councilman Ranker told The Island Guardian that he planned to bring up the idea of forming an advisory committee to look at the issue. How this would differ from the Planning Commission, which is the County official advisory committee, is not clear, and there are some indications that the other Council members plan to move forward on an ordinance as quickly as possible. Chairman Lichter said he expects the Council to reach resolution at the Tuesday meeting.

The meeting is open to the public, but not to public input.

[more..]

Man Rescued, Dog Missing

A Sunday night call at 8:20 pm to the Sheriff's Dispatch office alerted them that a man believed to be from Lopez had fallen overboard from his boat, just off of the south end of Brown Island, and had been rescued by a ferry. A Sheriff Deputy boarded the ferry to interview the man. While the interview was underway, the Sheriff and Friday Harbor Port boat went out to retrieve the man's boat that was reported to be going around in circles, when a second call came in that a dog was reported to have also been aboard the man's boat.

The rescue crew radioed back the boat had been secured, but there was no dog aboard. Both rescue boats searched the waters until after dark for the animal, but were unable to locate the dog.

At the time of rescue the victim was unable to describe the dog, and it is hoped that it was able to swim to shore. The man was airlifted off to the mainland. His condition is not known at this time; and the cause of the incident is currently under investigation.


[more..]

Truck Lost, But Fire Prevented From Spreading

Score tied, seconds left in the ball game…."Truck on fire, Cattle Point Road" ! Oh no, another fire. Truck was parked on private property next to the road. Black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from miles away as Cattle Point road is quickly shut-down in both directions.

The fire is quickly brought under control before the gas tank goes, or the fire spreads to the surrounding brush and woods. The truck was a total loss, but there were no injuries. Cause of the fire is under investigation

[more..]