A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Island County, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/22/2026 02:59 PM PDT

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Island County

District 1 News May 22, 2026
Bald Eagles

Photo by Linda LaMar

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 21st week of 2026.

Monday May 25 will be Memorial Day. Most County offices will be closed.

  • The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/993f4b44-e3fc-44d8-8c95-08f26522dce8.
    • We received one public comment, from a person glad that we plan to establish a Farm and Agriculture Advisory Committee but asking that we create an Ecosystem Committee as well.
    • Because of the nature of that comment, I want to let you know the intention behind this proposed Farm committee. This Farm and Agricultural Lands Advisory Committee will be a property tax advisory committee that will advise the Assessor on true and fair value of farm and agricultural land, not an agricultural policy advisory committee for the Commissioners. The public hearing to establish this committee is scheduled for June 23.
    • We held two public hearings, one on our procurement code and the other on our Commissioners’ records of proceedings code. Both were approved, with no public comment.
    • This weekend there will be a Whidbey celebration of the life and legacy of Nancy Nordhoff. I spoke about our community debt to her during Commissioners’ Comments, mark 00:30:27 in the recording.
    • The agenda for the Tuesday May 26 meeting is here:  https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/9d76136a-e342-4652-9386-4fd33a7ba0d6. This should be a very short meeting, with no regular agenda items or public hearings scheduled. I will be the only Commissioner in the hearing room; one of my colleagues will join virtually.
  • Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
    • Tuesday, June 2:          SE Camano Franchise
    • Tuesday, June 2:          Olympic Marine Franchise
    • Tuesday, June 2:          Higgins Franchise
    • Tuesday, June 9:          Private/commercial dog kennels
    • Tuesday, June 9:          Potentially dangerous dogs
    • Tuesday, June 23:        Establishing a Farm & Ag Committee (Assessor)
    • Tuesday, June 23:        Comp Plan
    • Wednesday, June 24:  Comp Plan continued (if needed) – at 2 pm
    • Tuesday, July 7:            TIP/CIP
    • Tuesday, July 7:            Rockaway Park (franchise)       
    • Tuesday, July 7:            Wiedmann & Fuller (franchise)              
  • The agenda for the Wednesday May 20 Work Session is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-22617358e093116da0c020508adf4cd2; the audio recording is here: islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14774/05202026-WS-Audio. Reminder: you will need to download the recording to scroll to the places I mark below.
    • We began with a 2026 legislative update by Columbia Policy Advisors, our lobbyists in Olympia. Their presentation begins on page 4 of the agenda.
    • We proposed a budget for LTAC grants for 2027: $715,000. Discussion begins at mark 0:52:00 in the recording.
    • We went over the drafts for the 2027 – 2032 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), Clean Water Utility Plan (CWU), and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), beginning at mark 1:19:23 in the recording, page 7 of the agenda. This included a fairly in-depth discussion on Crawford Road/South Whidbey Industrial Zone, beginning at mark 2:03:35.
    • We heard presentations on the 6 applications we’ve received for Rural County Economic Development (RCED) funds, beginning at mark 2:55 37. The presentations are available online as shown below. We will make our decisions on funding at a later meeting.
    • Town of Coupeville, sewer extension: mark 2:59:06 in the recording, page 182 in the agenda
    • WhidbeyHealth, parking lot: mark 3:13:13, page 188
    • Port of South Whidbey, Possession Park boat ramp: mark 3:22:38, page 195
    • City of Oak Harbor, crosswalk: mark 3:29:49, page 204
    • Public Works, Robinson/Mutiny Bay boat ramp: mark 3:35:47, page 211
    • Public Works, WCLT Keystone Preserve access: mark 3:55:14, page 227
    • We will advance an amendment to the 2026 Budget, mark 4:21:00, page 250
    • We reviewed an application for Conservation Futures Funds for an acquisition project, from the Whidbey Camano Land Trust; and 4 applications for Maintenance and Operations funds for previously acquired projects. Mark 4:38:45, page 255. We will make our decisions on funding at a later meeting.
    • The next Work Session for the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held Wednesday June 3. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, May 29 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
  • ·On Tuesday the Board of Health (BOH) met. Agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-d8cab5f875842e9daf9c6f36b431c4a3; Video Recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14770/Board-of-Health-051926-Video-Recording-
    •    We reviewed the draft Community Health Improvement Plan.
  • ·Next Wednesday May 27 the Council of Governments (COG) and Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) will meet. They will use the same zoom link, which can be found in either agenda.
  • Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update:   After two years of in-depth work, this month the Planning Commission will finish their involvement in the development of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan. The Board is very grateful to everyone who served on this essential board during this time. Here is a link to the Planning Commission page:  https://www.islandcountywa.gov/235/Planning-Commission. You can find details on their meetings and minutes, including Zoom info, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4. The agendas are published at least a week in advance. 
  • Library levy. When you receive your ballots in July for the August 4 election, you will see a levy for the Sno-Isles Library system. I encourage you to consider your vote carefully.
    • A NO vote will mean reduced staffing and open hours; a decreased budget for books and digital materials, which could mean longer wait times; reduced early learning and literacy programs like Storytimes and Bookmobile visits; limited access to computers, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and printing; and delayed technology updates and building maintenance
    • A YES vote will mean maintaining current staffing and library open hours; continuing buying books, eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming services; keeping early learning and literacy programs like Storytimes and Bookmobile visits; continuing to provide public access to computers, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and printing; and staying up to date with technology upgrades and building maintenance
  • Congratulations to Mike Etzell, our Developmental Disabilities Program Coordinator in Human Services, for being awarded the Hazel Venables Award, presented annually by Sherwood Community Services at their Gala. This award honors individuals who make meaningful, inclusive contributions to the lives of people with disabilities. This is a significant honor, and Mike’s many years of incredible work at Island County is why he was chosen as this year’s recipient.
  • One of our citizens received the American Community Survey in their mail and asked me if this was a real thing they should trust to fill out. A project of the US Census Bureau since 2005, the ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed social, economic, housing, and demographic information from a sample of households across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. If your home is selected to participate, it is against the law to not fill the survey out. For more information, go here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/, 
  • In August 2025, a coalition of Island County cities, towns and special purpose districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters. During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the region’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and safety fairs. The process has now culminated with the completion of the Risk Assessment portion of the plan. Data from that process is now available for review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/170/Department-of-Emergency-Management. The public is highly encouraged to review the hazard profiles and maps illustrated on the website, and provide input on the risk assessment to Rachel Schwinden, Emergency Management Coordinator and Project Lead for Island County Emergency Management at r.schwinden@islandcountywa.gov  or to Bev O’Dea, Consultant, at Bevodea@bridgeviewconsulting.org.  We anticipate a draft plan available for public review by June/July 2026.

Melanie

Monday is Memorial Day. I hope to see many of you at the Coupeville Memorial Day Parade tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

 

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”           ~ Bob Dylan