 Four years ago Island Transit installed solar panels on top of the administrative building. You can see by this display in their front lobby how much solar energy they have captured, saving the taxpayers of Island County on the agency’s energy bills.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 32nd week of 2026.
Because there have been members of the public following our budget discussions (yay!) the Budget Director is making PDFs of our 700+ page Budget Books available even though they are working drafts and are not required to be made publicly available. You can find the most recent version here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/231/Commissioners-Budget-Information. Note: the PDFs will be updated at the end of each week after the Commissioners make changes.
See below for information on the weekly candidate meetings I will be hosting at Freeland Hall each Monday at 6 pm beginning on August 17.
- The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/9476abd1-f40c-4157-aab2-faa0adae2a10.
- No public comment was offered during the meeting.
- We held 5 public hearings: three franchises, the 6-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the 6-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The franchises and TIP were all approved but the CIP public hearing was continued until September 1, 2026 due to open questions.
- We received one public comment on the CIP. The discussion on the TIP and CIP can be found in the recording beginning at mark 0:13:17.
- The agenda for the Board meeting for Tuesday, August 11 is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/e31d5a8f-6b6d-4fe4-ba31-3f76c8f934b1. On that agenda: a public hearing to amend the 2026 Budget.
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Budget Workshop: we held two Budget workshops this week.
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Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
- Tuesday, August 11: 2026 Budget Amendment
- Tuesday, August 18: Madrona Annex (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 18: Sunset Water (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 18: Wildarama (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Carolyn Graves (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Groseclose (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Solvang (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Mt. Wenatchee (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Crawford (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Hudock (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Cary (franchise)
- Tuesday, August 25: Witham (franchise)
- Tuesday, Sept 15: Shoreline Master Program (note the date change)
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Work Session held Wednesday, August 5: agenda https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-ad04ec4f4792e5b254d6fc5184ecf6c6; recording islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15762/08052026-WS-Audio.
- During the discussion with our Budget Director on proposed changes to Uniform Guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, we had an interesting conversation on potential federal changes that would allow the federal government to take allocated funds back after we have already spent them. The Budget Department discussion begins at mark 0:03:49 in the recording.
- We had an in-depth discussion about the new restrooms at the Freeland Park which we hope to have installed by the end of this year. They are going to cost way over the original budget. None of us are happy about it, and some of us were quite vocal with our dissatisfaction. Mark 0:30:29 in the recording.
- We discussed the contract with LIHI to continue emergency housing services at the Harbor Inn in Freeland, and also our frustration that we have not yet opened the ten permanent supportive housing units we have planned there (note: this is not solely the fault of LIHI). Mark 1:01:29 in the recording.
- Our Emergency Management Director brought us a discussion on the Island County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, mark 1:41:55 in the recording.
- Work session agenda for Wednesday, August 12: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122026-1222. On that agenda: K9 Tracking/Trailing Policy; Updating existing Peddler’s Permit requirements and fees; Deer Lake Boating Regulations; Diking District No. 6 Discussion; Long Range Planning 2027 Work Plan and Docket; Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) Proposed Forestry Changes.
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Public Health Update:
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Air Quality Alert for Whidbey & Camano Islands: We are experiencing air quality impacts from wildfire smoke this week. Particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations are ranging between Mild to "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" in Island County. The forecast shows smoke clearing up Friday August 7th through the weekend. Check AQI by location here: https://www.airnow.gov/? Or use the WA Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1
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Bat Safety: A bat found inside a local home recently tested positive for rabies. The family took the right steps by coordinating with public health to test the animal, and they are currently receiving proper care. Late summer is a peak time for bat activity. While local bats are highly beneficial to our ecosystem, they are the primary carriers of rabies in Washington state. Bat Safety Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CQaHXZj6Z/
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Island County Pollution Identification and Correction Program:
- You have one more chance this year to join the Island County PIC Program in discussing the important work underway in our community to improve water quality and reopen shellfish harvesting beds. Discussion on the Maxwelton Watershed, Wednesday, August 12th 5 – 7 pm, Bayview Community Hall 5642 Bayview Road.
- Learn more about the PIC program here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/997/Island-County-Pollution-Identification-a
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Island Transit news: https://www.islandtransit.org/.
- The Island Transit Board of Directors met this morning.
- We held a public hearing on the 6-year Transit Development Plan (TDP); it was approved.
- Also approved: a new Purchasing Card policy and revised Travel and Reimbursable Expenses policy.
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Island Senior Resources news: https://senior-resources.org/. Learn about classes, meals, volunteer opportunities and much more.
- I will be at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland at 3 pm on Monday, August 10. I invite you to come by and talk with me and other interested community members about County issues. That will be my last Monday 3 pm community meeting for the next couple of months, because:
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Beginning Monday evening, August 17, I will host a weekly meeting for citizens to meet the candidates for County offices (Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Clerk, County Commissioner District 3). This will not be a forum or a debate—each week will be just one candidate talking with voters interested in hearing their message. BTW: I will moderate questions directly from the floor—and if it appears there is a ringer from a rival campaign asking hostile questions I will put a stop to it.
- These meetings will be held at the Freeland Hall from 6 – 7 pm each Monday from August 17 to October 19.
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Monday, August 17, 6 pm: Meet Island County Sheriff candidate Rick Felici.
Melanie
“We’re killing less salmon at this agency.” ~Board member Craig Cyr, in a discussion about the environmental impact of Island Transit’s solar energy initiative.
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