A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Island County, Washington sent this bulletin at 08/14/2026 01:35 PM PDT

Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser
Island County

District 1 News August 14, 2026
Commissioner Bacon's new workspace

Commissioner Bacon's new workspace

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 33rd week of 2026. 

I broke my foot this week and have to keep it elevated 22 hours a day. That means I am attending Board meetings virtually and will not be able to go to all of the County events I usually try to attend. So if you were expecting to see me at some event or other over the next couple of months, don’t be disappointed or annoyed when I’m not there. I apologize in advance for missing it.

See below for information on the weekly candidate meetings scheduled at Freeland Hall each Monday at 6 pm beginning on August 17. Next Monday: Meet Rick Felici.

  • 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/e31d5a8f-6b6d-4fe4-ba31-3f76c8f934b1.
    • No public comment was offered during the meeting. 
    • We held one public hearing to amend the 2026 Budget. The amendment passed. Discussion at 00:12:30 in the video. 
    • The agenda for the Board meeting for Tuesday, August 18 is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/a7e478c9-3250-420a-b651-82a573b09242.  On that agenda: the three water franchise public hearings shown below.
  •  Budget Workshop: We held two Budget workshops this week. 
  • Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):             
    • 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 1:           CIP (continued from 8/4)          
    • Tuesday, Sept 15:         Shoreline Master Program  
    • Tuesday, Sept 22:         Greenbank Estates (franchise)
    • Tuesday, Sept 22:         Sunset Ridge (franchise)
    • Tuesday, Sept 22:         Park Acres (franchise)           
  • Work Session held Wednesday, August 12: agenda https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter#docaccess-35bc83bb2e046f2a4fb6013d5a493ba0;  recording https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15790/08122026-WS-Audio.
    • The Sheriff brought three items, starting with an interesting discussion on a contract with the National Institute for Jail Operations. The document can be found beginning on page 10 of the agenda.
    • The Sheriff also discussed the draft for a new departmental policy on K9 Tracking/Trailing. Page 4 in the agenda; mark 0:41:41 in the recording.
    • Diking District No. 6 (Crockett Lake area) was audited by the State, which determined there is no longer a local Board managing this diking district. So it looks like the County may have to take it over. More to come. Discussion at mark 1:01:33 in the recording.
    • Planning brought two items. The first was their proposed 2027 Docket. Discussion begins at mark 1:11:51.
    • The second discussion with Planning was on proposed changes to PBRS in order to incentivize transfers from the Designated Forest and Agriculture programs into PBRS. Discussion begins at the 1:39:52 mark.
    • Work session agenda for Wednesday, August 19: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter#docaccess-ca2f1c719bb7043d1c3a2cc7e68aa5a2.  On that agenda: Parks element of the Comp Plan; Public Works drone; Jail site validation proposal; contract with Housing Authority of Island County; draft generative AI policy.  
  • Island Transit news: https://www.islandtransit.org/.
  • Island Senior Resources news: https://senior-resources.org/. Learn about classes, meals, volunteer opportunities, and much more.
  • I will not be hosting Monday afternoon community meetings for the next three months, but:
    • 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 (or someone in my place) will moderate questions directly from the floor—and if it appears there is a ringer from a rival campaign asking hostile questions, we will put a stop to it.
    • These meetings will be held at Freeland Hall from 6–7 pm each Monday from August 17 to October 19.
    • Monday, August 17, 6 pm: Meet Island County Sheriff candidate Rick Felici.
    • Monday, August 24, 6 pm: Meet Island County Auditor candidate Barbara Fuller.

Melanie

I should have paid more attention to the valuable information from these folks: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/1033/Healthy-Aging-and-Falls-Prevention-Coali.