A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Photo by Linda LaMar

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 34^th week of 2026. 

This is a short newsletter since most meetings were cancelled this week due to lack of quorum.

See below for information on the weekly candidate meetings scheduled at Freeland Hall each Monday at 6 pm through mid-Oct. Next Monday: Meet Barbara Fuller, candidate for Auditor.

• The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/a7e478c9-3250-420a-b651-82a573b09242.
  • No public comment was offered during the meeting. 
  • We held 3 public hearings, all franchise renewals. All three were approved. 
  • The agenda for the Board meeting for Tuesday, August 25 is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/2b36599d-993b-404d-bf8f-7e246d3e22f5.  On that agenda: the eight sewer franchise public hearings shown below.

• Budget Workshop: our budget meetings were cancelled this week due to lack of quorum. 
  • There will be no Budget meetings next week.
  • Our next Budget meetings will be held September 2^nd and 3^rd; I’ll post the agendas here next week.
  • You can find the most recent version of the 700+ page Budget Book 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.
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
  • 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 was cancelled this week. The next work session will be held on Wednesday, September 2^nd. The agenda for that work session will be posted by Friday, August 28 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.  
• The Council of Governments (COG) meeting for August has been cancelled, but the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) will hold a 2-hour meeting on Wednesday, August 26 beginning at 10 am. Agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-a732aedd5094e4b0cc22f1947e2d28c0. On that agenda: Human Services Transportation Plan Draft and Regional Transportation Improvement Plan Policies

• Whidbey Climate Action is kicking off another season of Island Conversations the first week of September: What’s Really Raising Our Electricity Rates?  You’ve probably noticed that electric bills have risen in recent times, but perhaps you don’t know all the reasons for PSE’s rate increases. The speaker, Charlee Thompson, is the Sr. Policy Associate with the NW Energy Coalition. Charlee will explain what's really behind the rate increases we all pay, and how to participate in ensuring that Washington's energy goals are met with affordable, clean energy. Thursday, September 3, in St. Hubert’s Community Room, at 804 3rd St. in Langley. They begin with snacks and socializing at 5:45; the program begins promptly at 6:00.

• I will not be hosting Monday afternoon community meetings for the next three months, but:
  • I am sponsoring a weekly meeting for citizens to meet candidates for County offices. These are not forums or debates—each week will be just one candidate talking with voters interested in hearing their message.
  • These meetings will be held at the Freeland Hall from 6 – 7 pm each Monday through October 19, excluding September 7 (Labor Day)
  • Tentatively scheduled so far:
  • Monday, August 24, 6 pm: County Auditor candidate Barbara Fuller.
  • Monday, August 31, 6 pm: Commissioner Dist 3 candidate Grant Shaw.
  • Monday, September 14, 6 pm: Sheriff candidate Tavier Wasser
  • Monday, September 21, 6 pm: Clerk candidate Deirdre Butler.
  • Monday, September 28, 6 pm: Commissioner Dist 3 candidate Matt Van Pelt

Melanie

Today is National Senior Citizens Day. What with fracturing my foot last week and turning 71 next week, I am definitely feeling the Senior Citizen vibe today. Consider this another plug for volunteers for Island Senior Resources, https://senior-resources.org/.

“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”
~George Bernard Shaw

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Please send along ideas and feedback. You can e-mail me at district1@islandcountywa.gov

It is an honor to serve you, 
Melanie Bacon
Island County Commissioner, Dist. 1

district1@islandcountywa.gov
(360)679-7354

1 NE 7th St.
Coupeville, WA 98239