A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Island County, Washington sent this bulletin at 10/16/2026 02:43 PM PDT

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Island County

District 1 News October 16, 2026
Vote

I want to remind you of two things today. (1) Ballots drop today. If you mail your ballot back please vote early so there’s no chance of your ballot being rejected due to a late postmark. My VOTE T-shirt courtesy of Whidbey Environmental Action Network. (2) It’s that germy time of year again, friends. Get your flu and covid shots please. The WhidbeyHealth Community Pharmacy is holding an immunization clinic at the South Whidbey High School next Tuesday, October 20, from 3 -6 pm, more details below.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 42nd week of 2026. 

Today’s edition of the New York Times includes an obituary for Bruiser the Elk. If you want to read it but don’t subscribe to that paper, go to my personal Facebook page where you should be able to access the article without a login. Numerous Whidbey residents and workers are quoted in it. I was pleased that not only does the story include a link to editor Jessie Stensland’s South Whidbey Record story on Bruiser’s death, it includes her reference to Bruiser as “the neighbor who never paid rent.” 

  • The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, October 13; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/5182b5b1-fa90-40ca-a4c2-cf8673bff0b4.
    • We received two public comments. The first was from a veteran who thanked us for our Veterans Services Officer program; as of the 1st week of September our two VSOs have assisted Vets in accessing $5.3 million dollars in service connected disability claims. The second citizen commented that she was glad that the Board has made the Critical Areas Ordinance update a priority.
    • We held two franchise public hearings; both franchises were approved.
    • The agenda for the Tuesday, October 20: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-5dee4cb9a89c1e06b4d29ab19cfe11fc. There are no regular agenda items or public hearings scheduled for that agenda.
  • The Coupeville Library Capital Facility Area Governing Body (aka the three County Commissioners) met on Tuesday morning at 9:15. The CLCFA holds one meeting every year to review, consider, and approve a resolution authorizing an excess tax levy for the following year to pay down the bond that was taken out to improve the Coupeville Library back in 2008. The schedule of payments was established at that time, so Coupeville-area citizens should not be surprised that the CLCFA approved an excess tax levy of $226,600 for 2027. The final payment for this bond will be taken out of Coupeville area property taxes in 2028.
  • Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):             
    • Tuesday, Oct 27:           Clinton Water (franchise)
    • Tuesday, Oct 27:           Hope View (franchise)
    • Tuesday, Oct 27:           Unit. Owners Assoc. of Utsalady (franchise)
    • Tuesday, Nov 3:            2027 Planning Work Plan and Planning Docket
    • Tuesday, Dec 1:            PBRS
    • Monday, Dec 7:            2027 Budget & Levies
    • Tuesday, Dec 8:            New Code: Unified Approach to Code Enforcement
  • Work Session, Wednesday October 14. Agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-2016937289e0f69d6aff27435f0fae99;  audio recording: islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16223/10142026-WS-Audio.
    • Governor Ferguson wants to see all requests for legislative capital funds by the end of this month, so we had another meeting to make sure we are on schedule to provide that information to him. As I mentioned last week, our top two are our jail initiative and improvements to the Cornet Bay dock; we may also send a request for funds for our Coupeville transfer station improvements. Discussion at mark 0:01:20 in the recording.
    • Budget Director Susan Geiger brought the final draft of the 2027 Budget to the Board. Citizens will be interested to know that we are adding $100,000 to the Sheriff’s 2027 budget to cover a 2nd Animal Control officer. Budget documents begin on page 4 of the agenda; the recording of the discussion starts at mark 0:13:18.
    • Long Range Planning reviewed the elements in the Critical Areas Ordinance that they propose to update in 2027. Documents begin on page 28 of the agenda; the discussion starts at mark 0:46:50 in the recording. Our focus in the update will be to ensure our ordinance reflects best available science.
    • We went over the draft of an AI policy for the County. Draft on page 40, discussion at mark 1:09:43 in the recording. Department Heads and Elected Officials will have a chance to weigh in on this policy at our Round Table meeting on Tuesday, October 27.
    • There will be no work session next week due to lack of quorum. The next work session will be held on Wednesday, November 4, and the agenda will be posted by Friday, October 30 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
  • Board of Health, Tuesday, October 20 at 1 pm; agenda (including zoom link): https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter - docaccess-9d8aa1645ec637aef040aaa9aa9e51bc. On that agenda: Interagency Agreement with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department; Island Senior Resources Introduction to new Executive Director; American Diabetes Month Proclamation; Review Island County Strategic Vision; 2027 Policy Docket Proposals. The November BOH meeting will be cancelled.
  • Island Transit, www.islandtransit.org.
    • Island Transit wants you to tell them whether the priorities they’ve established for their Long Range plan reflect what matters most to you--and what may be missing. Review the priorities. Share your feedback. Help guide the plan. Please visit the website https://www.islandtransit.org/roadmap-to-2047 for more details. Take the survey, email, or attend a public meeting to leave your feedback.
  • Island Transit Public Meeting Schedule
    • Sat, October 17, Oak Harbor Library Meeting Room, 1000 SE Regatta Dr., Oak Harbor, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm
    • Tue, October 20, Langley Library Meeting Room, 104 Second Street, 2-4 pm
    • Wed, October 21, Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd, Camano, 11 am-1 pm
    • Wed, October 21, Island County Multi-Purpose Center, 141 N E Camano Dr., Camano 2-5 pm
    • Fri, October 23, Coupeville Library Meeting Room, 788 NW Alexander St., Coupeville 2-4:30 pm
  • Public Health Update:
    • WhidbeyHealth Community Pharmacy is hosting a Flu & COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, at South Whidbey High School (5676 Maxwelton Rd, Langley). Protect yourself and your community this respiratory virus season.
    • Tuesday, October 20
    • 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    • Available Vaccines:
    • Flu shots (Ages 3+)
    • High-dose Flu shots (Ages 65+)
    • COVID-19 vaccines (Ages 5+)
    • Most insurance plans are accepted. AppleHealth is accepted for adults ages 19 and older.
  • Whidbey Island Conservation District, 2032 Long Range Work Plan -- Seeking Public Input!
    • Whidbey Island Conservation District is made up of local staff with professional expertise and a board of volunteer supervisors, all of whom have a personal investment and interest in improving the quality of life in our community. They do this through non-regulatory, free, in-person technical assistance and education for the long term conservation of our shared natural resources. Help inform the natural resource priorities, program development, and project implementation during the next five years of our conservation district's professional goals. All responses are collected anonymously with the option of adding contact details for follow-up conversations. To provide input, fill out their "3 Questions in 3 Minutes" survey.
  • Long Range Plan: 3 Public Meeting Opportunities in October, available in-person and via Zoom.
  • Today and Monday I and various staff members are meeting with representatives from Senator Murray’s and Congressman Larsen’s offices to discuss various county funding needs (I am leaving my home for these meetings but am relying on County staff to take these individuals on the various field trips). I mention this here just to let you know that our representatives in Washington, DC pay attention to Island County priorities, which we appreciate.
  • I will return to my normal meetings with citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland on Monday, December 7, at 3 pm. Hope you can join us.

Melanie

The annual Great Shake Out occurred this week, which is why you might have seen alarms for tsunami and earthquake warning drills.

“I used to sleep nude - until the earthquake.” ~Alyssa Milano