Anyone in Western Washington last February will likely share their own stories of “Snowmaggedon” for years to come. I was thankful to be safe at home with my wife, even though we lost power for two days. We did manage to have some playtime in the snow!

Many of our public servants couldn’t stay home with their families during the snow days as they serve in essential roles to protect the safety of citizens. These include our Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office deputies and jail staff, whose services are called upon 24/7/365, no matter the weather. Staff in our Department of Human Services helped coordinate volunteers to staff our Severe Weather Shelters. Our elections staff in the Auditor’s Office braved the weather on days our county offices were closed to process returned ballots from the February 11 election and ensure ballot drop boxes were emptied and votes counted. Our facilities staff came in to check on the many buildings on our Port Orchard campus and clear sidewalks and parking lots so staff could get to their offices.

I want to give special recognition to our Public Works department. The Roads division personnel were put on mandatory 12-hour shifts starting on Super Bowl Sunday and running through February 15. While the rest of us were home enjoying time with our families, shoveling driveways, or wondering when it might be safe to head out, our crews were plowing roads all day and night. Our stormwater and sewer utility workers were also on the job, making sure the sewage treatment plants and stormwater systems were functioning correctly in sub-freezing temperatures.

During the February snow events in Kitsap, our Public Works crews:

• Drove 46,000 miles in their snow plows, sanders and de-icing vehicles, which consumed 13,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and responded to multiple reports of downed trees and road blockages
• Applied 400 tons of salt and 3,600 tons of sand on our roads
• Answered 3,600 customer calls and requests for service

Thank you to our Kitsap County staff who work so tirelessly and with such dedication! If you were caught during the severe weather wondering about snowplow schedules or road conditions, subscribe to automated electronic notifications via e-mail or texts at this link Inclement Weather Page. To find out about county and courthouse closures or delays, call the Inclement Weather Phone Line at (360) 337-5775.

Klahowya addition & Olympic remodel

The Klahowya Secondary School addition was completed for the opening of the 2018/2019 school year. The new addition houses an auxiliary gym, choir room and classroom space.

The grand opening for the remodeled Olympic High School took place January 24. It almost looks like a new school! Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun featured the beautiful addition in one of his Beat Blast video blogs.

Veterans Affairs Clinic

The new Veterans Affairs Clinic on Ridgetop Boulevard continues to take shape as local contractor FPH Construction works toward a fall 2019 completion date. I toured the 17,000-square-foot facility March 26 and was impressed with the numerous multifunctional security design elements. For example, in the photo below, the outer front wall of the building is reinforced to withstand explosive blasts and vehicle crashes. It is a pleasure to know our 37,000 local military veterans will have an expanded, state-of-the-art facility close to home for services that will save them trips to Seattle or Tacoma.

We also held a retirement celebration – with special treats - for Titan, one of our K9 officers in the Sheriff’s Office. Titan served the citizens of Kitsap County for 6 ½ years, and will live out his retirement with his handler, Deputy Joe Hedstrom.

During its annual human rights conference December 7, 2018, the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights presented Durell Green with the Linda Gabriel Award for his “extraordinary commitment and dedication to our communities, infusing human rights awareness and improving the quality of lives for Kitsap County citizens.” The Linda Gabriel Awards are presented each year to recognize youth, adults and organizations in our community that have made significant contributions to human rights. Commissioner Garrido and I, pictured with Durell, joined in congratulating him during the conference. Through the organization Partnering for Youth Achievement, he has been a powerful role model and mentor for youth of Bremerton.

The Central Kitsap Community Council (CKCC) continues to meet at 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Silverdale Beach Hotel. The Council’s charge is to improve communication between the community and County Commissioners, promote a sense of community, and advise the County on issues important to CK residents. This year, we welcomed new chair, Mark Hughes, Director of Communications for Kitsap Regional Library, and new members: Monica Downen, owner of Monica’s Waterfront Café & Bakery; Irene Overath, former director of WSU Kitsap Extension Office and Central Kitsap school educator; Kristal Baker, chair of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce; and Anna Jett, student representative from Klawhoya Secondary School. Our outstanding members of CKCC bring unique perspectives on issues and projects impacting residents and businesses in Central Kitsap. To learn more about CKCC, including a list of other members, visit the CKCC website, Facebook page, or contact Angie Silva in the Commissioners’ Office at asilva@co.kitsap.wa.us, (360) 337-7080.

As Chair of the 2019 Board of County Commissioners, one of my duties includes serving on the County Canvassing Board. County Auditor Paul Andrews and Prosecutor Chad Enright round out the other positions on the board. We are responsible for certifying elections, and in the case of close races, often going through questionable ballots one by one. This year’s February election included a capital levy for Bremerton Schools and a school support levy for Central Kitsap Schools. Both measures passed with a solid majority. My hat is off to the elections staff who battled the snow to make sure ballot boxes were checked and every vote counted during this election.