San Juan County Receives $1.5Million from WA Governor to Support Local Transportation Infrastructure
San Juan County is thrilled to receive new funding from the Washington State Governor’s Office to address ferry service disruptions in the San Juan Islands. Today, Governor Jay Inslee met County and Town officials, essential service providers, business owners, and residents in Friday Harbor to award $1 million to the County to finance temporary marine transportation alternatives, and an additional $500,000 to support Interisland weekend service during the winter which would add a third set of crew to that service.
Where did all of the stolen signs go?? [ Meyerott ]
This photo was sent to me by an observant citizen. Please notice that this land owner seems to collect political signs as the Vote No on Library and the Eric Peter signs were from two years ago.
I took a special interest in this photo, as over 40 of my 60 signs were stolen during my campaign to educate the public as to the actual costs of the proposed Library Lift Levy. During the course of the campaign I received a call at home one evening from a County Sheriff Deputy. He informed me that someone from the library committee called and said that I was stealing their signs. I told him that that was very rich as I was the one who had lost over 30 signs at that point. I visited the Sheriffs office the next day with a list of the signs that I had lost and their locations. The sheriff said that he could do nothing as I had no proof of who was stealing the signs.
The County Government Has Gone Mad
Now that the bloated County government only works four days a week it seems that is not bad enough. Now the County Council is full steam ahead with ' let's make a bad situation worse' program. Yes, you guessed it, DEI with a touch of belonging. I guess they missed the news of all the corportations and organizations that are leaving DEI (aka DIE) for the obvious reasons. Hopefully we don't get stuck in space.
From the Councel:
“Having this initial data is a great first step,” said Council Chair Jane Fuller. “The County is undertaking this work in the spirit of being an organization that embraces these values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and creating the framework to strengthen those values within our workforce.”
County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
The meeting included an in-depth discussion of local transportation alternatives, possible short-term solutions, and next steps for the 2025 legislative session.
On Saturday, August 24, representatives from San Juan County met with Governor Jay Inslee in Friday Harbor to share data, review ferry service challenges, and discuss possible next steps. The Governor initiated the productive, 30-minute meeting that included Council Chair Jane Fuller, Health & Community Services Transportation Voucher Program Coordinator Richard Uri, County Manager Jessica Hudson, and Ferry Advisory Committee Vice Chair Ken Burtness. Town Councilmember Richard Gefffen and staff from Inslee’s Office were also in attendance.
Official Notice of San Juan County Canvassing Board Meeting
San Juan County has been notified by the Office of the Secretary of State that a recount of votes in the race for Commissioner of Public Lands needs to be completed. The final election results of the 2024 Primary revealed that the difference in votes between the second and third candidates in the race for Commissioner of Public Lands was less than 0.0258%. This thin margin is prompting a recount across the state.
San Juan County Welcomes New County Manager
Thanks Interim Team for Transitional Support
While the organization searched for a new County Manager, the County was supported by an interim leadership team of dedicated staff.
San Juan County is pleased to welcome a new County Manager and thanks the invaluable support of the interim leadership team. Within one month of starting, County Manager Jessica Hudson is already diving into key County projects including the comprehensive plan update, budget amendments, and capital projects.
“In these first few weeks with the County I’ve been introduced to this amazing community full of passionate, smart, and dedicated staff and community members,” said Hudson. “I’m delighted to be here and look forward to supporting and uplifting priority work and projects.”
Comparing the SJI Library spending to Orcas and Lopez Library - [ Rikki ]
SJI LIBRARY SPENDING
Compares SJI : Orcas : Lopez
Lopez | |||
1 | Director | $99,874 | Salary & Benefits |
2 | Assistant Director | $73,842 | Salary & Benefits |
3 | Youth Services Manager | $52,188 | Salary & Benefits |
4 | Collection & Circ Libr | $82,403 | Salary & Benefits |
5 | Community Alchemist | $65,232 | Salary & Benefits |
6 | Ops & Facs Assoc | $35,155 | Salary & Benefits |
7 | Collection & Circ Assoc | $74,061 | Salary & Benefits |
8 | Creative Programs Assoc | $33,024 | Salary & Benefits |
Orcas | |||
1 | Director | $153,305 | Salary & Benefits |
2 | Assistant Director | $78,685 | Salary & Benefits |
3 | Public Serv Librarian 1 | $72,480 | Salary & Benefits |
4 | Public Serv Librarian 2 | $41,500 | Salary & Benefits |
5 | Public Serv Librarian 3 | $65,110 | Salary & Benefits |
6 | Systems Librarian | $49,730 | Salary & Benefits |
7 | Public Serv Librarian 4 | $69,300 | Salary & Benefits |
8 | 3 Library Associates | $55,750 | Salary & Benefits |
San Juan | |||
1 | Director | $175,730 | Salary & Benefits |
2 | Assoc II Youth Cataloger | $65,890.00 | Salary |
3 | Assoc II Adult Cataloger | $54,130.00 | Salary |
4 | Assoc II Outreach | $59,400.00 | Salary |
5 | Assoc II Adult Programs | $49,420.00 | Salary |
6 | Youth Service Manager | $89,240.00 | Salary |
7 | Assoc II Youth Serv | $61,810.00 | Salary |
8 | Asst Director/Adult Services Manager | $78,650.00 | Salary |
9 | Sssoc II ILL/Collections | $54,360.00 | Salary |
10 | Bookkeeper | $49,950.00 | Salary |
11 | Circulation Manager | $84,350.00 | Salary |
12 | Circ Assistant I & Circ Assoc | $50,010.00 | Salary |
13 | Assoc II Admin Assistant | $37,170.00 | Salary |
14 | 2 Assoc I Public Service Associate | $37,780.00 | Salary |
15 | Fundraising Associate | $27,300.00 | Salary |
16 | Early Learning Associate (contract) | $27,400.00 | Salary |
Benefits: | $320,780.00 | Benefits for above | |
17 | IT Administrator | $129,590 | Salary & Benefits |
18 | Janitor | $37,000 | Salary |
19 | Maintenance Worker | $30,590 | Salary & Benefits |
Annual Tax Revenue
Lopez $ 664,000
Orcas $1,045,300
SJI $1,572,000
SJI $2,572,000 (If Levy Passes)
Initiative to the People 2066 Certified to November General Election Ballot
Signature verification has been completed and certified by the Office of the Secretary of State for the following Initiative to the People:
- Initiative No. 2066 concerning access to natural gas for Washington homes and businesses.
The signatures have been verified by the Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division using a state-mandated process of examining a 3% random sample of submitted signatures. Sponsors of I-2066 submitted 533,005 signatures in support of the initiative. A review of the random sample of 15,991 signatures found that 12,960 of the sampled signatures were valid.
Senator Murray Visits Helion Energy, Discusses Legislation She Passed to Propel Clean Energy Tech
Everett, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Helion Energy’s cutting-edge fusion energy research and manufacturing facility in Everett. Murray toured the Helion facilities and met with staff to discuss their groundbreaking work to harness fusion technology as a source of clean electricity. Murray discussed the transformative possibilities of fusion energy and talked about the Fusion Energy Act, legislation she was a lead sponsor of, which will help support the development of commercial fusion facilities and was signed into law by President Biden earlier this month. Murray also discussed the billions she secured to propel clean energy solutions in this year’s spending package.
The Library Levy Lift Con - [ Meyerott ]
This letter is addressed to all Islanders who believe that Democracy is a good way to govern. Democracy does not work unless the voters are fully informed before they vote. To that end , I make it habit of "looking under the hood” to see what a proposal offers and what it is going to cost. In 2022 I wrote to all islanders and demonstrated that the library was not being very transparent about the true ultimate costs to the taxpayers for the proposed new library. I expressed the information and my opinion to the then Director of the library. 60% of the voters said NO to the proposal.
San Juan County Takes Multi-Step Approach to Improve Dept. of Community Development Services
Editor's Note - County Council aproves more government bloat while still insisting on four day work week.
The San Juan County Council has approved a series of steps in an effort to improve services from the Department of Community Development (DCD). The County will begin contracting out services in the land use division, and hire an additional code enforcement officer, planning manager, and land use permit technician.
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August 2024 “Volunteer of the Month”
Leslie Sargent
Please join us in celebrating Leslie Sargent, honored as the Volunteer of the Month for August 2024 by the Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor!
For the past year and a half, Leslie Sargent has been a dedicated and beloved volunteer at APS-FH, but her journey of giving back to animals started long before that. Leslie’s love of dogs led her to volunteer at a shelter in Oregon, where she lived for many years. Even during the busiest times of her life, running a retreat at an old mineral spring in Oregon with her family for 35 years, Leslie always found time to care for animals.
The 2024 San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner!
The countdown has begun for this year’s San Juan County Fair! With the theme “A Century of Growing: A Hundred Years at Home,” we have a lot to celebrate. This year’s food court is packed with a variety of options to quiet the rumble in your belly and our entertainment line-up has something for everyone from folk to rock to cumbia and everything in between! Head to the San Juan County Fair to celebrate ‘100 years at home’ from Thursday, August 15 through Sunday, August 18.
Nothing Says “Fair” Like Mouthwatering Food!
Recreational Campfire Status in San Juan County
As of July 10, 2024, at 1:00pm, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a declaration banning all fires statewide on DNR protected lands. This ban extends to recreational campfires on DNR lands in San Juan County.
The San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner; Register Your Exhibits TODAY!
The San Juan County Parks & Fair Department continues to streamline ways to help you participate in the County Fair. With online pre-registration for entries and a new pick-up and drop-off service on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, it’s never been easier to be part of the Fair!
Scam Alert: Recent 'Spoofing' Scam Impersonates Sheriff's Office
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to an ongoing 'spoofing' scam in our community. Islanders are getting calls from someone claiming to be the Sheriff’s Office, attempting to scam them out of money. These calls are NOT from the Sheriff's Office and the community is encouraged to be aware of suspicious phone calls.
Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, killed in Washington plane crash
William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.
Same-day camping reservations now available at 26 state parks
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA — June 6, 2024 — Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Additionally, Parks has implemented a new flexible dates feature in its reservations system. Rather than searching for exact dates, visitors can now choose the flexible booking dates option and see when different sites are available. This great new feature lets campers with flexibility find a site, especially during peak season, at busier parks.
Pet of the Week
ABOUT
Age: ~8.5 months old
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic Medium Hair, Black
Origin: San Juan Island
Weight: ~5lbs
Personality: Conscientious, One-of-a-Kind, Worth-the-Wait
Energy Level: Varying, and still revealing itself.
Likes: Building Trust, Cryptozoology, Fellow Feline Friends
Dislikes: Parades, Poachers, Surprises
Application:
https://www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/feline-application/