District 3 County Commissioner Kelly Emerson 1 NE 7th Street PO Box 5000 Coupeville, WA 98239 Ph. (360) 679-7354 e-mail: k.emerson@co.island.wa.us |
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Commissioner's
Meetings
First 3 Mondays at 10am
Fourth Monday at 2pm
Click Here for meeting agenda information
Commissioner's Workshops
1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday's at 9am
Click Here for workshop agenda information
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I serve on these boards:
IC Council of Governments
IC Board of Health
Courthouse Security
Chairman
IC Transit Board
Vice Chair
Reg. Transport. Policy
Chairman
NW Clean Air Agency
Vice Chair
LEOFF
(Law Enf. Ofc. Fire F.)
Chairman
NW Regional Council
NW Workforce Council
Solid Waste Advisory
SRF Loan Committee
National Public Lands
WA Bridge Replacement
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Greetings!
Well we're on the downhill side of winter and creeping up on spring. I'm expecting a lot to be happening this year so, there's no sense in rushing it.
I hope you are able to spend some quality time this Valentine's Day with the loved one of your choice.
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 It's Fly-by Time!
It is sometimes a cold and wet event, but the Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival is now in its seventh year and revving up for lots of excitement. And, ah, yes. It's also the first time of the year for the automobiles to drive erratically on the back roads of Western Skagit County.
Admittedly, this migration is a phenomenal sight to see. Just be aware: 1. Many people will be taking in the views and perhaps not concentrating fully on driving, and 2. The Skagit Sheriff's team will probably be working their Rexall speed trap a little harder.
So consider this your formal invitation to travel the tri-county route for some extraordinary sights and spend a weekend...in Stanwood. No sense in ending the party there. Come on a little further to indulge in the wholesome beauty of "always Sunny Camano." We have a few great restaurants, a winery and now...an extreme zip line.
7th Annual Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival
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Ag Land, Voluntary Control or Policed?
Top down governing won out, despite the earnest pleas of the farmers in the biggest land use decision in recent years.
My rather extensive research on the Ruckelhaus Bill (Voluntary Stewardship Plan), along with the public testimony I heard, caused me to align with the requests of those whose land would be affected by the decision, the farmers. After all, what is living rural about without farms?
The rooms were quite full on both islands as we began the final hour of public hearing on such an incredibly important issue. There were landowners, farmers, local property rights groups, and environmentalists. The vast number of the requests were to "opt in" to the voluntary process.
Officials from the State Farm Bureau, who had taken part in crafting the bill, made the trek from downstate to address our particular circumstances in relation to the legislation. They pointed out clearly that, "opting in" would provide us a "safety net" in the event that our litigation (the suit against our Ag. Critical Area Ordinance) would go awry.
There were, I believe, just two views in opposition, and they were, from the two leaders of the environmental group that is suing the county, once again. Nevertheless these two views won out. The majority of the Commissioners aligned with the environmentalists, and the decision was made publicly: two against "opting in," one (yours truly) for "opting in to the voluntary process."
It seems the only thing left to do at this point is to defend wholeheartedly the very well-crafted Ag. Critical Area Ordinance that is currently in appeal at the Thurston County Courthouse. Hopefully it will once again be successful.
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| New Department on Hold
All last year, 2011, I kept saying, "We don't have the money for a new position of Administrative Services Director."
Some of you may remember that our Human Resources Director offered to take on the tasks of that position for a six-month duration. Well, those six months are quickly coming to an end, and now it is abundantly clear that we still don't have the funds to expand.
Nevertheless, the desire for more government growth is not yet defeated. At least one of the majority has publically stated that she wants to see this new department created. Even now, with a year under my belt, I see no reason for it.
The acknowledged lack of funds has caused the growth to be put-off once again. Butthe truly sad part is the amount of staff time and money that was spent establishing committees and conducting interviews for the new director. Also sad is the damage that initiating the process had on employee morale which was very likely the reason some employees felt the need to ask for a pay increase.
So with the idea still rolling along and much reshuffling being discussed, two department heads have stepped up to continue the role until an outcome is decided. Because it just seemed logical, I asked that these terms extend to the end of the year.
All three of us commissioners agreed that it would be best to have the tasks split between the two employees. It is my intention that these duties are performed at no added cost to the taxpayer; that is, without pay increases.
Hopefully, the worst of this situation is behind us, and we can focus on the true necessities to successfully manage the local government.
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Is The Courthouse Secure?
Not since former Commissioner Mac McDowell was in office over three years ago had a Courthouse Security Meeting been called.
This came as a surprise to me when I called for the meeting last week because the revised manual, adopted shortly after Phil Bakke left office, clearly states there will be annual meetings. Apparently deciding who runs the committee and how was left to the discretion of the committee members, and that led to its not happening at all.
This is a vital committee that establishes practices, not just for the safety of the staff in the Courthouse, but for the public there as well and, perhaps, for the community at large. While the manual leaves little room for correction, I feel it imperative that we have better guidelines for establishing the Committee.
This week I will bring forward the suggestion to adopt a Resolution making the Commissioner who serves on that committee the Chair of the Committee, thereby assigning them the responsibility for calling, at a minimum, the annual meeting.
At last week's meeting, the group agreed that February would be the best time for an annual meeting. That would give us a full calendar year to assess incidences, should there be any, and ample time to develop and review the report.
We also discussed annual safety drills. While we intend to have one later this year, there will be further discussion about writing into the manual how to incorporate that process in a cost effective manner.
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March is for Unity?
Whatever the case may be, Angie and I have decided to unite, for the good of the County, in lobbying efforts for NAS Whidbey Island. The National Association of County Officials' legislative gathering in DC this year will be combined with a trip to the Pentagon. Also joining us in these efforts will be Skagit County Commissioners Ron Wesen and Ken Dahlstad. This naval base is as important to Skagit County as Skagit County is to us, so my inviting them along was the right thing to do and I'm glad it met no resistance.
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It is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Emerson
Island County Commissioner - District 3
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Pixy Stick 
Brinx 
