I hope you enjoy this well done video as much as I have.  You may not think the topic of National Politics is appropriate for a County level newsletter, but perhaps I can show you a nexus.

I recently attended a National Association of County Officials conference where the topic of national economics came up on a number of occasions.  The one that struck me the most occurred at a luncheon where a County Official talked about how, "we have to stop asking for things."  This group was, in my mind, ready to show some real and necessary leadership.

I have not felt that same sentiment from the elected officials I work closely with.  Instead, in Island County, I have heard, "the idea is to bring the money home to your people," or how important it is to have money to "leverage more funds for your projects."  I guess that is how a kitchen needed in South Whidbey at a projected cost of $30-35,000 will now become a facility costing close to $75,000.

It is that mindset, I believe, that has taken our great Nation to the brink of disaster, and I will not follow that path. So, at the luncheon that day, I became a member of the county officials group willing to lead on the road to fiscal responsibility. 

The EPA is the federal agency that delegates authority to the state's Department of Ecology permitting local municipalities to discharge their storm water run off into surface waterways. There is a 2-year moratorium for meeting the Department of Ecology's infrastructure requirements. However, you should know that Island County is nowhere near meeting the population of 100,000 that would force these requirements.

But none of this is hampering the current majority rule of the Board from collecting the Clean Water Utility charge coming up on your 2012 property taxes.  The truth is that there may be a very small portion of our County that could fall under the requirements starting in 2012.  If that does become the case, there will be a 5 year window for implementation.

As our Public Works director pointed out at a recent workshop, the administration of this program will be huge-(Read: government growth).  So big, in fact, that it will be necessary to take out a loan using your anticipated tax dollars as collateral to fund the first phase.  This action begs the question-how will we pay for phase 2? (Read: tax increase).

It is understandable that departments, which were promised revenue from the new Clean Water Utility tax for funding some of their on-going mandated programs, expected and planned for that to happen.  It is also becoming clearer how supplanting previously appropriated funds with this new revenue will allow for the hiring of an Administrator to be "budget neutral."  Those of you who felt this new utility was formed because you voted down (by 71%) Proposition 1 last year, I am finding no evidence to the contrary. 

I have stated, numerous times on the record, that I am adamantly against getting started with this non-funded, non-mandated program.  Since we plan to delay the start date for collecting the Clean Water Utility Tax until 2012, there must be a Resolution to amend the Ordinance. Watch for it on up-coming agendas, for that may be your opportunity to make your voice heard.  I will stand against it once again, but it will take another vote for repeal.

Admittedly this issue had some public interest.  Some residents of a South Whidbey neighborhood stated a number of reasons why their locality should be allowed to have golf carts on the public road.  

A new state law did give them the opportunity, but both our Sheriff and our Public Works director were against the idea. In much the same way that it is illegal to have a vehicle on the highway which cannot maintain a similar speed with the others there, it is not safe to be driving a cart on a public road.  The Sheriff showed us commissioners pictures to prove that. 

In my investigations of his example, an area on Camano where they have a history of accidents, I found that the road on Camano met all the state criteria and could be legally given the right.  But it certainly made no sense to me to open the Pandora's Box when we already had evidence of damage.  I did not think allowing golf carts on roads was the right thing to do and voted against it.

With economic times rivaling the Great Depression, I feel it's literally insane* to even have a conversation about acquiring more County property at any cost, even "free." ( * A definition of insanity is  "Continuing to do the same thing over and over, but expecting different results.") Our county, our community, our nation and the economy are going broke!!!  STOP SPENDING!!!

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust is pitching to sell Island County two more parcels for a steal of a deal.  But we can't even afford to pick up litter on the parcels we have now! The recommendations from the Conservation Advisory Board will be presented in a workshop soon, but public input will likely not be sought.  However, of course, you can always provide input during the first 10 minutes of the Monday Commissioner's meetings.

If you would like to see a moratorium on the collection of nearly $700,000 annually for this Conservation Futures fund, as I would, let them know.   

Boy, am I glad to be able to tell you about this one!  

Because of all the funding cuts in recent years, the WSU extension programs have developed a way for the public to be able to donate directly to their favorite program and the money stays in the County. Donors can do so by simply going on line to the website << WSU Extension, 'I want to give' >>   

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