Friday, Aug 27 2010 - The County Council will review the results of the public opinion survey on solid waste services and solutions on Monday, August 30, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Council’s hearing room in Friday Harbor. The survey report is available online through a link on San Juan County Council’s agenda page.

"The objective of this project was to characterize county residents' attitudes, beliefs, and values about solid waste management through a transparent, inclusive process allowing any interested resident to participate," said Nina Rook, of Marketing Resources who designed and conducted the survey on behalf of the county.  
(Read full story)

Thursday, Aug 12 2010 - The San Juan County Council will hear its first formal staff presentation on a set of proposed amendments to the appeal provisions of the Unified Development Code at its August 24, 2010 meeting.

The purpose of these amendments is to improve consistency between the UDC and the County Charter. These amendments were carried over from 2009, and will be a part of the first set of UDC amendments to be considered by the Council in 2010.

Other changes that will be considered in the year’s first set of UDC amendments include proposed changes to SJCC Chapter 18.30 concerning regulations for Land Use Districts; amending SJCC Chapter 18.90 to consider requests related to legislative actions and site-specific redesignations; and amending SJCC Chapter 18.20, to update the definitions associated with the proposed changes
(Read full story).

Thursday, Aug 5 2010 - The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. The following is a list of current vacancies: (Updated: 8/5/2010)

Agricultural Resources Committee - (2) Positions
Board of Health – (2), At Large #2 & #3
Citizens Salary Commission - (2) Positions, Personnel & Legal
Eastsound Design Review Subcommittee - (3) Positions
Eastsound Planning Review Committee - (1) Position
Fair Board - (1) Lopez District, (1) Shaw, (1) At Large
Human Services Advisory Board - (3) Positions, all Islands
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - (2) Contributors
Marine Resources Committee - (1) Position
Noxious Weed Board - (1) Area #4 Orcas East
Open Space Advisory Committee - (1) Position
Orcas Library Board of Trustees - (1) Position (December)
Park Board - (1) Position, Orcas Island
Citizen's Storm Water Advisory Committee - (1) Friday Harbor, (1) Lopez, (1) At Large
Solid Waste Advisory Committee - (1) Position #3
Veterans' Advisory Board - (1) Lopez

If you are interested in volunteering or would like information, please contact: your County Council office at 378-2898 or email us at maureens@sanjuanco.com  
(Read full story)

Wednesday, Jul 21 2010 - (Release from SJC Fire Marshal) The fire danger rating is being raised from “Low” to “Moderate” throughout San Juan County effective Thursday, July 22nd.

 The change was implemented by the San Juan County Fire Marshal’s office in cooperation with the fire protection districts serving Orcas, San Juan, Lopez and Shaw Islands. The State Department of Natural resources has advised that the entire region is experiencing warm, dry weather.

This weather pattern is expected to continue into the foreseeable future, with very low chances for any appreciable rain. The risk of a serious fire is increasing as the area’s natural vegetation begins to dry out. Residents and visitors are urged to be very cautious of the risk of fire.

 “Recreational” fires, such as campfires in developed campgrounds are still allowed. To qualify as a recreational fire, the burn area may not be more than two feet in diameter, and be surrounded on all sides by at least two feet of clearance to combustibles
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Jul 13 2010 - County solid waste facilities on Orcas and San Juan Islands will be open to self-haulers for two additional days this week as both sites transition to a new schedule.

Both facilities will be open Wednesday through Sunday July 14 – 18 to help smooth the transition, and to catch up with pent-up demand resulting from the July 4 holiday closing.

“Self-haulers crowded both facilities on Sunday,” County Administrator Pete Rose said, “and we had reports that the waits became so long that some haulers gave up and returned home. We expect that the new schedule, being open on two weekend days, will prevent that from happening again.” 
(Read full story)

Monday, Jul 12 2010 - (Visitors Bureau News Release) Travel + Leisure Magazine has just announced its 2010 World’s Best Awards, ranking the San Juan Islands #4 on its list of Top Islands in the Continental U.S. and Canada.

The rankings (in order) are: Mount Desert Island, Maine; Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia; Vancouver Island, British Columbia; San Juan Islands, Washington and Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The magazine’s 2009 list ranked the San Juans in the #5 position, so a move up in the standings this year is notable
(Read full story).

Friday, Jul 9 2010 - The Washington State Health Department has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in all of San Juan County’s waters due to high levels of a biotoxin which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The Department of Health has issued a bulletin warning, “Eating shellfish contaminated by marine biotoxin can kill you.” The poison is not destroyed by cooking or freezing.

The toxin is created by a particular type of algae bloom which County Environmental Health Manager Mark Tompkins describes as cyclical. “There have been years when we have had no closures and others where we are closed from June until January,” he said.

Currently recreational harvesting of shellfish is also closed in all or parts of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties. 
(Read full story);

Tuesday, Jul 6 2010 - Friends and family of the late Judge John O. Linde gathered in the San Juan County Superior Court  July 2 to honor his memory and service to the County.

A placque will be installed at the Courthouse dedicating the Courtroom to Linde, the first Judge to serve the San Juan County Superior Court District.

Linde was appointed to the post by Governor Christine Gregoire in 2008 when the Superior Court District was created and was elected to a full term a year later. Prior to his appointment, he was a practicing attorney in Friday Harbor and had served as a District Court Judge here for 21 years.

Judge Linde died in December of 2009 while vacationing in Hawaii.
 
(Read full story);

Tuesday, Jun 29 2010 - Beginning on Friday July 16, the new operating hours for self haul customers at County Solid Waste Facilities on San Juan and Orcas Island will be 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“This is a result of our need to change the type of our operation on San Juan Island and send commercial loads and packer trucks to Orcas,” said San Juan Public Works Director Jon Shannon. “But a side-effect is that it should prove more convenient for self-haulers.”

On July 5 the San Juan Island operation will become a “drop box” similar to the solid waste operation on Lopez Island. Only customers who can toss their trash over a low barrier directly into a container will be able to use the facility.
(Read full story)

Thursday, Jun 3 2010 - As San Juan County begins an intensive effort to revise its Solid Waste Management Plan, the County’s system of handling and disposing of garbage, recycling and solid waste finds itself surrounded by controversy.

The solid waste utility is running in the red, the County Council has just approved a 14% increase in tipping fees, the Town of Friday Harbor has backed out of its offer to sell the County land for a planned new transfer station, there is currently no revenue source to pay for the more than $2.5 million dollars in planned and needed capital improvements county-wide, there are calls for more local control of waste disposal systems on Lopez and Orcas Islands; and major contracts for hauling, recycling, and disposal of waste will be up for renewal within the next two years
(Read full story).

Tuesday, May 25 2010 - The San Juan County Council today voted to confirm the hiring of David Kelly of West Jordan, Utah as the Deputy Director of Administration. Kelly has a dozen years experience in local government, most recently having served in administration for the the City of Chehalis from 1995 until 2003.

His background also includes work in the administration of Moffat County and the town of Craig, Colorado. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.

Kelly left local government in 2003 to become an insurance agent in Utah. Last year he ranked number one in auto and homeowners insurance sales among State Farm agents in that state.

He will fill a position left vacant five weeks ago by the departure of Adina Cunningham, who has become Town Attorney for Friday Harbor
(Read full story).

Tuesday, May 18 2010 - Additional chip seal work on San Juan Island will be postponed for a week due to forecasts calling for damp weather which could interfere with the sealant. 

Public Works Department operations manager Russ Harvey said workers will be back out on the road at 7 a.m. on Monday, May 24. Next week's chipseal work will begin on Armadale and White Point Road. Updated maps and schedules will be posted on the Public Works department web page
(Read full story).

Thursday, May 13 2010 - County trucks shuttled back and forth between the barge landing near Jackson’s beach and the County storage area on Beaverton Valley Road Wednesday and Thursday, off-loading crushed rock that will be used in this summer’s chip seal work on San Juan Island.

It took less than a minute to load the trucks from the barge and less than a minute to dump the load at Beaverton Valley, so each of the 10 to 11 trucks working on the project was able to make several trips per hour and complete the task at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The barge was loaded with 5100 tons of rock at West Sound on Monday and Tuesday, approximately 400 truck loads.

Chip seal work will begin on San Juan Island on May 17. An online map showing the roads and dates when the work will take place will be kept current as work progresses
(Read full story).

Wednesday, May 12 2010 - In her Quarterly Financial Report to the County Council, San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley described 2010 as a “hold steady and hope for the best year” and, she said, in the first quarter of the year the County’s finances do appear to be holding steady.

\She reported that from revenue property tax and sales taxes is about what was expected at this point in the year and revenue from building permits is up, though the increase appears to be due to higher fees rather than increased demand for permits.
 
(Read full story);

Wednesday, Apr 28 2010 - Members of the San Juan County Council Tuesday agreed that it was unrealistic to try to complete work on updates to the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance this year.

However, they supported having work by science and wetlands consultant Paul Adamus proceed “full speed ahead,” and did not blink at the County Administrator’s estimate that the project would cost between $145,000 and $180,000, including up to $95,000 for Dr. Adamus’ work
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Apr 7 2010 - On Tuesday the San Juan County Council approved new rates for the County’s solid waste utility. Most of the increases will not take effect until July 1; however one change will take effect ten days after the rate ordinance passed.

The ordinance establishes a $12 minimum fee for all persons dropping off garbage at the transfer stations effective April 16. Practically speaking, this will only affect those dropping off a single can or very small load of garbage
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Feb 23 2010 - San Juan County’s GIS Team has released its first set of Polaris Instructional Videos for its Polaris Mapping Application. The newly released instructional videos are intended to assist users in learning the tools and functionality of Polaris.

There are currently four videos that focus on navigation tools, search tools, the identify tool, and map contents. Each video is short, ranging from two to five minutes, and gives users instructions and tips on finding your way around Polaris.

The videos are hosted on YouTube and do not require special software other than an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Look for additional videos to be released in the future that focus on My Maps, measuring tool, mark-up tool, etc. You can view the videos and access the Polaris Property Search by clicking on Polaris Mapping Application on the County website or at https://www.sjcgis.org/
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Aug 25 2010 - Four votes are required for the San Juan County Council to take any action, and Tuesday the fate of the Land Bank’s purchase of a historical easement on the Erickson Building in Friday Harbor was sealed when – on the County Prosecutor’s recommendation – Council Member Lovel Pratt recused herself from the discussion and vote because of an apparent conflict of interest.

The project promised to preserve the historical building for use as a farmer’s market, meeting and performance space and create a green space and pedestrian destination in downtown Friday Harbor. The project had attracted $100,000 in federal money, plus $375,000 in state funds.

The Council had previously approved the Land Bank’s budget allocating $400,000 to purchase the historic easement to guarantee the preservation of the building and the creation and preservation of the green space. The non-profit Agricultural Guild would have actually purchased the building, held the title and been responsible for the renovation and development of the project.  
(Read full story);

Friday, Aug 20 2010 - The San Juan County Solid Waste Survey received responses from 26% of the recipients of the questionnaires mailed in late July. Survey Consultant Nina Rook of Marketing Resources termed the response rate “Outstanding.”

Rook will present the results of the survey to the County Council at a workshop held on Monday August 30; beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Council’s hearing room in Friday Harbor.

The survey report should provide insights into the public’s attitude toward the difficult decisions the County faces in providing public services for garbage, recycling, and reuse over the next six years. The draft report will be available to the public on the County website by Friday, August 27
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Aug 17 2010 - Deputy Rob Nou has a commanding lead in the hotly-contested race for San Juan County Sheriff, County Auditor Milene Henley reported Tuesday night. Nou is one of five candidates vying to replace retiring Sheriff Bill Cumming. Nou leads with 29.3% of the vote, followed by Deputy Brent Johnson with 20.89%, Probation Officer Brad Fincher with 18.73%, Deputy Jeff Asher with 18.52%, and Deputy Felix Menjivar with 12.11%. The top two vote-getters will go on to the general election ballot in November.

“Our voter turnout so far is only 48%,” cautions Henley. “We could easily receive another 12%, or almost 1400 ballots, prior to certifying this election. Nou will be on the November ballot, but the votes for the next three are close enough that things could change. I’m not ready to call this race yet.”   
(Read full story);

Wednesday, Jul 21 2010 - San Juan County Health Official Dr. Frank James reports that the County Health Department has received reports of three local cases of Pertussis (“Whooping Cough”) this month. He urges all County residents to make sure that their vaccinations are up to date and asks anyone with a cough or cold-like symptoms to take extra precautions to avoid contact with young children.

California is now dealing with a growing outbreak of the disease, reporting nearly 1,500 cases and five deaths. All of those fatal California cases were in children under three months of age – too young to be fully protected by vaccine
(Read full story).

Thursday, Jul 8 2010 - During the month of July, San Juan County residents will have the opportunity to participate in a survey that will help guide the development of the County’s updated solid waste management plan. That plan will define the type and quality of services the County’s solid waste program develops and offers in the future.

The survey process will follow two tracks: First, a paper form will be mailed to 4000 household addresses selected randomly and in proportion to the population of each island. People selected to participate in the mailed survey will be able to fill out and return the paper survey or use an electronic form on-line. The mailed survey will produce responses from a broad, statistically valid sample of county residents.

Responses to an online survey, available to all who wish to participate, will be tallied and analyzed separately. Both surveys will be managed by an independent pollster to insure the questions are formulated without bias and individual responses are fairly and confidentially analyzed.
(Read full story)

Sunday, Jun 27 2010 - Beginning Monday, July 5, the solid waste transfer station on San Juan Island will be open only to self-haulers who can throw their trash directly into a container, similar to the way it is done in the recycling area and at the County drop box facility on Lopez. Packer trucks, including those used by franchise hauler San Juan Sanitation and the Town of Friday Harbor, will have to dump at the Orcas transfer station or on the mainland.

The decision to change the San Juan Island solid waste operation was needed after the County and Town failed to agree on the terms for revisions to the County’s lease for the transfer station property.

The Town, which owns the property, has offered to construct a roof over the transfer station’s tipping floor – one of the basic steps required by the Department of Ecology to renew the variance which allows the facility to operate as a transfer station – but the County Council, after meeting in closed session Tuesday – did not accept the Town’s proposed package of changes to the existing lease
(Read full story).

Thursday, Jun 17 2010 -  San Juan County’s Ferry Advisory Committee has established a new “feedback” web page to accept comments on ferry service and draft ferry schedules.

The web page was put in service Thursday as Washington State Ferries and the San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) called for public comments on two options for the Fall 2010 schedule

Both options take into account new Coast Guard-mandated constraints on operations, including the elimination of "touring watches"
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jun 9 2010 - At 2 pm on June 10, upon the conclusion of its special joint meeting with the Planning Commission at Fire District No. 3 Hall, 1011 Mullis Street on San Juan Island (see agenda) the San Juan County Council will reconvene.

The purpose of the first session is to take public input and jointly discuss the work plan for the update to the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance.

In the second special Council session of the day, members will discuss an addendum to the County’s lease of the current San Juan Island Transfer station. The owner of the property, the Town of Friday Harbor has agreed to build a cover over the tipping floor at the site, however as a condition, it wants to terminate the lease in 2014. Currently the lease gives the County the right to renew the lease in that year.

In April, the Town pulled out of negotiations to sell the property to San Juan County. At that point, the County ceased work on plans to erect a cover for the floor – a step required by the State Department of Ecology to continue operating a transfer station on the site
(Read full story).

Thursday, May 27 2010 - San Juan County is mailing letters to nearly 1,000 County residents asking permission to include their property in a wetland study that will help provide local data for the “Best Available Science” used in preparing the update to the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO).

The requests are going to the owners of land parcels selected by wetlands specialist Dr. Paul Adamus of Oregon. The letters ask landowner’s permission to access their property to document and map possible wetland features.

The information gathered will be incorporated into a study that is part of a San Juan County project to insure the scientific research referenced in updating the CAO takes the County’s unique topography, geology and environment into account.
(Read full story)

Wednesday, May 19 2010 - The San Juan County Council yesterday sent a letter to Friday Harbor’s Town Council asking that the Town pay the cost of erecting an enclosure over the tipping floor at the San Juan Island transfer station. (Full text of Council letter)

The County had planned to finance the cover until, on April 1, the Town unexpectedly withdrew its offer to sell the transfer station property to the County.

In the wake of that decision, the County suspended work preparing to erect the $165,000 enclosure and to make other capital improvements.

The Washington Department of Ecology then notified the County that unless significant progress is made toward covering the floor and making other compliance-related improvements, the facility would not be allowed to operate as a transfer station beyond the end of June
(Read full story).

Wednesday, May 12 2010 - This week the San Juan County Council agreed to insure that the Orcas Island Recreation program will remain in operation until November and that its summer programs will continue this year.

The County eliminated its funding for Orcas Rec when it made budget cuts in mid-2009 and the program has been funded entirely by participation fees and donations since then, although it is still officially a County program.

Orcas voters approved the creation of a new Orcas Rec district in November with the goal of taking over the program, however it has not yet established a levy or other revenue source. 
(Read full story);

Wednesday, May 12 2010 - The San Juan County Land Bank, National Park Service and the San Juan Island Trails Committee invite the public to attend the official dedication of the Frazer Homestead Preserve on San Juan Island.

A brief ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Parking will be at the preserve’s north entrance off of Rosler Road.

Thanks to the efforts of San Juan Island Trails Committee volunteers, the National Parks Service and Land Bank volunteers, over 1.3 miles of trail were constructed in 2009
(Read full story).

Tuesday, May 4 2010 - In a special meeting Tuesday, the San Juan County Council gave the Public Works department conditional authorization to proceed with plans to convert the current San Juan Island transfer station to a “drop box” facility to enable it to continue to operate after June 30.

The Council asked to be consulted again if the cost of conversion was to be higher than $50,000 or the facility could not be modified to handle trash “packer” trucks from the Town and franchise hauler San Juan Sanitation deposited directly in the drop box.

The County has been attempting to replace or upgrade the San Juan Island transfer station since 2002. It latest effort ground to a halt in April when the Town abruptly announced it had decided not to sell the leased property, including the current solid waste tipping floor, to the County
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Apr 27 2010 - The State Department of Licensing recently mailed postcards to all vessel owners notifying them that the Department will not be mailing renewal reminders any more, starting this year. The postcard encourages vessel owners to go online to give the department an email address to which future years’ notices can be sent.

Although reminder notices will not be mailed this year, County Auditor Milene Henley advises owners that they can renew their licenses either online (dol.wa.gov) or at the Auditor’s office in the courthouse. Specific directions for renewing online are at the bottom of this story.

To renew in person at the Auditor’s office, please bring the WN number of your boat, hull identification number (HIN), or last year’s registration, with you. The office is not able to look up vessels by owner name alone. Alternatively, you can renew by mail. To renew by mail, first call the Auditor’s office (378-2161) with your WN number, HIN, or last year’s registration. We will look up the renewal fees for you. Then you can mail a check to the Auditor’s office (PO Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250), and we will mail the new decal back to you
(Read full story).

Monday, Apr 26 2010 - Beginning May 1, boaters will need to obtain a permit and attend a brief training session to use the launching ramp at San Juan County Park.

The training, which covers the laws protecting killer whales and other marine wildlife, and the laws and guidelines for responsible boating within the San Juan County Marine Stewardship Area, was developed in association with the Whale Museum’s Soundwatch program.

The training and permit requirements will be in force for anyone launching a motor, wind or human powered vessel between May 1 and September 30; the season when killer whales frequent the County’s waters.

The boat launching permits will be available at San Juan County Park beginning May 1. They will be issued to county residents without charge; non-resident permits will cost $7 per day or $35 for the entire season. Visitors staying at campsites in the park will be able to buy a single $7 permit, valid for the duration of their stay
(Read full story).

Friday, Apr 16 2010 - On Wednesday the Friends of the San Juans petitioned the Western Growth Management Hearings board to invalidate San Juan County’s “Upland Essential Public Facilities” Ordinance, adopted by the County Council on February 9, 2010.

San Juan County Prosecutor Randall Gaylord reviewed the petition Thursday and said, “Boiled to its basic premise, the Friends are saying that the county ordinance should establish a priority which favors resource land and critical areas over new essential public facilities or the expansion of existing essential public facilities.”

He added, “I would argue that the GMA does not establish a priority of one of its mandatory goals over another.”  
(Read full story);

Monday, Aug 23 2010 - The San Juan County Council Public Hearing to Consider a Proposed Ordinance Setting the Fees for Solid Waste Handling Services Provided by San Juan County and Repealing Ordinance 10-2010 noticed for 10:45 AM on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:45 AM in the Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor.

The Ordinance can be viewed in the pending ordinances section of the County Website. 
(Read full story);

Friday, Aug 6 2010 - The Public is invited to comment on a new plan for the parks, trails, and natural areas of San Juan County.

A draft of the plan that will guide action and investment in San Juan County’s outdoor spaces for the next six years has been completed and is now available for public review.

For the past 12 months, San Juan County Parks, Public Works, and Land Bank have worked with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land conservation non-profit, to develop the draft San Juan County Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas Plan 2011-2016.

The plan identifies five top-tier priorities: trails, land protection, water access, stewardship and maintenance, and funding. Dependent on available resources – the plan identifies nearly $15 million in capital projects and a range of specific actions to meet community needs over the next six years. The plan also establishes a collaborative mission for the three county departments and a long-term vision for the County’s parks system.

“It’s been wonderful to engage residents in this planning process to learn about what they want for their community. We’ve done our best to develop a plan that realistically responds to priority needs,” said Dona Wuthnow, San Juan County Parks Director.

Lincoln Bormann, San Juan County Land Bank Executive Director noted, “We have learned a lot through this process, and we look forward to working with the community to implement this ambitious plan.”

The public may offer suggestions and comment on the draft plan until August 27, 2010.

The plan can be downloaded by visiting http://sanjuanco.com/draftplan and it may also be reviewed at the offices of San Juan County Parks, Public Works, and Land Bank in Friday Harbor
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jul 14 2010 - San Juan County Public Works Operations Manager Russ Harvey said today that “fog sealing,” the last phase of this year’s chip sealing program on San Juan and Lopez Islands, should be completed by the end of next week. The two words that always follow such as statement are, of course: “weather permitting.”

Harvey noted today that while traffic is being inconvenienced while the sealant is being sprayed, generally with one lane of traffic closed at a time, cyclists are having a tougher time. The material stays sticky for about 12 hours after it’s applied and the effect is felt more acutely by cyclists, who have a more intimate relationship with the roadway than the drivers of cars and trucks.

The areas where the road work is being done are heavily signed and flaggers and other workers in bright orange vests are helping with traffic control.

A map showing the where and when fog sealing will take place is kept current on the County web site.
(Read full story)

Tuesday, Jul 6 2010 - Many of the Lopezians attending a public meeting at Odlin Park on June 30 suggested that the County Parks and Recreation Department consider returning grants for $400,000 worth of renovations to the park and leave the property as it is.

More than 60 Lopezians turned out to offer feedback on design options for the renovation of Odlin Park. Four years earlier similar meetings, asking input on the park’s master plan, drew a half-dozen or fewer people; however more than 280 Lopezians signed a petition supporting the master plan when it was completed.

For more than 40 years Odlin Park has served a dual role on Lopez Island as a local use park and a tourist destination. Some campers have been bringing their families to Odlin Park for three generations.
(Read full story)>

Wednesday, May 12 2010 - The San Juan County Parks department will shortly enter the final design phase for the Odlin Park Renovation and one issue which remains to be decided is the placement or disposition of the 155 mm WWI-WWII era cannon which has resided on park land for several decades.

In recent years, three different Military Historical Organizations have expressed interest in the cannon that now sits in the park on Lopez Island. Most recently the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum indicated that it would like to restore and exhibit the gun in a historical context at Fort Worden.

The Parks and Recreation Department told the museum it would discuss this proposal with the people of Lopez over the summer, in conjunction with the renovation of the park.

The Parks and Recreation Department is asking Lopezians to weigh in on this issue.
(Read full story).

Monday, May 10 2010 - San Juan County’s solid waste utility ran trial runs at the San Juan Island transfer station Monday, unloading a packer truck from the Town of Friday Harbor and a compactor truck from Roche Harbor directly into long-haul truck containers.

The utility is working to convert its operation from a transfer station – where trash is first dumped onto a “tipping floor” and pushed into a container – to a “drop box” facility where trash never touches the ground.

Public works director Jon Shannon will give the County Council a progress report on the Transfer Station conversion at 2:30 pm Tuesday during the Council’s regular session
(Read full story).

Monday, May 3 2010 - At its special meeting on Tuesday, May 4 the San Juan County Council will discuss how to deal with the probability that the County’s permit to operate the San Juan Island solid waste transfer station will lapse on June 30.

On April 22, the San Juan County Health Department and the Washington Department of Ecology notified the County that the County solid waste utility’s variance, which allows it to operate the San Juan Island facility, would be extended until the end of June.

However the notice made clear that unless substantial progress is made toward covering the tipping floor and making other improvements to handle stormwater runoff, there will be no more extensions
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Apr 28 2010 - The San Juan County Council adopted 8 proposed changes to the County’s Comprehensive Plan at its meeting Tuesday.

After the final vote on the final amendment was completed, County Administrator Pete Rose urged the Council to take a moment to “reflect and celebrate the amount of items addressed in this docket, the year of preparation, the amount of work by the Council, the Planning Commission and other committees and staff. ” He added, “This docket tackled some long-delayed and neglected work and faced up to some thorny issues.”

The comprehensive plan sets overall county goals and policies and guides development of the County. It can only be amended once each year, so even though debate on many of the proposed changes took place over a period of months, final deliberation and action on all amendments had to be completed during one Council session.
 
(Read full story);