Submitted by the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members

Friday Harbor Port Commission regular meeting of July 23

A citizen asked about port policy for hangar lease terms. He noted the investment that he has made in a hangar and suggested a 25-year lease period at a reduced rate for those operating a business and for universal standards applied to all buildings. The commission will discuss this at the next meeting.

The commission approved the lease conversion from Island Air to Cannery Leasing Ltd. With a longer lease as part of the economic development component of the port. The port applied for a WSDOT sustainable aviation grant (solar) for the Port to build covered parking at the airport with rooftop solar panels to power a battery back-up for the airport terminal lighting. It will take a couple months to learn if they get the grant. The commissioners approved a series of contracts for the aircraft fueling system expansion, the south apron expansion engineering design and bidding services, and hangar 80 replacement engineering design and bidding services. All work will be covered by FAA grant funds. The commission approved a contract with HB Hansen Construction for replacement of Hangar C (Hangar 80).

Executive Director Todd Nicholson reviewed the protocols around concept proposals from two companies that had expressed an earlier interest in leasing property. The companies did not submit proposal details within the six-month deadline, so the properties will be advertised as available in the next leasing round.

The port had some requests from members of the public about installing directory maps to local landmarks like museums and public facilities at the main pier or Spring Street Landing. Commission. The Commissioners present had some reservations but will review concept drawings from Commissioner Goodheart at the next meeting.

The commission reviewed the Five-Year Airport Capital Improvement Plan and amended dates to accommodate the extended period of the National Fisheries Stormwater Review. They postponed the review of the 2025 preliminary budget until the next meeting as Commissioner Goodheart was absent.

The commission decided not to pay for insurance coverage of an art exhibit at the airport terminal. Nicholson will address the maintenance and care of the Spring Street Landing aquarium with staff and look at improving the lighting and signage.

Board of Health regular meeting of August 21

For the Accountable Communities of Health (ACH), Kristen Rezabek represented the county at a conference in Everett this month. Mark Tompkins will represent ACH at an equity conference in Atlanta. At the September Board of Health meeting the resource centers will report on their ACH-funded projects. The North Sound Behavioral Health organization is working on a plan for providing direct services in the future. The county received a $100k grant to support services to under-insured residents, and Lopez got a grant to run their Recovery Café. The Northwest Regional Council needs more staff to coordinate care and to do case management for in-home care for seniors. Their 2025 grant cycle is beginning now. The population of those 85 and older will increase fourfold in the next two decades.

The Public Health Department gave an update on communicable diseases. There have been measles cases in the state, but our county vaccination rates are very good. There are whooping cough cases in the state, but not the county. It to vaccinations up to date is important, because whooping cough can have serious and even life-threatening complications. The county has done back-school-vaccination clinics on all three islands and will do one in late August of childhood vaccinations only.

The county has been hit with the recent increase in covid cases. Over-the-counter test kits have been in short supply and the only other place to get tested is at the Peace Health emergency room. The county health department provides Covid vaccines to those 18 and under and for uninsured adults. People with insurance must go off-island to get them. The new vaccine variant is due out in September. The main danger of avian flu is for birds, flocks and some animals; people are cautioned to take care around sick or dead birds. The Mpox outbreak is a concern only for overseas travelers.

On the Hannah Heights PFAS contamination, the Department of Ecology began its investigation, taking 12 core samples, and will start ongoing sampling in October. The community has secured grants and loans to pay for the cost of hauled water, and to drill a new well, but so far have not found any suitable land that they can secure permission to drill on. They are looking at the possible need to replace the distribution system though initial tests indicate the system may have been flushed. The community has gotten medical briefings on potential health issues, and after some struggles are beginning to find partners to help with blood testing and monitoring. The type of PFAS found are those used in firefighting foam.