HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-13-09Board’s Official Business
Highlights from Monday’s Commissioner Meeting October 13, 2009
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following
comments were made by citizens in attendance at
the meeting: A citizen commented on the need for
additional security at the Courthouse and the need
for the County to adequately fund Safe Harbor
Substance Abuse Counseling Center; a citizen
feels there needs to be a wise community thought
process established to bring the citizenry together
to deal with the difficult issues facing the County
without anger; another citizen commented that
Jefferson County needs to do more to provide an
open government especially since the Risk Pool no
longer covers Public Records Act violations; a
citizen suggested Jefferson County conduct water
testing on the shorelines to determine if wildlife is a
major contributor to fecal coliform in the Hood
Canal and other places; a citizen commented on
the Port Gamble Tribe’s response to a man who
was hunting legally on private property and stated
that there is a problem with operational jurisdictions
and authority; a citizen agrees there needs to be
better communication to discuss issues openly and
to prevent costly lawsuits; three citizens
commented on the issues of open government and
the need for accessibility; a citizen urged the Board
to take a reasonable approach in dealing with the
issue of Courthouse security.
CONSENT AGENDA: The Board approved all the
items on the Consent Agenda as submitted.
2 AGREEMENTS: 1) Marine Resources Committee
Northwest Straits Olympic Oyster Project with Port
Townsend Marine Science Center; and 2) JeffCom
Director Recruitment Services with Prothman
Company
ADVISORY BOARD RESiGNATION: Jefferson
County Tourism Coordinating Council; Crystal
Hudson
ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENT: Chuck
Russell to serve on the Jefferson County Tourism
Coordinating Council (TCC) representing Port
Hadlock/Tri Area/Discovery Bay
Payment of Vouchers/Warrants: Dated October
7, 2009 Totaling $10,755.50
Payment of Payroll Warrants: Dated October 5,
2009 Totaling $761,523.99 and Totaling
$572,552.43
COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION:
Commissioner Austin:
- Will be attending the drug court graduation
ceremony being held this Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
- Noted that the $5.00 State Parks donations were
over 80% in Jefferson County
Commissioner Sullivan:
- He and a group of citizens from Jefferson County
will be meeting with State Representative Lynn
Kessler in Olympia on Tuesday to discuss funding
support for the Tri Area Sewer System Project
- Commented that a decision was rendered on the
Public Records Act violation lawsuit filed by Joe
D’Amico. The fine was set at $10.00 per day which
is low and indicates that the Court did not see it as
an egregious or willful decision of the County to
withhold the information. He has always thought that
this is about employee security and the affect on
innocent citizens.
Commissioner Johnson:
- Commented on the County’s Adopt-a-Park program
and noted that volunteers have already taken over
the management of East Beach Park and other
volunteers are considering the management of North
Beach Park and Memorial Field
County Administrator Philip Morley:
- Port Townsend Paper Corporation received a $2
million energy grant which leverages additional
capital investment funding and helps to support our
community
- The economy of Jefferson County is doing better
than most of our neighboring Counties.
2010 BUDGET UPDATE AND DISCUSSION OF
INITIATIVE 1033: County Administrator Philip Morley
updated the Board on the 2010 budget and
discussed the impacts of Initiative 1033 if passed by
the voters.
EVERGREEN GROUP: The Board listened to a
presentation by Robert Weidner with the Forest
Counties of Washington State regarding natural
resources issues and efforts to preserve Secure
Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
funding.