If you thought the question about County Council numbers had been put to rest, then think again.
With less than six weeks until San Juan County elects a new three-member county council, all six remaining candidates are hitting the campaign trail and hitting the telephones to raise campaign cash.
Helen Venada received the thanks of county officials at the Feb. 26 county council meeting for 24 years of service, much of that time as solid waste coordinator for San Juan County.
In a clean sweep for supporters of the voter-approved changes to the county charter, all three propositions presented to the people in the November election were upheld in a decision handed down Feb. 26 in San Juan County Superior Court.
What’s the problem?
In 2012, that question was asked again and again by critics as the Charter Review Commission fashioned its amendments to the county charter.
On Jan. 30, Friends of the San Juans filed Petitions for Review against four elements of the updated CAO, approved by the San Juan County Council in December. Separate petitions were filed Feb. 4 on behalf of the Common Sense Alliance and the P.J. Taggaris Co. against the general, wetlands, and fish and wildlife sections, leaving out the geologically hazardous, frequently flooded Areas portions.
After four years of budget and employee reductions, including a 2013 budget that is $2.3 million less than 2012, the San Juan County Council wants ideas from its citizens about future priorities and projects for the county.
Two candidates seeking election to the three-person San Juan County Council have raised more than $17,000 each. The other four candidates competing in the Feb. 12 primary race have collectively raised about $20,000, according campaign reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Despite the litigious reputation of the ACLU, the San Juan County Public Hospital District again stood its ground when faced with questions about reproductive services and the subsidy from the hospital district to Peace Island Medical Center.
Claiming that the contract with PeaceHealth violates state law and the state Constitution, the ACLU of Washington is urging the San Juan County Public Hospital District to renegotiate its 50-year agreement with the Vancouver-based regional hospital and medical center conglomerate.
The executive committee of the Marine Resources Committee has been asked to meet with three members of the county council to discuss a division of responsibilities and the authority of the council to set policy, according to Council Vice-chairman Rich Peterson.
Removal of creosote debris begins this week at Neck Point, Jacksons Beach
The assessed value on all properties in San Juan County went down by about $1.7 billion for 2013, an average of 21.4 percent, according to initial reports released by San Juan County Assessor Charles Zalmanek.
