2010 on Orcas Island: Events That Defined Our Lives

Winter

The Haitian earthquake disaster has a personal connection with Orcas Island as Rosedanie Cadet returned to her home in Limbé, Haiti, followed by Steve and Tyler Diepenbrock and then a group of Orcas High Schoolers later in the spring. To help out, go to www.noramise.org

The Eastsound Planning Review Committee addresses the county process – or lack of process – in revising Eastsound boundaries. At immediate issue at their Jan. 10 meeting was the definition of the “Country Corner” as a Limited Area of More Intense Rural Development (LAMIRD). By year’s end, they recommended to the County Council that the Eastsound Sub-area Plan, guiding Eastsound development since 1981 (last revised in 2002) be incorporated in the County’s Uniform Development Code. The Sub-area plan may be found at the county website: sanjuanco.com/planning/docs/Subarea%20Plans%20files/Eastsound%20Subarea%20Plan%20%2812-17-2002.pdf

The Orcas Island Community Foundation promotes volunteerism with a “carnival” on the National Day of Service on Jan. 18 at the Orcas Island School Cafeteria, where organizations seeking volunteers and other support publicized their efforts.

Waste Disposal, one of the County Council’s top three priorities for 2010, is addressed with the January closures of the Orcas and San Juan Island transfer stations on Fridays. Roundtables, workshops, Council Meetings and Town Halls air the subject throughout the year, but the town of Friday Harbor dropped a   bombshell into the mix when it backed out of selling the transfer station property on San Juan Island.

Superior Court Judge John Linde’s sudden death in Hawaii, creates a vacancy in the newly-created San Juan County Superior Court position; Don Eaton was appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire to the Superior Court Bench.

Orcas Island School District, faced with sub-standard buildings, particularly in its middle-school buildings, puts up both a 2-year Maintenance and Operations Levy and a $35 million bond proposal for voters in February. The levy passed; the bond failed to meet the 60% approval rating for passage.

Colton Harris-Moore, aka “The Barefoot Bandit” is assumed to haunt the island with private and public stories about planes, bikes and computers stolen and Ace Hardware and Homegrown Foods broken into. The County Sheriff’s department spends days and resources in searching the Turtleback Mt. area. It appears that Harris-Moore slipped by boat to Lopez Island and then the Oregon coast, then by stolen planes to the Bahamas where he was eventually apprehended. He is now in custody in  Seattle.

Spring

The County Council sets a minimum solid waste fee for county transfer sites, and also issues a survey to selected county residents. Later that month, the town of Friday Harbor drops out of its purchase agreement of the San Juan Waste Transfer site to the County.

The San Juan Preservation Trust opens Turtleback Mountain with an accessibility plan for trail bike and horseback riders.

The newly-created Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) defines their budget for operations and programs, and campaigns for  a $.10/$1,000 property assessment vote in November. Although the OIPRD’s forerunner, Orcas Parks and Recreation Department, under County Parks Department governance, closed its doors for lack of funding in November, voters failed to support the OIPRD measure at the required 60% for passage.

The County Council approves the use of “Best Available Science” (BAS) in finalizing for Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update.

David Kelly is appointed Deputy Director of Adminstration to assist County Administrator Pete Rose.

The San Juan County Citizens’ Salary Commission votes to increase the salary for the County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord by $5,000 per year, and to revisit the matter in December. At that time, the County Council agrees with the Commission’s recommendation, and Gaylord’s argument, that the County Prosecutor should be paid the equivalent of the Superior Court Judge’s salary — $148,824 per year — roughly $18,900 more than Gaylord’s total annual compensation as prosecutor.

Sustainable Orcas Island partners with the San Juans Stewardship Council to hold a weekend “Sustainability Fair” that featured exhibits, awards, activities and field trips.

The County transfer stations’ new schedule kept the transfer stations open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. San Juan’s transfer station became a “drop box” site and other San Juan Island waste is now hauled to Orcas Island.

Summer

The Orcas Island Historical Society prepares for “Journey Stories,” a travelling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution, on display at the Museum from July 17 to Aug. 29.  Under the direction of Andrea Cohen, the Historical Society coordinates a series of events, including “Destination Orcas,” honoring five longtime Orcas Islanders. Other events were art and story-telling shows, picnics, raffles and lectures.

Orcas Islanders fail to approve the second School District bond proposal of $.54 per $1,000 property tax assessment for a 25-year, $27 million bond.

The 53^rd annual Library Fair takes place with record turnout and  historic high temperatures. The Friends of the Library also provided for Sunday hours at the Library, beginning in January.

Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival organizers are stunned and saddened by the traffic accident death of lecturer George Shangrow, just two weeks before the opening of its 13^th season.

Orcas Island Prevention Partnership joins with the County Sheriff’s Department in encouraging prescription take-backs once a month. County-wide, over 500 pounds of prescription medicine has been collected and safely disposed of since the program began in August.

Autumn

Kwiáht reports to the community on the work and findings of the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory, following a year of “citizen scientist” participation at Eastsound Waterfront Park.

County Public Works begins first phase of “Mount Property” stormwater treatment, with replacement of outfall pipes east of the Outlook Inn.

Recycling “only” fee of $5 levied to Orcas transfer station clients. If people pay the minimum $12 “garbage dump” fee, recycling can be done at no extra charge.

In November elections, Lopez Island resident Rob Nou is elected County Sheriff, following Bill Cumming’s retirement after 24  years.

Patty Miller is unopposed in her bid to replace Gene Knapp as Orcas East County Council representative.

Jamie Stephens upsets incumbent Bob Myhr by a narrow victory in the Lopez/Shaw Island race for the Council.

Orcas Island Park and Recreation District fails to win required 60% approval for district funding. (They plan a 9-cents per thousand-dollar measure for the Feb. 2011 ballot).

The Orcas Island Food Bank Building Fund meets its Building Drive goal with over $65,000 in contributions, matched by an anonymous donor. The new building is scheduled to be completed this spring on the property of the Orcas Island Community Church.

The State Transportation Commission votes to increase Washington State Ferry fares by 4.5 percent as of Jan. 1, 2011. Although the hike was opposed by Tim Eyman, sponsor of a successful voter campaign requiring approval by the State Legislature of toll and fee increases, collection of the increased fares began as scheduled.

The Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) formally requests direction from the County Council “to start the process of moving the regulatory portion of the [Eastsound] Sub-area plan out of the Comprehensive Plan and into the regulatory portions of the UDC.”

In addition, outgoing EPRC member Patty Miller proposes that the EPRC write a letter to the County Council “reemphasizing the importance of timely updates to the Eastsound Sub-area plan and ask to be prioritized in the 2011 docket process; articulating the real problems that this is causing — real world, on the ground problems for our community.”

Orcas Island School District accepts $460,000 in grants for updating plumbing, heating and electrical systems in the elementary school; ponders how to provide the required “match” dollars.

In a special session of the Legislature, $588 million is cut from the Washington State budget for the current year (until July 2011), including $50 million from public schools, $51 million from higher education, $28 million from the health insurance program for the needy and $48 million from the corrections department. San Juans’ State Senator Kevin Ranker votes against the cuts, which must be approved by the Legislature when it convenes in January.