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www.Southwhidbeyrecord.com
Saturday, August 25, 2012 • The South Whidbey Record
Elected officials decline invitation to round table Nuñez. whether non-elected Superior Court Judges department heads have the The Island County Alan Hancock and Vickie same qualms — they don’t Commissioners’ hopes for Churchill sent their own have the luxury of refusing a recorded round table letter informing the board the board’s request — the budget discussion with they would not be attend- round table meeting will still move forward but has all department heads was ing. In an Aug. 6 email to been shortened to 90 minderailed last week when a host of elected officials all department heads, most utes. of whom are not elected refused to attend. While discussing The group notified the officials, the board said it the scheduling durboard by letter this past wanted this year’s budget ing Monday’s meeting, Friday that they would not process to be “open and Commissioner Angie be coming to the meet- comprehensive” so that Homola said she was “disPhoto courtesy of Freeland Ace ing largely because they both the public and staff couraged” by the elected Gardening guru Ciscoe Morris speaks to a crowd of more than 150 people during a believed it was a waste of would know how each officials’ decline, saying it recent visit to Freeland Ace. time as the proposed for- department was faring. Each was asked to pre- not only would have been mat allowed each person pare a five-minute brief that beneficial to other departjust five minutes to speak. ment heads but to the com“We understand the described how their depart- munity as well. board’s desire to produce a ments had been affected in With a round table, they two-and-one-half hour com- the past four recessionary could have watched just BY RECORD STAFF was bombarded with peo- gardening tips. prehensive video presenta- years, what efficiencies one meeting, rather than At Freeland Ace on ple asking questions,” said tion summarizing the work they had undertaken, what Washington’s wackiest many individual ones, to Aug. 11, Morris answered their priorities and goals Freeland Ace manager Kari of 18 different offices,” the gardener recently visited Gerow. “He was very gra- questions, told stories about letter said. “However, we are and how they would find out what’s going on. Freeland Ace. “I’m discouraged we are convinced that a five- manage their budgets next Ciscoe Morris was in town cious and answered them all his gardening and gave plants weren’t able to achieve year should they not get an away as a reward for correct minute presentation durfor a couple of hours for a as he made his way to the that, but we will move forincrease. gardening trivia. Gerow said ing a two-and-one-half hour book signing and gardening Garden Center.” Brown, who isn’t shy ward,” she said. meeting is not an effective Morris is locally famous for more than 150 people attendtips. Freeland Ace won the Commissioner Kelly about advocating the fisor efficient way to comvisit through a KIRO radio his “Gardening with Ciscoe” ed the event. cal needs of his Sheriff’s Emerson said little during municate our budgets to “Ciscoe was funny, inforweekend segment on KING raffle drawing. Department, said in a later the meeting but made it citizens or to the board.” mative and very interesting,” “As soon as he came 5 with Meeghan Black, durinterview that his reasons clear that she had not been The letter was signed she said. through the front doors, he ing which he gives seasonal for not attending were sim- in favor of the round table by Assessor Mary Engle, It was Morris’ secAuditor Sheilah Crider, ply that he believed it was a to begin with, saying she ond appearance on South Why wDebra a i t to Van s avePelt, m on epoor y ? Ca e time. a ny t i m e d ay or think it “was a benusel lofmhis didn’t Clerk Whidbey this summer. In “It’s by no means meant “The human race has only one really effective n i g h t for a f re e qu o te or to p u rch a s e c a r i n su r a n ce . route for us.” Coroner Robert Bishop, eficial June, he was on the South to be disruptive,” Brown Prosecutor Greg Banks, In a later interview, weapon and that is laughter.” End at Bayview Farm and Sheriff Mark Brown and said. “It’s meant to be prac- Commissioner Helen Price Garden, from where he ~Mark Twain Treasurer Ana Maria Call mytical.” office 24/7. Johnson said she didn’t broadcast his radio show. Aside from a round table believe this was a precurmeeting, each department sor of a rocky budget proState Farm® head is being given 15 to cess ahead. Rather, the Providing Insurance and Financial Services 30 minutes to make indiboard invited everyone for Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 vidual presentations to the moon ra ker books a collective budget converboard about their budgets. 209 First Street, Langley • 221-6962 sation and elected officials Brown said trying to repeat that but in a fraction of exercised their right not to Sheila DeLong LTCP, Agent the time just didn’t make attend. 1796 Main Street, Suite 101 “It was just an opportuniFreeland, WA 98249 sense. Bus: 360-331-1233 ty to have everyone at the “I don’t think I could do www.sheiladelong.com table and if they chose not, it justice,” Brown said. Sheila DeLong LTCP, Agent The letter from the elect- that’s OK,” Price Johnson 1796 Main Street, Suite 101ed officials made it clear said. Freeland, WA 98249-9428 they all felt the same way. The round table will begin Bus: 360-331-1233 It said each was content to at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27 in the www.sheiladelong.com rely on the already sched- Commissioner’s Hearing For What You Want In Real Estate uled budget workshops Room in Coupeville. to present their individual proposals. Like a good neighbor, State Farm iS there.® it’s Services unclear Providing Insurance Although and Financial By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Ciscoe Morris woos Freeland Ace
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