Thursday, January 24, 2013 • The Whidbey Examiner
Page 6
EASEMENT: Land Trust inks deal to preserve farmland and wetland Ken $25,000 and Jan $121,750 . “It’s an incredible gift that she gave,” said Pat Powell, executive director for the land trust. “I call her the heroine of Ebey’s reserve.” Jan, however, just smiled at the compliment. She said she was happy to get anything at all. If no money had become available, she said she would have simply given the development rights away. “Getting something out of it is fantastic. … I feel real good about it,” she said, with a smile. “Living up here is a huge gift,” she said.
The Engle family also sold rights on 23 acres of property, located behind the bowling alley on Terry Road. Property owners included Len, Bob and Bill Engle and Joanne Brown. Like the Pickards, the family had been waiting a long time for preservation funding to become available. The land could have been subdivided into four lots and sold for a greater price, but Len Engle said all agreed that preservation was the direction they wanted to take. “It just seemed like the right
thing to do,” he said. Finally, Judy Lynn sold the rights to the large parcel of farmland located south of Highway 20 just past Arnold Road. About 13 acres total, it’s the first piece of property protected in the reserve that’s North of Penn Cove. Lynn inherited it from her partner, the late Val Arnold, who passed away from brain cancer in 2005. She was a fourth-generation Arnold and believed strongly in the value of preservation, Lynn said. “She would be very happy to
know that this is protected and will never be developed,” Lynn said. “She was a farmer at heart.” The money used to purchase the easements for all five properties – totaling more than $1.9 million – came from a variety of county, state and federal funding sources, Powell said. The protection of about 150 acres at Crockett Lake came from similar sources along with two land donations: Mary Bicknell gave 17 acres to the land trust, and brothers Dixon and Kelle Burgess gave 5 acres.
Added up, the land trust raised about $2.5 million to preserve or buy outright all the properties protected in the reserve in 2012. While Powell gave special kudos to all the landowners involved, saying their willingness and generosity was extraordinary, those who worked with the organization said it was the land trust that should be recognized. “The deep commitment of the staff and board continue to inspire all of us,” Preiss said.
JOHNSON: Commissioner meets with Old Goats Club and hosts speakers of all political walks. Past presenters have ranged from county commissioners and department heads – regardless of party – to a Superior Court judge and members of the military, said Rufus Rose, the moderator and one of the group’s founders. “The only real rule is you have to be reasonably polite,” Rose said. The crowd of about 40 people adhered to the rule very well, despite the direct approach Johnson took in
dealing with the complaints of a few critics, some of whom may have been in the room. In fact, the freshman commissioner appeared to be fairly well received. One man, South Whidbey resident Chuck Leavitt, even credited Johnson with being one of the best speakers the group has had in years. “I think we picked a winner, ladies and gentlemen,” Leavitt said. “In the words of the Navy, Bravo Zulu.” Johnson covered a number of topics during her
sudoku
speech but seemed to spend much of her time on the defensive, justifying her reasons for making various decisions since taking office and even explaining her silence on select issues this past December, such as curbside recycling and proposed shooting rules. She also addressed the more recent “hubbub” that arose out of conflict between the board of commissioner’s public meeting notice practices and the Old Goats’ policy regarding attendance. Although technically not a club, as the lunch group has no bylaws or membership dues, attendance is by invitation only. However, that policy came into question when a special meeting notice was released to the public and the media, prior to the luncheon,
when it was learned that Emerson also planned to attend the event. Emerson later decided not to go and the notice was rescinded, but not before many expressed outrage that the notice had been released without any consultation of the Old Goats group. “It has me so God damn mad I can’t even see straight,” said a still-fuming Rose in an interview Monday. Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, chairwoman of the board, took the brunt of the blame during the luncheon as it was her signature on the notice. She and the rest of the board were blasted for being unfamiliar with the state’s Open Public Meeting Act and the rules regarding a quorum.
vatives that you referenced,” said John Merrill, an Oak Harbor resident. “I think I’m right, of course I know I am.” His comment earned healthy laughter from the crowd but not nearly as much as his next statement. “I know that unless you do it my way, it won’t be done correctly so you have a problem and I don’t,” Merrill said. “I can see you and I are going to have to discuss this problem from my perspective.” Rose agreed that the luncheon was a success. A group of voters had the opportunity to learn a little more about their new commissioner. “I don’t know if it’s the best meeting we’ve ever had but it was pretty damn good,” Rose said.
But Johnson was quick to defend her Democratic colleague, saying the genesis of the notice likely stemmed from a protective office staff and not with the board’s appointed chairwoman. Johnson also fielded complaints about inconsistencies in the acceptance of public comment during Monday and Wednesday meetings, to which the commissioner acknowledged recent problems. “You should be able to look at the agenda and know. … It should be very clear to citizens what to expect,” Johnson said. But despite some of the charged issues discussed, Johnson addressed what seemed to be a good-natured crowd, even if some said they still disagreed with a few of her positions. “I’m one of those conser-
Whidbey Island Service Directory John SchiSel conStruction
Complete Automotive Repair Domestic & Foreign Diagnostics & Tune-up 105 NW Coveland St. Coupeville • Mon-Fri • 8–5
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, from 1 to 9.
360-678-1746
Spatz
of Washington additions
This week’s solution
•
remodeling
new construction decks
Jurgen Spatz, general contractor
360-678-6040
Design-build • Remodels Custom Homes • Additions Kitchens • Baths
Pregnancy Care Clinic FREE & CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES
Pregnancy Testing • Limited Ultrasound Maternity & Baby Clothing Diapers & Formula LANGLEY
OAK HARBOR
360-678-5100
(360) 221-2909 6th & Cascade
www.schisel.com
W & Th 10-4
www.islandspregnancyoptions.com
WhidbeyIsland
Moving out? Downsizing?
see before and after photos at
ELECTRIC
CommerCial residential Quality & serviCe
(360) 321-5199 LIC# WHIDBIE967QT
HOURS
(360) 675-2096 670 SE Midway Blvd. HOURS
M-F 10-4 / Sat 10-2
We clean out attics, basements, garages, storage units, etc. We pay you for antiques, pre-owned items, tools, etc.
Salmagundi Farms 360-678-5888 360-969-1948
LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED