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Seen a toad? Biologist wants to know. A10
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 | Vol. 124, No. 54 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Sewage plant may include plaza, water park By JESSIE STENSLAND
Drive can be extended through them.
Plans for the new sewage treatment in Oak Harbor may include an event center and outdoor plaza adjacent to Windjammer Park. The new proposal also supports longerrange goals for the park, which include new amenities — such as a splash park — in place of the old sewage treatment plant that’s being removed as well as the relocation of the ballfields so that Bayshore
CITY ENGINEER Joe Stowell unveiled city staff’s preferred siting plan for the new sewage treatment plant during a workshop Wednesday; under the proposal, a small section of Bayshore Drive will be built on the south end of the sewage plant property and protrude into the park. Nobody objected to the plan, which will be on the Aug. 6 council agenda for final approval; councilwomen Beth Munns and Tara Hizon were absent.
Staff reporter
An artist’s rendering shows a concept for Oak Harbor’s new sewage treatment plant.
Rec pot store’s opening delayed
SEE PROPOSAL, A20
By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley wants the Elks Club to run the city-owned Whidbey Island Marathon. The question is whether the city council will agree. The issue of who will run the event turned into a controversy earlier this summer when council members tried to push forward a contract for the marathon coordinator position, which Oak Harbor resident Tamra Sipes has held for five years. Several council members spoke highly of Sipes and suggested she should continue. Dudley, however, said he wasn’t happy with Sipes, and that choosing the coordinator and coming up with a contract was
Staff reporter
SEE OPENING DELAYED, A5
MAYOR SCOTT DUDLEY pointed out that the old sewage treatment plant and adjacent parking lot, which are in the
Mayor wants OH Elks to take over marathon
By JESSIE STENSLAND
The recreational marijuana business in Island County has gotten off to a rocky start. A South Whidbey entrepreneur became the first person with a license to sell recreational marijuana in Washington state this week, but she didn’t have approval from Island County government to open. Maureen Cooke, owner of Mo’s Pub and Eatery in Langley, is the first name on the state’s list of approved sellers. She opened the shop in Bayview this week, but didn’t have any product to sell. It turns out, however, that Cooke did not go through the proper process with Island County government to open the shop. “Some people got a little ahead of themselves,” said Island County Planning Director Dave Wechner. He said the code enforcement offi-
Councilman Rick Almberg said he wants to ensure that the project takes up as little of the park as possible. He said council members promised the community to make an effort not to take away any park space with the project. “That’s a big deal to a lot of people.”
SEE RACE, A20
Deception Pass manager wants nearby building By MICHELLE BEAHM Staff reporter
Photo by Ben Watanabe/Whidbey News Group
Whidbey Island Cannibis Co. owner Maureen Cook stands behind empty display shelves. Not only wasn’t there product to sell, she has a year to obtain county approval to open.
When a nearby building was put on the market for sale, the manager of Deception Pass State Park said he saw an opportunity to try and make a dream a reality. Jack Hartt said he wants to establish a visitor’s center for the state park in the building, to let people know about all the opportunities available. SEE PROPERTY, A20
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