Record South Whidbey
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 96 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Diking District proposes assessment
Grass roots campaign wins Hannold election By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record
in Saratoga Passage. The district dispatched its new rescue boat, the Salish Responder, and boat battled through 25-knot winds and 4-foot seas to reach the tiny sailboat, which was located between Camano Island and South Whidbey Harbor. Following a slow tow to the marina, a shivering Kurt Mitchell of Seattle bellowed “Thank you” to his rescuers in the Salish Responder and emergency medical personnel waiting on the dock. “I was crazy,” said Mitchell, of the conditions on the water. The man was the only occupant aboard the
North Whidbey resident and Republican Rick Hannold will take office later this week as Island County’s District 3 commissioner. The unofficial results available Monday were scheduled to be certified by the Election’s Board Tuesday afternoon after press time. Hannold, whose grassroots campaign won him the election, is expected to be sworn in by Friday. “It was a lot of doors,” Hannold said Monday. “It was amazing how many people said, ‘No one has ever come up and talked to us before.’ ” Monday’s state-mandated recount showed Hannold winning in a slim 144vote lead with 14,865 to Democratic candidate Karla Jacks’ 14,721. Not only did Hannold hit the pavement himself to share his platform, but he had several supporters who went out and knocked on doors for him. These included his former opponent Republican Marc Hennemann, who lost his bid in the primary, and longtime friends Colleen Fleck and her husband Larry. “Doorbelling is the oldfashioned way to do it, but it works,” Fleck said. Fleck said she has known Hannold for several years and agreed with his values and desire to strengthen the county’s economy. “He was a candidate we really wanted to get behind,” Fleck said. “A lot of times people didn’t even know about him and they always
SEE SNOW, A13
SEE HANNOLD, A11
Justin Burnett / The Record
Diking District 2 Commissioner Daryl Vander Pol stands on the tide gate at Maxwelton Beach. Work on the gate, and other district related expenses have prompted the board to propose an assessment, the first in years.
Residents worry tax caters to farmers, leaving homeowners with bill but no benefit By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record More than 50 Maxwelton landowners will likely see their property taxes go up next year as Diking District 2 commissioners
are poised to adopt the area’s first assessment in recent memory. The board says the money is needed to fund tide gate maintenance this summer and cover basic operating costs of the district, expenses that have for years been
covered by individual property owners, but some residents aren’t too keen about the proposal, one that they say seems to benefit a select few, namely farmers. The board will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote
on the district’s 2015 budget this weekend, a document that proposes to levy $12,500 from 55 property owners using a per-acre assessment of $45. SEE ASSESSMENT, A11
Snowfall brings smiles for some, headaches for others By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record
Justin Burnett / The Record
Erika Harrison and her daughter, 6-year-old Annabella, have fun at Community Park.
South Whidbey got a healthy dose of snow this weekend, which led to fun for some and troubles for others. South Whidbey Fire/EMS spent much of Saturday, starting at about 2 a.m., responding to emergency calls ranging from downed trees that blocked roads or felled power lines to car accidents and a marine rescue, according to Deputy Chief Mike Cotton. “They’re everywhere,” said Cotton, of the district’s responders. The marine rescue occurred shortly before noon following a 9-1-1 call of a sailboat in distress