INSIDE: Lloyd Furman dies ... A8
Record South Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 3 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
County accepts Mutiny Bay beach donation City council, business continue mayorless
Property near boat launch gifted by Frank Robinson By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter Island County will accept the donation of 300 feet of waterfront property on South Whidbey. The Island County commissioners last Wednesday informally agreed in a split decision to authorize Public Works officials to move forward with the final legal details to secure the property. “This is an incredible offer to the citizens of Island County and I’m very appreciative,” Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said. “It’s a beloved beach on South Whidbey,” she said. The decision was not unanimous, however, as Commissioner Kelly Emerson repeated past concerns about taking on additional park land when the county is struggling financially to maintain what it has. Emerson also noted that the donation is for a valuable piece of beachfront property and accepting the donation would mean forfeiting property taxes sorely needed for county coffers. The property in question is owned by Frank Robinson, a South Whidbey native who went on to found the Robinson Helicopter Company in Los Angeles. He has allowed the public to use the property, located adjacent to the Mutiny Bay boat launch, for years. His health has begun to decline and family members recently made it clear his hope was to see the beach transferred into public ownership. The only conditions were that it remain park land, it be named after the Robinson family and that the boat launch continue to be maintained. Bill Oakes, director of Island County Public Works, estimated the value of the undeveloped property at $600,000 with annual taxes in the range of $6,000 to $7,000. While that would increase if the property were developed, providing additional income for the county, Oakes said this was a rare opportunity to acquire nobank, beachfront property adja-
By BEN WATANABE Staff reporter LANGLEY — There was no mayor’s report at the Langley City Council meeting Monday night. There was no mayor. Even Larry Kwarsick’s name card was absent from the table next to the council members and city clerk Debbie Mahler. Most surprisingly, there was little discussion of the mayor’s resignation. Kwarsick emailed his letter of resignation to council members and city staff Sunday night. The resignation followed a guilty plea he made in Island County Superior Court over falsifying a legal document while he was the city planner. Kwarsick’s resignation was effective Jan. 7, leaving the city council meeting without a mayor. See Langley, A9 Jim Larsen / The Record
Gary Dunn enjoys a visit on a sunny Thursday to the Mutiny Bay beach that will soon come into public ownership. He’s building a house nearby and said he and others in the area would gladly volunteer to keep the beach clean. cent to a boat launch and public who was attending her first work session since taking office, said parking lot. “It’s a tremendous asset to she understood Emerson’s concerns and this access that the counlocation,” Oakes ty should be said. “picky” when He also it comes to noted that the accepting Robinson famnew propily could have Bill Oakes erty. developed the public works director This is an property long Island County exceptional ago but chose case, hownot to. ever, and “ T h e Johnson said Robinsons have a “compelnot wanted that,” Oakes said. “In fact, they ling case” was made that demare looking at this as a legacy for onstrates the value the public stands to receive in accepting the Frank.” Oakes added that there are no donation. “I’m comfortable with movknown maintenance costs associated with the property and that ing it forward,” Johnson said. A both the Port of South Whidbey Republican, she ousted Democrat and the South Whidbey Parks Angie Homola in the November and Recreation District have election in Commissioner District expressed willingness to discuss 2 which encompasses Oak the possibilities for future joint Harbor. A draft donation agreement management. Commissioner Jill Johnson, has been sent to the Robinson
“It’s a tremendous asset to this access location.”
family, Oakes said. Whether any edits are made or not, the board planned to take formal action after the family responds. Enjoying the beach Thursday was Gary Dunn, who was walking along the pure sand as clear water lapped the shoreline and a passing container ship was dwarfed by the snow covered Olympic Mountains. “I was concerned nobody would take over ownership,” he said. “When we heard the news we were really happy.” His wife was sitting in the car, enjoying the warming rays of the sun. Dunn is building a house on the hill on a lot they purchased 20 years ago. As their dream house is built, his dream beach will be open to the public. All the neighbors are pleased, he said. “We would come here to volunteer,” he said, alluding to concerns about keeping the public beach clean. “Now we won’t feel like we’re trespassing.”
Lawsuit goes on with Kwarsick out By JIM LARSEN Record editor Larry Kwarsick resigned from office effective Jan. 7 but his case will live on in the courts. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, whose lawsuit persuaded Kwarsick to step down after one year as Langley’s mayor, said Monday he will pursue the court case. “Well, no,” Banks responded when asked if the legal proceedings are at an end. “I’ll get a court judgement to get a final definitive issue on the law.” Kwarsick last month pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor on one count of “false report of a public official” for doctoring a relative’s land use permit in 2011 when he was Langley city planner. In a plea agreement with Banks, he accepted a $2,500 fine but no time in jail. Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill disregarded See Lawsuit, A9