News-Times Whidbey
ISLAND LIVING Author faces his past in book A11
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 39 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
Filing Week yields early surprises
City of OH entering into lease for new animal shelter By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
With days to go, more than 40 seeking offices By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Filing Week for open public offices in Island County began Monday and the first 24 hours yielded a few surprises. With days to go, the following are among the candidates to file so far. OAK HARBOR Arts Commission member William “Skip” Pohtilla quietly filed for Position 6 on the City Council. The seat is held by Jim Campbell, who is wrapping up his second term. “Yeah, I thought I’d throw my hat into the ring,” Pohtilla said. Choosing to run against Campbell, who confirmed plans to file for reelection Thursday, was a bit of a coin toss, Pohtilla said. Pohtilla said he’d heard other races would be contested so he chose Position 6. Pohtilla said he has nothing against Campbell. “I’m just interested in what’s going on and making Oak Harbor a better place,” Pohtilla said. This would be Pohtilla’s second attempt at winning a seat on the council. He sought appointment to Position 5 last year — the seat vacated by Scott Dudley when he was elected mayor — but it went to Joel Servatius. See FILING WEEK, A23
Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
Lucas Yonkman, a candidate for Oak Harbor City Council, was among more than 40 people to file for an open public office in Island County this week. Filing Week ends Friday.
Kratos will lose his yard with the beautiful view of the water — not that he cares about that sort of thing — but he will gain spacious living quarters in a spot that’s more convenient for people to visit. That is, unless someone adopts the sweet, giant-headed pit bull before the big move, planned for September. Oak Harbor officials finally found a new site for the city animal shelter. Last week, Oak Harbor City Council members approved a lease agreement with an option to purchase the Freedom Kennels on Goldie Road. The acquisition will cost the city $2,500 a month, plus an additional $10,000 for the option to purchase. If all goes well, the city expects to remodel the kennels at a cost of up to $20,000 prior to the move. “It would be really nice to be off the base and somewhere that has better access,” said Shari Bibich, shelter manager for Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation. The group, commonly called WAIF, manages the city’s current dog-and-cat pound. The city has struggled with the animalshelter issue for years. The city’s current shelter is housed in a decrepit building on the Navy’s Seaplane base. The facility has inadequate space, See ANIMAL SHELTER, A15
Archaeological consultant to help decide plant’s location By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Two consulting firms will help the city of Oak Harbor decide where to build the new $93.5-million wastewater treatment plant. Oak Harbor City Council approved separate professional services agreements last week with an archaeological firm and a company that provides real estate and property services.
City officials are concerned about the possibility of finding cultural resources while building the treatment plant. Workers unearthed a Native American burial ground during construction on Pioneer Way two years ago, which has cost the city millions of dollars. Site of the new wastewater treatment plant is just blocks away. Last year, the City Council voted to site the plant in the gen-
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