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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 89 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Toast to Langley official runs afoul of state, city rules
Fire budget includes raises, new station work By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record
count of ballots. Michele Reagan, elections super visor at the county’s Auditor’s Office, explained that the office received ballots from Camano Island last, which gave Jacks a last-minute bump. “When races are this close, every vote really does count,” she
Funding for 5 percent salary increases and design work for the proposed new Bayview fire station are included in the 2015 budget for South Whidbey Fire/ EMS. The draft document was presented publicly for the first time Thursday, at a workshop with the fire district’s board of commissioners. The board is expected to vote on the final budget at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 13, at the district’s headquarters in Freeland. Amid a tight $2.5 million operational budget, Chief Rusty Palmer fought for 3.5 percent raises and 1.5 percent cost of living adjustments for full-time staff. That $26,000 change would affect three deputy chiefs and administrative staff. Palmer, a contracted employee, is not subject to those wage adjustments but does receive an annual 1.5 percent cost of living increase. “The staff has not received an increase other than cost of living increases in quite some time,” Palmer said, later explaining that it was about 10 years since a raise was awarded. “I think it’s time to put some spending into our most valuable resource, and that’s our people,” he added. During a budget workshop Thursday, the commissioners tried to trim upcoming expenses to ensure the fire protection district would have money left for reserve. It was facing a $71,000 deficit in 2015, though Palmer said he expects that to be more than covered by savings from this year, which he estimated to currently have
SEE ELECTION, A13
SEE BUDGET, A9
By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record A bubbly bid farewell to a Langley employee at City Hall this week may be remembered more as an embarrassing blunder than a warm goodbye. The city council partook in a Champagne toast to Jeff Arango, Langley’s departing planning chief, during its regular meeting Monday, and in so doing violated both state law and city policy, according to Police Chief Dave Marks. “I’m not sure who thought it would be a good idea to serve an alcoholic beverage at a council meeting, but it’s illegal to consume alcohol in public and, per city policy, staff are not allowed to consume alcohol on the job,” wrote Marks, in a Wednesday email to Mayor Fred McCarthy. Incidentally, both the police chief and mayor were not present at Monday’s meeting. Mayor pro tem and Langley City Councilwoman Rene Neff was in charge. “It was an honest mistake,” Neff said. “We had no idea this was going to happen. Someone brought it in and it all happened so fast.” The Champagne was brought in by members of the Langley Main Street Association. The group worked with Arango over the years and association leaders wanted to express their gratitude and respect for his contributions to the city. After a planned honoring SEE TOAST, A13
Justin Burnett / The Record
Island County is considering approving rules that would allow the use of golf carts on rural county roads.
County rolls out golf cart rules Commissioners to hold public hearing
By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Island County may soon join the ranks of communities across the state that allow golf carts on public roads. A majority of Island County commissioners agreed this week to move forward with a public hearing on draft regulations that would provide a framework for communities to establish golf-cart zones in rural areas. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. As of now, Commissioner Helen Price Johnson and Commissioner Aubrey Vaughan have both voiced support for the proposal, while Commissioner Jill Johnson is undecided. “We are hopeful that will remain the status quo,” said Tom Cahill, a Beverly Beach resident and one of about 121 people who have petitioned the board to adopt such rules. The Beverly Beach community has worked on the pro-
posal for more than four years, an effort that resulted in the passage of key legislation in Olympia and paved the way for the adoption of similar rules in Langley, Coupeville and a handful of other municipalities across Washington. According to Cahill, the community effort began with one resident. The man was battling cancer and used a golf cart to get to community functions. It was easier and more comfortable than trying to get into his SUV, Cahill said. The public functions were doing him good, but the habit was interrupted when a sheriff’s deputy arrived and warned that golf carts are not legally allowed on public roads. “Some of us in the community decided that just didn’t make sense,” Cahill said. Over the next four years, former state senator Mary Margaret Haugen passed a bill in 2010 that allowed counties and cities to adopt regulations for their use. While SEE GOLF CARTS, A11
Jacks makes comeback in latest ballot count By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record The Island County commissioner race will likely require a recount. If that happens, appointed Commissioner Aubrey Vaughan will get to spend a little extra time on the board. Rick Hannold, a North Whidbey
Republican, still has a lead after the latest count, but Democratic challenger Karla Jacks, a Camano Island resident, closed the gap to 134 votes in Thursday’s count. Hannold has 14,770 votes and Jacks has 14,636. That’s a difference of just 0.46 percent. Hannold was ahead by 301 votes on election night and increased his lead to 416 votes on the Wednesday