Examiner The Whidbey
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Thursday, November 13, 2014
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VOL. 20, NO. 14
2015 budget available for public review By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
The 2015 Coupeville town draft budget reflects an increase in staffing for the planning department, something Mayor Nancy Conard says she thinks residents will appreciate. Within the $6.2 million operating budget, the department will see an increase to 1.5 employees. Currently the town planner is a part-time contracted position. There is also a part-time contracted position that will change into a town employee position. This position assists in dealing with public questions and processing permits. Conard said transitioning from contracted to town employees is being done to improve continuity within the department.
See BUDGET, page 20
Transit opens doors to meet candidates The community will get a chance to meet candidates for the interim director position for Island Transit Friday. After a public reception at 5 p.m., the board is scheduled to go into executive session. The members may name the new interim chief afterward. The names of the candidates haven’t been released. The special meeting of the Island Transit Board of Directors will begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Island Transit Operations & Administration Building on Highway 20 near Coupeville. The board will be in closed-door, executive session 1:35-5 p.m. to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment. It will be followed by the hour-long reception at 6 p.m. The board will be back into executive session at 6 p.m. An open public meeting will resume upon completion of executive session with possible action relating to the selection of an interim director. Accommodations will be made available upon request. The meeting room is accessible and is open to the public. For more information, please call 360-678-7771 or email info@islandtransit.org
Ben Watanabe photo
One area being discussed for inclusion with a potential capital facilities levy in the Coupeville School District is the addition of new bleachers at the football field. Superintendent Jim Shank said the bleachers are small and many people are left standing at games.
District explores levy
Facilities plan includes athletic improvements By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
Aging and inadequate facilities were the focus of Coupeville Schools Superintendent Jim Shank’s State of the Schools address last week. While no formal action has been taken, Shank said the school board discussed voting on a resolution to go out for a capital facilities levy during the December board meeting. If passed, a levy would run in a special election in February. Shank said he does not have a dollar amount tied to the proposal yet but will have better numbers in December. It’s a quick turnaround, but previous levies have passed with similar timelines, he said. During his address, Shank highlighted the facility needs of the district, then took attendees on a tour of the middle school to see for themselves. On the list of needs are new heating and cooling systems for the middle and elementary
schools. “If you’ve ever come to the school for a parent-teacher conference, you were probably cold,” he said. “And if you went to a play and the heat was on, you couldn’t hear.” Other necessities include replacing the middle school roof, fixing water damage at the elementary school, repairing plumbing in the elementary school bathrooms as well as updating those. “It’s time to get them done,” Shank said. A committee, which worked for a year reviewing district facilities, also suggested building a new cafeteria space at the elementary school connecting the multipurpose room and
repairing the existing gym space. Shank said when discussing the issue with various community members, they asked why the regular Operations and Maintenance Levy can’t be used for these needs. “The M&O Levy is used for common repairs,” he said. “There’s not much extra there.” As an example, he said it cost the district $23,000 last year to repair the elevator at the high school. He also highlighted the need for updating and repairing district athletic facilities. The track was installed in 1984.
See LEVY, page 20