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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2015 | Vol. 91, No. 11 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Minor rule tweak leads to big talk in Langley
Republicans push for new criteria for futures fund By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record Island County’s two Republican commissioners want the economic potential of a property to be considered when approving or denying a Conservation Futures application. While the policy shift would be subtle if approved, it would be the first time the board will diverge from a set of largely environmental criteria. “What I’m saying is I’m not comfortable with the criteria as it is,” said Commissioner Jill Johnson, a Republican, at a Wednesday work session. “I’ve inherited this criteria… I feel like if we’re going to continue to award funding, that criteria needs to reflect the values of the board.” The purpose of the state program is to provide “a useful tool for counties to preserve lands of public interest for future generations,” according to the RCW. Commissioner Rick Hannold, a Republican who ran on an economic growth platform last year, agreed that the selection criteria for the program needs to make sure protections are not limiting the county’s commercial growth. “I don’t want to deter anyone from applying… but I would like to see where the economic benefit is weighed,” Hannold said. “Part of the county’s problem is most of its funding is dependent on recreation and tourism and the military. We’ve got all our eggs in one basket.” Hannold called the current criteria “just too broad,” adding that it needs to address other concerns and provide “opportunity for a more diverse job market.” SEE FUTURES FUND, A9
By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record
visited the property, the last of which occurred last week. Commissioner Jill Johnson, who represents Oak Harbor, toured the area with Minda Wicher and Island County Public Works Director Bill Oakes. During the visit, Wicher expressed frustration that the issue has not yet been resolved and it’s still not entirely clear who will make the fix. “I feel we’ve gone round and round about who is responsible,” she said. Oakes said the Wichers can look to him. “If you’re looking for someone to blame, blame me,” he said. The drainage system was designed to empty into a
What started as a minor change to a city ordinance turned into a big discussion about how some rules make Langley unwelcoming for children and families. Police Chief Dave Marks proposed a small change to an ordinance about bikes, skateboards and roller skates at Monday’s Langley City Council meeting. He requested an exception for police so they can ride their bikes on sidewalks after purchasing a couple of new bicycles for officers to patrol with. Marks said the bikes were popular last year with residents and make the officers more approachable than if they are in the Chevrolet Malibus or on foot. “It’s been nothing but positive,” he said. But dredging up a previously contentious rule again had some council members questioning the validity of keeping children on scooters and roller skates out of downtown. Councilwoman Rene Neff described young children on a scooter or on skates and said she’d like to see more of that in town, even in the busier downtown business district of First and Second streets. One young man said he understood the exclusion of skateboards from the business area, but said because scooters, like the one he had, came with brakes, they should be allowed. “I get why skateboards are banned, ‘cause they don’t have brakes,” said 14-year-old Darien Jacob. The city’s rules prohibit skateboards, scooters and
SEE SUNNY VIEW, A9
SEE RULES, A9
Jill Johnson / The Record
Island County Public Works Director Bill Oakes and Commissioner Jill Johnson speak with Minda Wicher on a tour of her property, which is next to Sunny View Village in Freeland. The new development is causing drainage problems that Wicher wants fixed.
Sunny View Village
No flooding or no occupancy permit, county says By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record
Until a drainage problem is resolved, Sunny View Village in Freeland won’t be issued an occupancy permit. Dave Wechner, director of Island County Planning and Community Development, confirmed this week that flooding onto a neighbor’s property will need to be corrected before residents of the still-under-construction development can move in. The drainage system must be built according to plan, which was approved by Island County Public Works, and functioning as designed before a permit will be issued, wrote Wechner, in a Friday email to The Record. “… when it is built and functioning as it should, then we approve occupancy,” Wechner said. Sunny View is a $6.3 million project of the Island County Housing Authority, a state special-purpose district not affiliated with county government. The organization works to provide safe, sanitary and affordable housing to low-income and elderly residents, according to its website. Teri Anania, the housing authority’s executive director, was out of the office this week and attempts to reach her by telephone and email for this story were unsuccessful. Late last year, after construction was well underway, the Wichers complained that the northeast corner of their lot was being flooded with runoff released from the development’s water retention system. They claimed it was a new problem and a direct result of the project. The housing authority’s engineering firm, Freelandbased Davido Consulting Group, argued at the time that topographical maps suggested the area is a natural low point and water collection point. Since then, all three Island County commissioners have
Justin Burnett / The Record
Standing water on Minda Wicher’s property (left) is coming from a new development and needs to be fixed, county officials say.