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NEWS | Islanders say no to pesticides [2] ARTS | Island Stage Left presents a haunting play [9] SPORTS | Wolverines’ update [16]
WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2015 VOL. 108, NO. 45 75¢
257 fish species in Salish Sea Election results By Anna V. Smith Journal reporter
By Anna V. Smith
Contributed photo/ Joseph R. Tomelleri
Journal reporter
Above: detailed drawing of a spotted ratfish.
Smallhead eelpout, spotted ratfish, slimy snailfish, pricklebreast poacher; the names sound like creatures from another world. And, in a way, they are. The names represent different fish species found in the marine world of the Salish Sea. A recent study, “Fishes of the Salish Sea: a compilation and distributional analysis,” has compiled a checklist of all 253 fish species found in the Salish Sea. Of those, 37 were previously unknown to have inhabited the area. According to co-author Ted Pietsch, having baseline information like this is important to future goals of conservation and understanding how fish populations may change over time.
“The main goal is to appraise the public and the scientific community that there are many more things out there than we thought,” Pietsch said. “If we don’t know what’s there, we can’t tell whether things are impacted by pollution in the environment, or whatever it might be.” Pietsch said that this is the first update of fish species in the Salish Sea in 35 years, and the study notes that the updated list recorded a 14 percent increase species than the last study. Since publication, four more species have been added to the checklist, Pietsch said, and that they See FISH, Page 4
The Nov. 3 preliminary election results for San Juan County Public Hospital Board and San Juan County School District #1 are in. The newpublic hospital board members in the lead are Barbara Sharp, Monica Harrington and Bill Williams. The new district director for the schooldistrict will likely be John Kurtz. The total number of votes counted was 6,308 of 12,177, or 51.8 percent of voters. Barbara Sharp has the lead for position 2 on the SJCPHD Board at 61.91 percent, and 1,882 votes total. “I was delighted with the election results, and want to thank all of my supporters for their help and encouragement,” Sharp said in a written statement to the Journal. “Because of you I was able to run a clean, honest and positive campaign. I also had the benefit of a wonderful campaign team, good friends who stepped up to the plate and after all that has gone on, we are all still good friends! This election was very difficult , and I hope everyone will work together for positive change. There is a lot of hard work ahead, and I look forward to serving all islanders to assure that everyone has access to
A look at the 2016 San Juan County budget By Leslie Kelly
Special to the Journal
A modest 1 percent increase in the total amount of property taxes levied is being proposed for San Juan County property owners for 2016. County Manager Mike Thomas said last week that the proposed 2016 budget is based on a conservative forecast of a 3 percent growth in sales tax, and a 2 percent growth in property tax. That includes the 1 percent increase in existing property allowed by state law, and the value of new construction added to the tax rolls. “Our goal is to continue to provide current services at existing levels,” Thomas said. “The county does not have sufficient funding to add much in the way of new staff or new programming.”
According to John Kulseth, San Juan county assessor, for the owner of a home in the town of Friday Harbor with an assessed value of $350,000, if the assessed values in that area remained the same, (which is unlikely,) that person’s property taxes would increase $25. Hence, increases are expected to be less. The first public hearing on the budget was Nov. 10. Four more public hearings left on the calendar as San Juan County Council members continue to review the 2016 county budget as proposed by Thomas and Milene Henley, county auditor. The $17.43 million budget was introduced to the council on Oct. 19. While it’s being called a “status quo” budget, it represents a 4.3 percent increase from the current
year budget. In order to have a balanced operating budget for 2016, the county plans to use $656,000 of its available cash and reserve funds. The council met Nov. 2 during which members briefly spoke about the budget and heard a presentation by Kim Herrenkohl, deputy auditor, who detailed the county’s 2016 capital budget and six-year Capital Improvement Plan. The council also heard in detail about the 2016 parks and fair budget and fees schedules from Dona Wuthnow, parks and fair director. Among the projects being proposed in the 2016 capital budget is $120,000 for the planning of the Centralized County Campus Plan. There’s $400,000 allotted for fleet replacement which is the
local share of the road transportation improvement plan. More than $2.4 million is proposed for Orcas road improvements. There’s $360,000 proposed for the Orcas Village park and ride, and within the capital expenditures is the purchased of a patrol car and a truck for the parks department, each at $70,000. The 2016 Capital Improvement Plan includes a list of projects recommended by the capital committee to be funded with capital improvement funds. Parks Director Dona Wuthnow presented a fee schedule to council members that outlines increased fees based on park location and season of renting. On average, campsites are proposed to increase See BUDGET, Page 5
the best possible range of health care services.” Monica Harrington will likely take position 3 at 58.24 percent and 1,763 votes total. “This was a neighbor-to-neighbor campaign and I’m thrilled and gratified by the result,” Harrington said to the Journal about her win.“Many people worked very hard and I’m very thankful for the support and friendship and the shared interest in making our healthcare work better for everyone.” Bill Williams is in the front position for spot 5 at 60.84 percent and 1,835 votes total “I want to thank San Juan islanders for electing me to the public hospital district commission,” said Williams. “I am overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of congratulations and well wishes I have received since the announcement of the results of the election. I look forward to joining my fellow commissioners in January to work for health care that works for islanders.” In the race for the San Juan County School District directors, Kurtz has position so far by 51.32 percent. “I believe I can help the school board focus on fund raising and See ELECTION, Page 2
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Office: 376-4500 Fax: 1-888-562-8818 Editor: editor@sanjuanjournal.com