Islands' Sounder, December 16, 2015

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Viking Voice inside this edition

Sounder The ISlandS’

Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County

WEDNESDAY, December 16, 2015 • VOL. 48, NO. 50 • 75¢ • islandssounder.com

Viking sports – page 8

Bringing cheer Family of Keaton Farris

reaches a settlement by DIANA HEFLEY

Everett Herald reporter

Each year, the Orcas Christian School sends student carolers out to senior citizens who have difficulty traveling and those who are housebound. They bring home-baked cookies colorfully wrapped in Christmas colors, and sing carols to the seniors. Long-time islander Harry Patton, pictured above, says it’s something they all greatly appreciate. “This is the third year that they have made their way clear out to Doe Bay to bring the Christmas spirit to me and to this household. And it really means a lot to this old Dad. Makes life worth living,” he said.

The family of Keaton Farris, who died of dehydration and malnutrition in the Island County Jail has reached a $4 million settlement with three counties. As part of the settlement, Island County has agreed that a corrections expert hired to evaluate the lockup’s operations will monitor the jail for the next 18 months. Phil Stanley made a series of recommendations in October to improve medical care for inmates, including more attention to those with mental illness and serious health conditions. Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said several improvements have been made and more are under way, based on Stanley’s recommendations. “The family acknowledges that Island County has taken measures and has promised more. We hope now that the civil part is over that we can even work together with them to ensure that it becomes a model jail and there is appropriate care for the humans housed there,” Fred Farris said Thursday. His son, Farris, 25, was shuffled among three jails before

Keaton Farris.

Contributed photo

being booked into the Coupeville lockup. He was in the throes of mental health crisis when he was taken into custody March 20 in Lynnwood. He missed court that day, and a San Juan County judge issued a $10,000 warrant. Farris was charged with identity theft for forging a $355 check in San Juan County.He was housed in the jails in Snohomish and Skagit counties before being moved to Coupeville in Island County, which provides jail services under contract with San Juan County. The settlement was reached Monday with Island, San Juan and Skagit counties. Fred Farris and

SEE KEATON, PAGE 6

Solid waste tax decreases by 1.5 percent Decrease to affect Orcas and San Juan Island only; Lopez will not be impacted by HEATHER SPAULDING Journal reporter

During their Dec. 9 meeting, the San Juan County Council voted to decrease the solid waste tax by 1.5 percent on Orcas and San Juan. A slow tax decrease was part of the original 2012 solid waste financing plan, as the county worked its way out of debt. Three years ago, some might recall, solid waste hit crises mode after tests showed the transfer station on San Juan Island was in need of work. After years of multiple studies and highly controversial proposals to move the transfer station from Sutton Road, the county came to a realization that the trash situation was seriously in the red, by approximately $100,000.

Solid waste was forced to reevaluate their strategy. After countless meetings and input from the public two choices emerged before the voters. One option kept things mostly the same, the other included creating essentially three different solid waste entities; one for San Juan Island, another for Orcas, and a third for Lopez. San Juan and Orcas Islands became privatized, while the Lopez station became a nonprofit. To assist paying off the debt, the solid waste tax was raised, with the idea that it would decrease as the debt was paid off. Voters approved the more complex plan. As of today, roughly three quarters of the debt, $74,000, has been paid off. “It was important to us that the public started to see some relief,” Councilman Rick

Tiffany Ferrians filed a claim in August, alleging corrections officers neglected their son and withheld basic needs. They were represented by Seattle attorneys Becky Roe and Kathy Goater.Farris was found dead in his cell around 12:40 a.m. April 8. Corrections officers hadn’t checked on him for hours, and the water to his cell had been turned off. The coroner estimated that Farris died around 7:30 p.m. on April 7. The police investigation revealed that during the course of the 12 days in the Island County Jail, Farris’ fluid intake was at best 185 ounces of water — less than a quarter of the amount considered minimum for survival. He’d also lost about 20 pounds.Under terms of the settlement, Island County also agreed that the family’s own expert will review the recommendations and work provided by Stanley, and the county will make a good faith effort to incorporate any suggestions. The jail monitoring was a critical piece of the settlement, Fred Farris said. Family members didn’t want those efforts delayed by taking the case to trial. They also

Hughes said, and so the first reduction of 1.5 percent begins. He also wanted to make sure people understood that Lopez Island residents will not be impacted, however, as their nonprofit facility was not part of the original tax increase. The debt payoff is about on schedule, although some of the county bonds have been paid off sooner than expected. “Going forward, I would like to see us focus on hazardous waste,” Hughes added. Hazardous items includes paints, aerosols, adhesives, chemical products, antifreeze and contaminated motor oil, just to name a few items. Currently San Juan County has very

SEE WASTE, PAGE 6

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