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Examiner The Whidbey
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Whidbey Island’s Only Locally Owned, Independent Newspaper
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012
VOL. 17, NO. 31
Clean Men of steel Water fee to show up on tax bill By Elisabeth Murray Examiner Staff Writer
When the Island County commissioners established the Clean Water Utility in December 2010, they expected that money from fees designed to pay for the program would soon begin coming in and important water-conservation projects would get under way. But due to delays in implementing the fee structure, this month will be the first time Island County property owners will see that fee on their tax bills. “Everyone expected it to get off the ground quickly, but it took a whole year,” said Donald Lee, co-chairman of the Water Resources Advisory Committee, the group that oversees county water-resource plans and activities, including the utility. The utility is aimed at developing a comprehensive approach to managing the county’s wide-ranging water issues, establishing a dedicated source of revenue to pay for programs that reduce the risk of flooding and erosion and help protect the very limited groundwater resources on Whidbey and Camano islands. Yet, even with the influx of tax revenue, implementing all aspects of the utility – especially the capital projects – will be a slow process. An inter-fund “bridge” loan of $600,0000 taken from the county’s Real Estate Excise Tax account to fund the Clean Water Utility in 2011 must first be repaid, pushing implementation of several public-works projects back by several months, Lee said. Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson acknowledged the delay, but said, “we remain focused on providing the services.” Since the Clean Water Utility was signed into law, three of its nine programs have seen progress. Two projects – surface water-quality monitoring and the septicsystem inspection – had been under way before the utility was established. Other progress includes the re-hiring of hydrogeologist Doug Kelly, who reviews land-use applications, monitors groundwa-
Stuart Isett / Vigor Industrial
Welders Josh Hill and Nick Tingstad work on the first metal plates of the state’s new ferry at Vigor Industrial shipyard in Seattle on Feb. 16. The plates are the first pieces of the hull, which is being assembled by Vigor Industrial’s US Fab subsidiary. The upper half of the vessel, above the car-deck level, will be crafted at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland. Once in service in 2014, the new vessel will allow Washington State Ferries to have a ferry on standby in order to maintain service when other vessels – including those on the Clinton-Mukilteo route – require repairs or maintenance. Total cost is $147 million.
Popular Whidbey bike tour cancelled Hospital foundation regroups after budget cuts force cancellation of fundraiser. By Elisabeth Murray Examiner Staff Writer
After 10 years of raising money to help buy important medical equipment for Whidbey General Hospital, this year’s Tour de Whidbey bike ride has been called off. Even though the popular event had proven a successful way of raising money – and an effective way to raise public awareness of its organizer, the Whidbey General See WATER, page 10 Hospital Foundation – the nonprofit just
doesn’t have the staff to pull it off this year. “Like most community hospitals, Whidbey General Hospital is being challenged to cut costs while continuing to provide excellent patient care,” said Laura Blankenship, foundation executive director. With recent budget cuts at Whidbey General, the foundation’s board of directors decided to leave vacant a 30-hour-a-week foundation assistant position and focus on other priorities. As part of a working agreement, the foundation employees are hospital employees. Blankenship said staging the bike ride each year requires about 1,000 hours of behind-the-scenes staff time. The event, which is held in late September, typically draws about 500 registered
riders, making it not only a fundraiser for the hospital but also a draw for off-island visitors. Lynda Eccles, executive director of the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, said the event was an annual, early-fall shot in the arm for local businesses that rely on tourism. The event draws not just cyclists, but also friends and family, many of whom spend money at local shops, restaurants and lodging businesses. “Any event that happens anywhere on the Island is a draw for the local economy,” she said. “When people come and visit, they usually want to see all that is here.” This year would have been the 11th See BIKE TOUR, page 6