Wednesday, Feb 3 2010 - (Public Works Dept. Announcement) For the second time in four months the operating hours of the County transfer stations will be reduced. On October 3rd the County transfer stations on Orcas Island and San Juan Island were closed on Saturdays until further notice.

Now those two transfer stations will also be closed on Fridays. Beginning February 19, 2010 the transfer stations will be open on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The closure is expected to reduce operational costs by $40,000 per year.

In 2009 the amount of solid waste brought to County solid waste facilities dropped dramatically. This resulted in a corresponding sharp reduction in revenue from solid waste fees of more than 20%. With the decline in solid waste, disposal and transportation costs fell but the cost of keeping the transfer stations open remained. The closures will bring the operational cost back in line with the amount of revenue that is being generated
(Read full story).

Monday, Feb 1 2010 - The deadline for submitting construction or conversion applications for detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), popularly called “guest houses”, is the close of the business day on February 8, 2010.

The number of ADU permits available each year is based on a formula involving the number of permits issued during the previous year for the construction of new homes outside of activity centers and urban growth areas.

This year, 1 conversion permit and 8 new ADU construction permits are available. To qualify for a conversion permit, the structure involved must have legally existed for at least 5 years
(Read full story).

Friday, Jan 29 2010 - In an email to the County’s Medical providers this week, San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James delivered good news with a word of caution.

“Influenza activity is at a low level. No hospitalizations have occurred and flu activity is well below routine influenza activity for this time of year. School absenteeism is low.” At the same time he urged everyone who has not been vaccinated against both seasonal and H1N1 flu to do so as soon as possible.

The history of flu pandemics gives a clear warning, he said. “In the 1957-58 pandemic, a later winter-early fall ‘third wave’ occurred that hit older adults particularly hard after earlier waves that were more severe in younger persons. Although we cannot predict if a third wave of H1N1 will occur, vaccinating as many persons as possible will minimize the impact of a recurrent H1N1 outbreak and perhaps provide residual protection into next season.&rdquo
(Read full story);

Thursday, Jan 7 2010 - In 2010, County Parks is renewing its “residents only” opportunity to pre-reserve campsites at county parks. This year, the popular County Parks program offers residents a chance to make their prime-time summer camping reservations between January 15th & February 26th.

This offer is available for camping at San Juan, Odlin (Lopez), and Shaw County Parks. Camping reservations for the general public will begin in March.

All the county campgrounds are located in waterfront parks with spectacular views, beautiful beaches, and small craft boat launches
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Wednesday, Jan 6 2010 - Beginning on January 7 and continuing through March 31, the San Juan County Council administrative office will pull the shades at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Fridays.

The Council staff will use the working hours during which the office is closed to index electronic files entered into a new document management system.

When implementation is complete, the document management system should make storing, retrieving and securing archived documents easier, less space intensive and less costly
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Jan 5 2010 - The San Juan County Council today adopted an Ordinance banning food service businesses from using Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) containers for take-out or eat-in packaging. The ordinance mirrors an ordinance passed last year by the Town of Friday Harbor and will take effect on the same date: April 22, 2010 – which is Earth Day.

Supporters of the ban point out that polystyrene does not biodegrade in landfills and it can leach carcinogenic chemicals.

San Juan Island resident Doris Estabrooks, initially raised the issue publicly in 2004 and has worked steadily to enlist community support, persuade local businesses to move stop using Styrofoam containers, as well as urging both the Town and County Councils to enact the ban
(Read full story).

Thursday, Dec 31 2009 -  It’s almost a year since Washington State began one of the most successful recycling programs for waste electronics.  Manufacturers who sell televisions, monitors, computers and laptops in our state cover the full cost of the program.  By the end of November, almost 36 million pounds of electronics were collected and recycled in our state free of charge to households, small businesses, charities, schools and small governments!  About 35,000 pounds have been recycled in San Juan County so far. 

 Instead of burying electronics in a landfill, the “E-Cycle Washington” program recycles about 99% of the components of these products…heavy metals, glass, plastics, steel, copper, aluminum…back into production through approved processors.  (The average computer monitor contains 4-8 pounds of toxic lead.)  The program also aims to prevent electronic waste from going to countries with a history of poor environmental stewardship and human rights.   (Read full story)>

Monday, Feb 1 2010 - After being satisfied that online video of Council meetings is reliable and convenient for citizens to access, the San Juan County Council has directed its clerk to start keeping official “action” minutes rather than detailed minutes of Council discussions.

The new format for the minutes will include more concise information about votes and official actions of the Council, making video recordings the primary source for detailed information about the Council’s discussions, public hearings and deliberations.

The online service, provided through AV Capture All, headquartered in Olympia, Washington; makes several months’ worth of recorded Council meetings available via the County website (http://sanjuanco.com/Council/video.aspx)
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jan 27 2010 - All San Juan County Voters except those living on Shaw Island will be voting in the February 9, 2010 Special Election. Voters have a new source for information to help evaluate measures on the ballot.

The new online voters guide can be accessed on the County Elections web site .

The guide contains Information on Maintenance and Operations Levies for San Juan Island School District, Orcas Island School District and Lopez Island School District as well as a General Obligation Bond for Orcas Island School District and an EMS Levy for San Juan Island Public Hospital District.

San Juan County is an all vote-by-mail county. Ballots returned by mail must have first class postage and be postmarked no later than February 9, 2010.

Ballots may also be deposited in ballot drop boxes postage free by 8:00 p.m. on February 9.

Ballot drop boxes are located at the San Juan County Courthouse, Orcas Island Senior Center, and Lopez Island Fire District Office
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jan 13 2010 - The San Juan County Council has scheduled a special workshop session beginning at 8 a.m., January 19 to explore ways to fund the County’s solid waste utility which is now running in the red. Council Chair Richard Fralick said that public input would be taken at that session.

The Council decided to hold an additional workshop after spending almost three hours at its regular Tuesday session studying the details of funding options that the Public Works Department and Solid Waste Advisory Committee had first presented a week earlier.

Public Works staff offered estimates of revenue that could be generated by different combinations of increased tipping fees, real estate parcel fees, a minimum “gate fee” at the transfer station, a service fee for new development and excise taxes on certified haulers. The presentation document is available on-line
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jan 6 2010 - San Juan County Council Members yesterday signed a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging the agency not to establish a “No-Go Zone” for watercraft on the west side of San Juan Island, but rather to emphasize enforcement of more targeted regulations to protect the endangered Northern Resident Killer Whales.

The letter’s top request reads, “The Council urges NOAA to consider enforcement of regulations protecting whales to be its top priority, and strongly urges that enforcement resources be based in San Juan County.” It adds that extending the buffer zone for watercraft approaching whales from 100 yards to 200 yards, as proposed, would not be necessary if the current buffer were strictly enforced.
 
(Read full story);

Tuesday, Dec 15 2009 - www.sjcgis.org/ The San Juan County Public Works Department today announced the deployment of the Polaris Property Search Internet Mapping Application.

The Polaris Property Search is available to the public at: https://www.sjcgis.org/ or by clicking on Polaris Mapping Application link on the County website.

The new application replaces Polaris Express and includes additional data layers, including wetlands, land use, density, 20’ contours, public land survey system (section, township, and range), sales date and price, and links directly to the County’s recorded document search
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Oct 6 2009 -  The San Juan County Sheriff's non-emergency contact numbers for Lopez and Orcas have changed, due to a policy change at the phone service provider, CenturyTel. Calls to the previous numbers, which had local island prefixes, were previously automatically forwarded to the main number of the Sheriff's Office in Friday Harbor: 378-4151.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the the Orcas business number apparently ceased forwarding on Monday, but on-duty department personnel were not aware of the phone company's action until Tuesday.

The Lopez business line is still forwarding to the Sheriff's Office, but it is unclear whether or how long that will continue.

In any case, the Sheriff's office is asking that all persons who need to make non-emergency contacts to please use the 378-4151 number
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Feb 3 2010 - (Public Works Dept.) Beginning on February 24th residents of Lopez Island will have access to the same commingled recycling system at their solid waste facility that serves other residents of the County.

Currently, recycled materials are brought to our Lopez facility and are separated into several different commodities. These separated commodities are stored at the solid waste facility in boxes called totes until there is enough material available to allow for baling.

After the material is baled and wrapped it continues to be stored until there are enough bales to fill the county flat-bed truck. Then the bales are loaded and hauled by county employees and equipment to a recycling broker on the mainland
(Read full story).

Monday, Feb 1 2010 - The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board has ruled that last year’s revisions to the housing and land use elements of the County’s Comprehensive Plan “make adequate provisions for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community” as required by the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA).

In a decision dated January 27, the board rejected a petition filed by John Campbell of Orcas Island which raised questions about the adequacy of the housing element
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Jan 6 2010 - The San Juan County Council has unanimously selected 4th District Council Member Richard Fralick as Chair of the Council for the next year and 1st District Member Lovel Pratt as Vice Chair.

Fralick, a 28-year resident of Orcas Island, has a long history of community involvement including service as a member of the Board of Freeholders, the board of the Orcas Medical Center Association, the Orcas Island School Board and many other community organizations
(Read full story).

Wednesday, Dec 23 2009 - The San Juan County Community Development and Planning Department (CDPD) has posted “fill-in and save” permit applications for building and land use permits on the County web site.

Unlike many on-line forms, the new forms can be saved with the data entered, if the user has the Microsoft Word™ word-processing program. Printable permit forms are still also available in “.pdf” format which may be opened and printed using no-cost software available from Adobe™ and others.

The new fill-in forms and printable forms are both available at CDPD’s permit applications web page
(Read full story).

Tuesday, Dec 8 2009 - (From Washington Supreme Court release) Due to the death of Judge John Linde, the Washington Supreme Court has appointed Judge Alan Hancock of the Island County Superior Court to perform judicial duties in San Juan Superior Court, pursuant to Article IV Section 2(a) of the Constitution of the State of Washington.

The Court issued the attached Order, which will allow Judge Hancock to perform judicial duties in San Juan County to assure the prompt and orderly administration of justice there. The appointment will be effective until a new judge is selected for appointment by Governor Christine Gregoire.

“Judge John Linde was an extraordinary judge who will be missed,” said Chief Justice Gerry Alexander. “I have fond recollections of swearing Judge Linde into office in February of last year, a historic day which saw him become the first superior court judge solely dedicated to San Juan County.&rdquo
(Read full story);

Tuesday, Dec 1 2009 - Dog owners may now buy County licenses tags for their pets at the San Juan County Auditor’s office at the County Courthouse in Friday Harbor or at any of the sites listed below. This year’s fees are the same as last year’s: $12 for dogs that have been spayed or neutered and $30 for others. The 2010 dog tags are blue and shaped like bells.

The 2010 tags are available at the following locations:

San Juan Island:

• Animal Protection Society
• Harbor Vet
• County Auditor’s Office

Orcas Island:

• Animal Protection Society
• Eastsound Kennels
• Orcas Vet Service
• Pawki’s (new this year)

Lopez Island

• Sunset Builders Supply
• Lopez Liquor Store
• Ark Veterinary Clinic
• Lopez Animal Protection Society

(Read full story)