It's another episode of our little mellow drama which I now will give the theme: "When the County Blinks"! Seems more fitting than what I been calling this on going soap opera from the county: "As the County Belches"! Don't you think? Nevertheless jesting aside, as the County is waiting to see if the County Treasure will release the opportunity grant funds that the County approved of ...Again! After holding a public hearing on the matter a week ago. However, the County Treasurer: Selinda Barkhuis' did offer a olive branch of sorts:
Treasurer offers compromise to County Commissioners
As you likely know, I have been appointed by Prosecuting Attorney Nichols to represent Selinda Barkhuis, Clallam County Treasurer, with respect to warrants that would reduce the “ending fund balance” in the Opportunity Fund by some $1.3 million, with another $1.7 million set aside for “undesignated projects.” The scope of the representation extends all the way to possible litigation in Superior Court between the County Commission and my client.---PORT OF CALL DATED 8/6/15
However the County apparently rejected that compromise apparently as reported in the Peninsula Daily News:
Clallam panel approves Opportunity Funds in challenge to treasurer
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners threw down the gauntlet Tuesday by approving two resolutions and two memos of understanding that authorize $1.3 million in disputed Opportunity Fund grants to the city of Port Angeles and Port of Port Angeles. In their 2-1 decision, commissioners did not follow Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis' recommendation that they delay the grants until the 2016 budget, laying the groundwork for a possible court battle Barkhuis has threatened to wage and which a majority of the commissioners have not backed away from.
Commissioner Mike Chapman, who said he favored the projects but was against the budget process employed by the board, was the lone no vote on the two resolutions and agreements, with Commissioner Bill Peach and board Chairman Jim McEntire voting for approval.----PDN
While that little see saw battle was playing out, the city apparently assuming the money is in the bank. This little item appears on their next agenda this coming Tuesday:
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: OPPORTUNITY FUND - GRANT ACCEPTANCE AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE WTIP PROJECT TR02-2003
The City has received a $285,952 grant for phase 2 of the Waterfront Development Project.
Considering this is authorization to receive money for a Council approved and budgeted project
this item has been placed on the consent agenda. The grant has already been incorporated in the City Council adopted Capital Facilities Plan. The County has presented the City with a Memorandum of Understanding entitled the “Clallam County Opportunity Fund Program Memorandum of Understanding. The document is attached to this staff report. The only obligation of the document is that the City will provide a presentation to the County on the success, progress, and/or lessons learned from implementation of Phase 2 of the Waterfront Transportation Improvement Plan. Staff recommends that Council accept the Opportunity Fund grant approving the Memorandum of Understanding. Council should also authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Understanding and make minor modifications as necessary.
See full agenda: http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2414
Wait! A minute here! Did the Treasure signed off on any warrants while we were not looking? How is it the city is assuming that they already has gotten the monies, without warrants being issued by the county, and without the treasure signing off on them? What's going on here? Is there some kind of end run rope a dope action going on here? So, what's the game now? If we are not going to have a treasure doing our bidding, we are just going to find a way around her is that it!?
IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS....
Will Port Angeles council members' fluoridation votes mirror survey results? So far, four noncommittal
PORT ANGELES — Four of the seven City Council members are noncommittal on abiding by the results of an upcoming survey of water users who will be asked if fluoridation of city water should continue after May 18.
In recent separate interviews, Mayor Dan Di Guilio and Councilmen Lee Whetham and Dan Gase said they would vote to stop fluoridating city water if that's what water users say they want in the survey, which will be conducted by mail on a still-undesignated date in November.
Deputy Mayor Patrick Downie and council members Brad Collins, Cherie Kidd and Sissi Bruch took a wait-and-see attitude.---PDN
Port of Port Angeles awaits possible decision on passenger airline service to Seattle
PORT ANGELES --- Two airlines have expressed interest in linking Port Angeles with Seattle, and at least one of them may make up its mind this month.---PDN
SeaPort Airlines carrier eyed by Port of Port Angeles finds Southern skies unfriendly, but Coos Bay, Ore., loves carrier
TUPELO, Miss. This Southern city wants to evict from its airport the same carrier the Port of Port Angeles says may connect the North Olympic Peninsula with Seattle. A SeaPort Airlines executive vice president concedes the airline has had trouble serving Tupelo but blames problems on a pilot shortage it says is worse in the South than in the Northwest.---PDN
Bacteria count leads Clallam County to close Cline Spit beach
After finding high bacterial concentrations in waters off Cline Spit beach, officials with Clallam County Health and Human Services' environmental health division have closed Cline Spit's beach, advising the public to avoid recreational water contact — no swimming or wading — in waters at Cline Spit County Park.---SEQUIM GAZETTE
Jefferson County residents among Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor demonstrators
Three Jefferson County residents were among as many as 40 demonstrators Monday morning, Aug. 10 who carried signs and temporarily blocked an entrance to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.---PT LEADER
The mysterious disappearance of Mr. Robison
What if someone in your family disappeared? Just decided to leave their life behind, start a new life in another town? What kind of questions would those left behind want answered?---FORKS FORUM
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK
COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Resolution adopting amendments to Policy 120 – Board of Commissioners Operating Guidelines
Agenda details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
Agenda highlight item: Resolution 15-028 Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Public Works Contract with Shold Excavating, Inc. for the Replacement and Installation of Sewer Mainlines and Maintenance Holes in the City’s Wastewater Collection System.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8 NKJV
