PORT ANGELES DIGEST: 15 MONTH LEE SHOWS UP AT A PORT MEETING!

Yes, readers that's Lee Whetham's new nick name I gave him, 15 month Lee! Why you may ask? Well he served only 15 months on the city council which he wanted to serve on so he said at that time, now after 15 months he decided to move on up the political ladder, and these positions here locally are just "stepping stones" to higher office using his words. But, this week he made an appearance at a Port Commission meeting I attended this week, the first time I saw him attend any Port meeting which I attended since May. He came to speak about his continued support of chopping down the trees at Lincoln Park that are blocking the air space for landing, and taking off airplanes at the near by airport Fairchild International. He asked about the status of the environmental impact of cutting down those trees. You know what readers, maybe it's just me I think he was sending a message to his pal John Calhoun...."I supported you in wanting to cut down the trees, now you owe me buddy!" That's what I think the real message he was conveying, but that's just me. The other two Port Candidates were present too,  Rick (Doc) Robinson, and Connie Beauvais. Both Robinson, and Whetham started a little debate between them during the closing public comment session of the Port meeting, Beauvais staid out of the little debate that transpired which was about Whetham's pet project the apprentice utilization program. I think yours truly only met  Michael Breidenbach, once at one Port meeting, but nevertheless with the lack of coverage given about the primary election from the local media, is it any wonder candidates are now taking matters in their own hands to get their message out to other venues that will make mention of the primary election, ballots were mailed out this week for the primary election so this will be the time when voters will have to separate the shaft from the wheat so to speak. Weed out the pretenders, and opportunist, from those who truly want to serve this community, not seek their own advancement, or "name" in bold print!

With that, here is the latest local happenings;


 Clallam County commissioner candidates discuss county grants, water issues 
Three candidates for the Clallam County District 1 commissioner seat debated water and the distribution of county funds at a League of Women Voters of Clallam County forum Incumbent Commissioner Jim McEntire and challengers Mark Ozias and Bryan D. Frazier were questioned by audience members during the Sunday afternoon forum on the controversy surrounding County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis refusal to honor funds transfers to other agencies, as well as about water rights and building permits in water-critical areas.---read more
(Well, now looks like PDN finally said something about the primary, along with Port O Call's article I shared earlier this week.)

Clallam asks state auditor for review of grant allocation process in wake of treasurer's rejection
 Clallam County commissioners have asked the state auditor if they botched the process of awarding a pair of infrastructure grants to city and port governments in May


Port of Port Angeles gets $596,913 federal grant to study Lincoln Park trees, airport flightpath
The Port of Port Angeles has started the process of finding a solution to the ever-growing, obstructive Lincoln Park trees in the path of William R. Fairchild International Airport.But dont expect a decision on cutting down trees to increase visibility of the airports flight path until the beginning of 2018, port Airport and Marina Manager Jerry Ludke said.

( No mention of the Port candidates attending the meeting in the article, guess that was up to me to do huh!? Readers! My job, readers is to comment on news stories posted, hence news commentator, but I guess if the local media isn't doing the job of covering primary elections, just the general ones well that falls to guys like me to do, which I am glad to do readers!)

Don’t follow leaders–don’t re-elect anybody---PORT O CALL
As we get ready to mark our ballots and select the next leadership class let us keep one thing in mind–the incumbents are the ones who got us into the situation we are in now.

(PORT O CALL's second article about the primary election I found on their site, believe me readers I have been looking at both of these publications, maybe I missed some articles about the primary election, I am just noting the lack of coverage on both sides of the ledger)

Bloom time: The Gazette’s guide to Sequim Lavender Weekend---SEQUIM GAZETTE


Spruce Railroad Trail Improvements to Begin July 27---FORKS FORUM


FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
Advocate for homeless backs moves to affordable housing ---TIMES COLONIST


Victoria, Esquimalt mayors take initial steps toward Victoria-area amalgamation---VICTORIA NEWS


Victoria's fossil fuel divestment movement heats up---VICTORIA NEWS

WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK...

COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Resolution adopting a Budget Emergency in the following fund: Health and Human Services, Homelessness Task Force – Transfer from ending fund balance to professional services for contracted services to the homeless in response to a request for proposals/$300,000
Full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Agenda item details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf

City Council Agenda Items highlights:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON, DECLARING THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCUTRE (AMI) PROJECT NO LONGER VIABLE, TERMINATING THE ADVANCED METERING INFRATRUCTURE PROJECT, AND DESIGNATING ELIGIBLE ELECTRIC, WATER, AND WASTEWATER CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR RECEIPT OF BOND PROCEEDS AS A RESULT OF THE TERMINATION OF THE AMI PROJECT----page h1
The City Council in August 2010 authorized the issuance of an Electric Revenue Bond and
a Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond to provide funding for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. In 2014, the City Council approved the acceptance of a settlement agreement with Mueller Systems, LLC to terminate the contract with Mueller for the implementation of the AMI project. Once the Settlement Agreement had been approved, staff began work on assessing the highest and best use of the bond proceeds previously designated for the AMI project together with refunds and repayments from Mueller associated with the termination of the contract to implement the AMI project. Included as part of the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) process brought before Council for briefings, public hearings and adoption were a series of Electric, Water and Wastewater projects that were proposed to be considered as eligible projects for the former AMI funding. With the adoption of the resolution, Council will formally terminate the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project as an authorized capital project of the City and designate the projects listed in the resolution as eligible projects to potentially receive funding from the former AMI-designated funds. 

Editorial Comment: I imagine this will be welcome news for the anti-smart meter crowd. These so called smart meters I ran against during the 2013 campaign for City Council.


Along with the next topic: FLUORIDE – BACKGROUND INFORMATION
FLUORIDE OPERATIONS OVERVIEW:
The fluoride system was put into operation on May 18, 2006. Washington State
Department of Health (Division of Environmental Public Health, Office of Drinking Water)
requires fluoride levels be maintained between 0.8 and 1.3 mg/L. The average City fluoride
levels are between 0.8 and 0.95 mg/l. Fluoride treatment testing results are provided to the
Department of Health on a monthly basis, and are reported to consumers in the annual
Consumer Confidence Report as required by Federal law.
The fluoride used by the City is Fluorosilicic Acid (FSA) which is delivered approximately
every 6 months. The Fluorosilicic Acid is added to the water supply as a pretreatment prior
to entering the water treatment plant. The Fluorosilicic Acid is added to the water as a
liquid from a day tank through an LMI fluoride diaphragm injection metering pump.
The annual costs to provide fluoride treatment are as follows:
 1. Fluorosilicic Acid (FSA): $16,500/year
 2. Labor cost for Fluoride operation: $ 1,700/yr (approximate)
 3. Maintenance & repair costs: $1,700/yr (approximate)
Due to the age of the fluoridation system installed 10 years ago, there will likely need to be
an equipment upgrade in the future. In addition, it would be recommended to relocate the
fluoride injection system from the water intake of the plant, to the end of the treatment
process, for improved control
CITY’S OBLIGATION OVERVIEW:
In the 2005 agreement between the City and the Dental Foundation, the City assumed
several obligations, many of which have already been fulfilled. Of the remaining
obligations, probably the one of most current interest is the obligation to fluoridate for a
minimum of ten years.
Under the agreement, if the City stops fluoridation before 10 years of operation, the City is
obligated to repay to the Dental Foundation the costs it paid to design, construct, and install
the system. At the time the agreement was made, the system had not been designed or
constructed. Therefore, those costs were unknown. Recognizing that, a cap of $433,000
was placed on this repayment amount. The City could be liable for additional damages if it
were to deliberately breach the agreement.
In summary, the City is obligated to continue fluoridation until May 18, 2016. At that date
the contractual obligation ends, but fluoridation does not automatically cease. The actions 
of the prior City Councils in 2003 through 2005 set in motion the water fluoridation
program, and now that program will continue until and unless the City Council takes some
formal action to halt it.
COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. Status Quo: After May 18, 2016, the City Council may do nothing, in which case
fluoridation will continue as it is currently proceeding.
2. Termination: City Council may take action, by majority vote, to cease the fluoridation
program. This choice is entirely within the discretion of the City Council.
3. Advisory Options: Before making any decision on this issue, the City Council may
want to, but is not required to, conduct some public process. If so, the City Council
may decide what that process is. There is no particular requirement. Options include:
a. Public Comment – It could be an informal public comment period, with
opportunities for both oral and written comments.
b. Public Hearing – It could be a more formal public hearing with equal
opportunity for both pro and con presentations.
c. Advisory Ballot – It could be an advisory ballot in the upcoming general
election or a subsequent special election. (Note that for an advisory ballot
to be included in the November general election, the wording of the ballot
must be submitted to the County no later than August 4, 2015.) If the City
seeks an advisory vote, consideration should be given to including those PUD
customers that also receive fluoridated drinking water from the City.
d. Combination – It could be some combination of these or something else. In
any event, the final decision still must be made by the City Council.  pages I1-I3
See full agenda for details

Editor's footnote: This is also something a ran against in previous campaigns for city council, told you this topic was once again going to be a hot topic for the current and new council to consider.

Other regional meetings:
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
Agenda highlight: Waste Water Treatment Facility and Biosolids Awards Presentation with the Department of Ecology


FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
AGENDA - VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA HIGHLIGHT: Council is considering an application to permit the construction of a garden suite.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.

Psalm 119:7 NKJV

PORT O CALL POST PRIMARY ELECTION STORY AFTER MY COMPLAINING ABOUT LACK OF COVERAGE

See readers, what happens when yours truly starts complaining about the lack of news coverage on the local primary elections. No sooner did I post my little rant and support Connie Beauavis for Port Commission, Port O Call must have read my little rant because the very next day (Sunday) this article appeared on their page:

The debate to end all debates!---by Doc Robinson, PORT O CALL
"So anyway, the League of Women voters held political debates recently so the people could see their candidates.  About twelve people attended.  The PDN could not be bothered to cover it.  The League did not film it for you to watch later on YouTube."
(As I said, the candidates have now taken up the role of journalist, doing the job which the 'local" media should be doing)

They even confirmed much what I reported on Saturday on the Port Angeles Digest report, that Whethem has been absent on many of primary debates! And that he is pretty much ignoring this election, that could be because Calhoun who current sits on the Port Commission decided to pitch his tent in Beauavis camp not his. So, readers at least one of the local newspapers heard me complaining and jump into action and submitted a report on the primary election, lest I missed some articles about it on their page.
I gave these candidates opportunity to post their opinions on my page as well, but guess they decided to pine away for bigger coverage on the main stream media outlets. They forget 1500 voters voted on my side of the fence during my bid for the local city council in 2013. So, my words does carry some weight. But, nevertheless I am please to pitch my tent in Connie's camp.

COMMENTARY: THE COUNTY FEUD MAYBE OVER, BUT THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER FEUD RAGING SINCE 2013, LOCAL MEDIA!

There's lots of questions that came to mind when I saw the latest headline in the Peninsula Daily News today: Who won in $1.3 million dispute: Clallam County treasurer or county commissioners?----PDN
 "Barkhuis did not respond to numerous phone calls and emails last week. She could not be found at her office Thursday or Friday."----read more

Now, that quote begs the question, why is Barkhuis in essence snubbing the Peninsula Daily News, and only communicating with the Port O Call, which was established in 2013? They have stories written by her on their webpage, while the PDN, or any other publication are snubbed by her. Could she be taking sides of a feud between the two leading newspapers? By the look of the evidence, shown by the number of stories by her, and about her are mostly in the Port O Call paper. I on the other hand never approached Barkhuis about any of this, on this current matter or anything. Just watching the drama being played out in the media. Which thus far has been one sided, counting the number of stories about the County Treasure. However, she her self writes a blog too, called PATODAY.
How did this little media feud began you may ask? It started around 2013, when Dale Wilson wanted a letter to the editor of the Peninsula Daily News, they didn't publish the letter that Wilson submitted, thus Wilson decided to establish his own publication the Port O Call. However, he wasn't the only one who started a publication out of being snubbed by the PDN. Yours truly also was snubbed by the PDN over selling newspapers at a new newsstand I wanted to start up in one of the shopping malls way back in 97'. Thus I started my old news blog called the Port Angeles Journal, and in time that anger subsided, and I became friends with the current publisher of the PDN, John Brewer. Oh, I still shoot jabs at the guy now and then, but never at the level Wilson seems to be doing. Holding grudges never work folks. The follow stories I have collected paints a clear picture I think of the level of destine between the two leading publications, and how Barkhuis has taken sides in this media feud. Normally no one would care right? But we are talking about an elected official taking sides in a Media dust up locally.

 Related stories
Clallam judge denies injunction against city of Port Angeles----PDN


Who flung dung?---PORT O CALL
"Another theory has to do with a visit to Nichols’ office by Bryan Frazier, candidate for county commissioner.  According to Frazier, within 24 hours of Frazier’s visit to the prosecutor’s office the commissioners hit the “reset” button and put off the grant-giving for an indeterminate period of time."----read more


The bucks stops with the County Treasurer.
On June 18, 2015, I rejected payment of the $1 million warrant presented by the Port, and on June 19, 2015, I likewise rejected payment of the $285,952 warrant presented by the City. I rejected disbursement of these funds because once these funds leave the County Treasury, they will likely be lost to the County forever, regardless of whatever findings the State Auditor may produce at some later date.----Port o Call


 Constitutional crisis looms in Clallam County
"The reason I am reaching out the State Attorney General for immediate intervention is because $1.3 million in County public funds is at imminent risk of loss, being diverted from their appropriation to the County general-fund obligated Carlsborg Sewer project, to being sent out of the County Treasury as no-strings-attached “grants” to outside entities, without any prior public hearings that change the budget, and without any written contracts to overcome the presumption that these grants are really unauthorized gifts of public funds.  ---Port O Call


Falling through the Looking Glass Treasurer Withholds Funding; Seeks Judicial Review---PATODAY, a publication which Barkhuis publishes on line


Open letter to John Brewer, publisher PDN---PORT O CALL



In other news commentaries:
Memo to Hillary: 'You're Still the Problem'

South Carolina’s losing battle to rewrite its racist history

Review: Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Gives Atticus Finch a Dark Side

What the Islamic State shows us about human nature and torture
( On the contrary it shows us what Islam is really all about)

How Donald Trump pressured Hillary Clinton to sell out Latino immigrants

Megyn Kelly Goes There: Why Is Obama Ignoring Murder of Katie Steinle?

Evangelicals Should Return to Core Beliefs

To Get Acceptable Iran Deal, Obama Must Avoid Mistakes Made in Syrian Chemical Weapons Negotiations

V.A. SCANDAL LINKED TO OBAMA

Free to Shut Up



INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE: 

Why So Many Denominations?
In the religious world today there are many different religious groups. Each has its own peculiar name, organization, doctrine, form of worship, and plan of salvation. Why are there so many religious groups? Nearly all Bible students agree that in the New Testament there was only one church belonging to Jesus. Denominations did not exist. But today there are hundreds of churches all claiming to believe in God and most claiming to follow Jesus. Where did they all come from?
Could it be that people in all these churches are pleasing to God and are following Jesus? In 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul rebuked the Corinthian church because there was division among the members there. If God condemned that division, why would He overlook the fact that far greater division exists today? In verse 13 Paul asked, "Is Christ divided?" The clear answer is: No, Christ is not divided! Jesus does not contradict Himself. He does not teach one thing to one person, and then teach the opposite to someone else. But the modern denominations do contradict one another. How then can they all be following Jesus? Jesus is not divided, so denominational division did not come from Jesus. Where then did it come from?
In Acts 20:29,30 the apostle Paul spoke to a group of bishops and made this prediction: "...after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves." After Paul left, there would be apostasy among God's people. Religious leaders in the church would pervert or change the gospel in order to get a following for themselves.
We urge you to consider the evidence that the existence of modern denominational division fulfills these prophecies. Modern denominational division came about over a period of hundreds of years because men departed from God's will.
For more information on this subject, please visit our Bible Instruction web site at www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our in-depth articles there about denominationalism, religious division and confusion, and how to identify Jesus' true church.
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005
ref. http://www.gospelway.com/topics/church/denomination-origins.php

PORT ANGELES DIGEST: PORT COMMISSIONER CALHOUN LENDS SUPPORT TO BEAUAVIS....CORRECTION!

 Connie Beauvais
Port Commission Candidate

Well, now this may have came quite a shock to our pal Lee Whetham when according to Connie Beauvais who I had a chance to have lunch with on Friday this week, that Port Commissioner John Calhoun decided to endorse her election to Port Commissioner over Whetham!  That must have really frost Whetham to no end.
Yes, readers for the last two week's I had two lunch meetings with two of the women candidates running for local elections. Funny, Cherie Kidd, Sisi Bruch, (city council) or Colleen McAleer (Port Commissioner) never asked me out for coffee! But that's besides the point, however, City Council  Candidate Marolee Smith which I had lunch with last week, and Connie Beauvais Port Commissioner Candidate this week. As a side note these two sources of information on what's been going on during the primary election forums and debates have been very news worthy material. Since hardly any mention of what's been going on during these debates have reported by the local media! I have to ask the question, why is the local media all but ignoring these forums and debates? Beauvais reported, that Whetham only showed up to one primary debate! Apparently taking on the attitude he has already got this race for Port Commissioner won already! Oh, really Lee? You see readers what you can pick up from candidates running for office sometimes when the local media pretty much ignores what's happening during these elections? Have they taken on the attitude from Whetham on waiting to do anything about the election for the general election? The media may do that, but for someone running for office you can't have this arrogant attitude you got this whole election in the bag even before there's been a vote cast!

What I gotten from Smith during our lunch meeting, that she just wanting new faces to the council. And mentioned that one of the candidates Shan Pak doesn't stay at council meetings or don't even attend because they are boring! You can't take that kind attitude when running for office, it's either you are completely committed to the job at hand, or you are just trumpeting your own horn, to get you name in lights! You can't have caviler attitude when you run for public office, people see right through it.

During my lunch meeting with Beauvais this week, she told yours truly that Whetham approached Calhoun to endorse his candidacy, Calhoun declined and instead choose to support Beauvais, this was all confirmed by her campaign manager, Bill Peach who also currently sits as County Commissioner.
I found that all quite ironic because it was Calhoun who showed his support for Whetham during his election for Port Angeles City Council. So, I imagine Whetham sees all this a betrayal from his old pal Calhoun! So it comes full circle don't Lee! I have yet to see Whetham attend any Port meetings, yet I have seen Beauvais in attendance every time I attended those meetings.
So, readers I am getting all this news and information about what's going on during the primary elections from CANDIDATES! Which should be from the local media! Where are they!? In essence readers it's the Candidates who are doing the job which the local media should be doing! Putting out news worthy information and news, yet the local media dead silent! That's means it's up to yours truly to the others are not doing! Tisk! Tisk!
At the end of our lunch Beauvais said, "It's okay to have ambition if it is the right ambition, mine ambition is to serve the Port, not to fill my resume" She was referencing Whetham's statement during a Port O Call event back in May, when he was quoted in saying that serving on these local governmental positions are just mere stepping stones for his advancement to higher office! So, in my book if Calhoun can support Connie so can I.
(Correction: Connie clarified something to me during the Port Meeting on Monday, July 13th,. That Calhoun offered his support but not as an endorsement of her campaign, just supported some of her statements she made during a public forum)

 In other local news

Port Angeles considering stricter city water curbs to protect fish; other sources studied
PORT ANGELES — City officials are pondering imposition of stricter, Stage 3 water conservation measures within the next three weeks as the Elwha River flows slower and slower during the North Olympic Peninsula’s rainless summer, Craig Fulton, city public works and utilities director, said Wednesday.

Clallam County Charter Review Commission raises issue of trust land — and desire to increase timber harvest
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Charter Review Commission has asked the three county commissioners to establish a county trust lands advisory committee in the next three months.

Two “open letters” to Charter Review Commission---PORT O CALL
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury”  5th Amendment to the Constitution"


Navy Electronic Warfare Training update--PORT O CALL
Various groups on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula and beyond continue to pursue a variety of outreach, political, legal and direct action strategies opposing the Navy’s plans for establishing an electronic warfare range right over our heads here on the Olympic Peninsula, and bombing and sonar ranges on estuaries and seas from the Gulf of Alaska to Southern California to Hawaii and the Marianas Islands, during peak times when major fisheries are present as well as whales and seabirds.


Thousands of hatchery-raised steelhead kept out of Dungeness River---SEQUIM GAZETTE


Drought conditions harming fish and wildlife, disrupting some fisheries----FORKS FORUM


Port officials clarify, enforce best management practices---PT LEADER


FROM ACROSS THE STRIAT
Victoria mayor has high hopes for amalgamation talks---TIMES COLONIST


Average household debt in B.C. up 26 per cent---VICTORIA NEWS


Christy Clark, Ricky Gervais weigh in on bear cub controversy---VICTORIA NEWS


WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK

COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Resolution calling for a hearing to be held at 10:30 a.m., July 28 for the following Debatable Emergency  Non-departmental, Hotel/Motel Tax – Expenditures to Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau and Feiro Marine Life Center/$99,000
Full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Details on agenda items: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf

PORT COMMISSION MEETING HIGHLIGHT AGENDA ITEM: FAA Grant Approval - Apron Phase 3

Full agenda: http://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/07132015-109?html=true

City of Sequim Agenda highlight: Storm and Surface Water Master Plan – Schedule for Adoption

Full agenda: http://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1195

CITY OF FORKS AGENDA: http://www.forkswashington.org/pdf/agenda71315.pdf

PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA: Water Supply Status



DAILY DEVOTIONAL

‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV

PORT ANGELES DIGEST: FIRE WORK BAN BY DEFAULT, WILL ANYONE COMPLY?

Editorial Comment: It started back in July of 2014, when a group of citizens wanted to ban the use of private fireworks, because it sounded like a war zone in some cases if not all. Our pal, Lee Whetham, (who served just 15 months on the council, then decided to run for Port Commission, a stepping stone to more important venues according to him.) Was spearheading the effort of imposing a ban on private fire works. After months of public testimony, and many news articles. Which featured the police department's lamentation over enforcement of such an ordinance, Whetham suddenly change his stance seeing that the cops weren't too happy with it, he voted against the ordinance he promoted. And this is the kicker readers, though he voted against the ordinance saying that more discussion need to be done, the supporters of the ordinance he voted against still fawned over him! Can you believe that, it was like, didn't these people just saw what this guy done? That was months ago, now it's July 4th 2015. Because of drought conditions city residences are being ask not to fire off fire works, in essence imposing a fire work ban by default a year early as was indicated by the ordinance they voted on to start in July 2016. Cops are still expressing concerns over enforcement issues, which no one has even started to address. So the lead headline in this week's edition of "Port Angeles Digest" is asking the question, even though there is a ban on private fire works by default due to the drought conditions, will anyone comply. I could swear, I heard fireworks being sounded off in the distance over the past two days leading up today, I can just imagine what will happen this evening, along with the fireworks display which will be going on the waterfront, I can almost hear other fireworks going off in the distance.  So here are the leading headlines this week:

Fire Department Urges Extreme Caution With Fireworks
This is an extraordinarily dry year and the fire danger risk is exceptionally high. The Fire Department strongly recommends that citizens forego the use of personal fireworks and instead celebrate the Fourth of July by attending the public display that will be held on the waterfront.
There are many ways to celebrate the Fourth without exposing yourself and your neighbors to the potential of fire and serious injury through the use of fireworks.
If you feel that you must discharge fireworks, you are asked to do so with extreme caution and follow these basic rules:
DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS IN THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES IS ONLY LEGAL FROM 9 AM – 11 PM ON THE FOURTH
Under no circumstances allow children to ignite fireworks. It sends a confusing message to children when they are told not to play with fire 364 days of the year and that it is okay on the Fourth of July. Even sparklers are extremely dangerous. A sparkler burns at over 1000 degrees!
Have a hose, a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher immediately available.Do not light fireworks anywhere near dry grass or brush.
Please be considerate of your neighbors. Fireworks are extremely disturbing to many people, pets and people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Never look into a mortar tube.
Duds should be soaked in a bucket of water. Again, we strongly encourage citizens to forego the use of personal fireworks and instead enjoy the public display at the waterfront.
ref. http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=182


Just don't do it': Fire, police officials implore Peninsula residents to refrain from fireworks amid arid conditions---PDN
"Gallagher has long lamented the difficulty of enforcing the ban on use of illegal, non-safe-and-sane fireworks on July Fourth. “I would love to see people just avoid fireworks completely this year,” he said. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict echoed the refrain."

(I just have a hunch this was the real reason why Whetham voted against the ordinance he spearheaded last July.)

Peninsula leaders seek way to ban fireworks during emergency conditions; measures could go into effect no earlier than 2017
Clallam and Jefferson county commissioners and county fire marshals are working to find a way to allow bans of fireworks under emergency conditions, but any such measure couldn't legally go into effect until 2017 at the earliest.---PDN


Fourth of July memories: Fireworks have been one way Port Townsend celebrates
Fourth of July celebrations have been part of local tradition since Port Townsend was founded in the 1850s---PT LEADER


COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Resolution voiding warrants approved June 16 for the City of Port Angeles and the Port of Port Angeles.
Full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Agenda item details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
Related stories:
Clallam County to start over on Port Angeles port, city grants after treasurer rejects warrants
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has hit the reset button on a pair of stalled grants to the city and Port of Port Angeles.---PDN
Commissioners Tuesday voted 3-0 to “take a step back” and send the grant applications back to the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board for a second look.
Commissioner Mike Chapman’s motion to rescind the grants included the withdrawal of two disputed warrants — or checks — for the $1 million grant to the Port of Port Angeles and a $285,952 grant to the city of Port Angeles.
County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis had rejected the warrants on the grounds that the board did not hold a public hearing or secure written contracts with the port or the city prior to approval.
(I wonder if they go through the motions of having a public hearing on this issue as they should have done in the first place, will Barkuis find another excuse in not releasing the funds?)

Clallam County will ask port and city officials if they would be willing to wait six months to collect commissioner-approved grant money for infrastructure projects.--PDN



IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS


Agree or Disagree?
Per the controversy about the timber land exchange letters of support that Mike Chapman and Dim King Jim McEntire sent behind then Commissioner Mike Doherty’s back----PORT O CALL


Peninsula sees a rising risk of fires
The increasing fire risk tied to abnormally warm and dry weather conditions is igniting concerns statewide, including in Clallam County and Sequim.---SEQUIM GAZETTE


Robert Hall -Hometown Hero
Former Forks resident Robert Hall, who now resides in Bellingham, will be honored with a ride on the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July float in the Grand Parade on Saturday. ----FORKS FORUM


Jefferson County road painting to begin July 7
Motorists can expect minor traffic slowdowns during the Jefferson County Department of Public Works Road Operations Division's annual pavement marking slated to begin Tuesday, July 7. The work is expected to be completed by the end of this September.---PT LEADER


FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
Jack Knox: Activist wants police to weed out Victoria pot shops ---TIMES COLONIST

The B.C. government has asked the province’s ombudsperson to probe a flawed Health Ministry investigation that led to the dismissal of eight drug researchers.----TIMES COLONIST


Breakwater Market targets locals, tourists---VICTORIA NEWS


WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Civic Field Lighting Project- Local Parks Grant In 2014 the Parks & Recreation Department put in for a Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) Local Parks Grant for the Civic Field Lighting Replacement Project. The project did not get ranked high enough to receive any State funding for 2015 but remained on the RCO grant ranking list. On July 1, 2015, the City of Port Angeles was notified by the RCO that after the State Budget was signed the RCO got its typical amount of funding for grants, plus an additional 38 million to be split into three Recreation Grants. One of the categories that got additional funding was the Local Parks Grant. These added funds allowed additional projects to be funded, including the Civic Field Lighting Project. Total funding amount will be in the amount of $226,500, which is 50% of the total project funding. The City’s 50% match will be $106,500 from Real-Estate Excise Tax, $60,000 from the City’s General Fund, and $60,000 that was donated from the Port Angeles School District. The project should be completed in the Fall of 2016.
Full City Council agenda: http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2301
related news Story: Clallam County to poll port, city of Port Angeles on delay of $1.3 million in grant funds

Related news story: State money will wash across North Peninsula; capital outlay of $753 per person for Clallam, Jefferson in new budget---PDN
"While most people won't see some of the improvements — like the nearly $11.1 million for a security cameras, new roofs, and road repairs and a culvert replacement the Clallam Bay Correctional Center — others will brighten some lives — namely, the $227,000 to replace lights at Port Angeles Civic Field."
 $7 million to remove garbage from an eroding bluff at the now-closed Port Angeles landfill site.
$1.5 million to clean up the former KPly mill site on Marine Drive.
(I call this a lucky break, no one should be trying to claim credit of this in hopes to advance their political aspirations. But I imagine someone will, I can guess I know who will...let's see...

FROM ACROSS THE STRIAT
AGENDA - VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHT: Gillian Montgomery, Surfrider Foundation-Vancouver Island Chapter, re: Single-use Plastic Bag Ban (see agenda) 


 Editorial footnote:
Now I am all for freedom of speech and expression. But blowing off fireworks in a middle of a drought is not smart, it's like playing with matches in a barn full of dry hay! There is many ways to show your patriotism for this great nation without blasting off fireworks on you own. Like going to a ball park and taking in a Mariners game, having BBQ's in your back yard, or taking in watching a parade, and fire works which are handled by professionals. At least those fireworks will be done over the harbor. I know some people are not happy with an ordinance that was passed, neither are the cops far as I can tell, because they will be the ones trying to enforce it. So, why make an already difficult situation more difficult by blowing off fireworks in your own back yard to just prove a point? So with that HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Psalm 33:12 NKJV

PORT ANGELES DIGEST: NOT A "BEST EVER" CIRCUMSTANCE FOR THE COUNTY

Editorial Comment: In this week's edition of the Port Angeles Digest, a question comes to mind. Does a County Treasure have the legal authority of overriding a decision made by the ruling party?
It would like be the US Treasury Department overruling a decision made by the President. Or am I off? I collected local headlines from the local media outlets that might shed some light on the matter. Plus an added controversy was tossed into the mix, former County Commissioner Mike Doherty made allegations that public meeting laws were violated. So it's like the Hatfield's and the McCoy's type of atmosphere happening with the county these days. I just see a level of disrespect being shown from all parties involved, sure doesn't show a 'best ever' round of circumstances that the community as a hole want to convey. One side we have a maverick treasure who seems to be usurping her authority over a technologically over protocol of the commission not holding a public hearing, as she put's in an article posted in the PDN. On the other side we have a commission who is fit to be tied, they only see this as a breach of their authority from an rebellious treasure, which many from the public sees as a treasure only doing her job. It would be like me using trying to usurp authority I don't have to over turn a decision made by the President or the Supreme Court, such as same sex marriage, yeah I hear by over turn that decision!  That means churches have the right to refuse to preform weddings that go against their religious doctrine, and biblical teachings. Which they have a right to do in my opinion.

Anyway here are the articles I collected regarding the feud which is now widening at the County level:

Clallam warrants for Port Angeles port, city bounce when county treasurer voids grants funds
Clallam County $1.3 million in warrants to the Port of Port Angeles and the city of Port Angeles have bounced, in effect, like rubber checks. Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis last week fulfilled her promise not to honor the warrants on the county Opportunity Fund to build out the port's Composites Recycling Technology Center and to improve a city waterfront park.---PDN


Clallam County financial policies to go under review, commissioners decide---PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
"Chapman has been a leading force in an effort to release excess county reserves in ways that help the community, particularly the poor.If [Barkhuis] wants the final veto authority over the budget process, I'm willing to give it to her until somebody tells us  above us  that she doesn't have it, Chapman said. Right now she's exercised it. She's rejected warrants for the port and the city, and nobody stopped her."----PDN


Ex-Clallam commissioner triggers open meetings law probe
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS----Retired Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty has alleged that current board members Mike Chapman and Jim McEntire may have violated open public meetings law, saying they supported a timberland exchange without proper notice in 2013.---PDN


Treasurer Rejects Grant Warrants; Seeks Intervention by the State Attorney General
By Selinda Barkhuis, WSBA 24139, Clallam County Treasurer
Last month, I wrote about the Clallam County Commissioners’ attempt to give away $3 million from the County Opportunity Fund in unanticipated, non-budgeted, and no-strings-attached grants ($1 million to the Port of Port Angeles, $285,952 to the City of Port Angeles, and $1.7 million in “Undesignated Projects”), without holding prior public hearings to change the budget and without any written contracts to spell out what the County taxpayers are receiving back for these gifts of their public funds. The $3 million being used to pay for these grants had, up to then, been committed to repaying the $10 million debt to the State that will be incurred in the construction of the Carlsborg Sewer.----PORT O CALL

IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

Port Angeles man named to board of new Composites Recycling Technology Center
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS---The first appointee to a Composites Recycling Technology Center board of directors wants the facility to make money within two years.
"The recycling center, or CRTC, in envisioned as an independent, nonprofit corporation with the port as one of its customers, not its subsidiary, said Jennifer States, the port's business director."---PDN



Port Report: Composites Project Explored by Dale Wilson
The Port of Port Angeles has undertaken a questionable project sure to cost taxpayers millions of dollars and yet has no business plan which a for-profit board of directors would give the time of day.---PORT O CALL


Another potential violation of state law by county commissioners---PORT O CALL


Community for people with developmentally disabilties in the works in Sequim---SEQUIM GAZETTE

Saving History.......Hiding History---FORKS FORUM

No charges yet for adults home during teen drinking party---PT LEADER


FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT

Saanich girl’s bid for backyard goats goes to council ---TIMES COLONIST

Student struggling to get around after wheelchair damaged on flights ---TIMES COLONIST

New haunted escape rooms open in Victoria


WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK

COUNTY COMMISSION TO HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION:
The Board of County Commissioners has requested an executive session with the Administrator, the
Director of Human Resources, and legal counsel. The purpose of the session is to discuss with legal
counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become a party.
Discussing such matters in executive session is appropriate because public knowledge of the discussion would reveal the County's legal strategies and likely result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i) expressly authorizes a governing body to convene an executive session for the above-described purposes
See full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
details of agenda items: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf

Regional meetings:
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
Meeting highlight: Resolution 15-024 Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Public Works Contract with Stripe Rite of Sumner, WA for the 2015 Striping Project


Editorial footnote: Where's Waldo?

Readers, I attend many of these governmental meetings locally, mostly once a month to show I am not some faceless blogger hiding behind my computer. It seems to me if you are running for a position on either the Port, County, or City positions you would actually attend those meetings! Maybe I am old fashioned but it shows a lack of interests and commitment on the candidates part on not showing up. I noticed a lot of Waldo's not attending the local meetings which they are running for, from what I seen. If you are Waldo where are you?


DAILY DEVOTIONAL

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16:25 NKJV

PORT ANGELES DIGEST: AS MCALEER WAS TESTIFYING IN CONGRESS ABOUT COMPOSITES RECYCLING...

COUNTY OFFICIALS WERE FEUDING OVER GRANTS.

Editorial Comment: In this week's edition of the {Port Angeles Digest}. Two lead stories were making headlines. Starting on Monday with a special session of the Port Commission. The Commissioners heard a report from Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer regarding her testimony she gave to congress, she was kind enough to share her testimony along with her report she gave during the Port Commission on Monday:

Oral Testimony of Colleen McAleer Commissioner Port of Port Angeles Port Angeles, Washington Before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources June 9, 2015
Chairman Murkowski, Ranking Member Cantwell and distinguished members of the Committee. Good morning and thank you for allowing me to speak before you.

Port Commissioner,
Colleen McAleer

My name is Colleen McAleer.  I am a combat veteran, mother of two boys, and small business owner, but I offer my testimony today in my capacity as a Commissioner for the Port of Port Angeles. We are located in Clallam County on the northern portion of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Today I will talk to you about the effort we’ve spearheaded, the Composite Recycling Technology Center (or CRTC) where industry, small business, academia and government converge to reduce energy use and costs and strengthen U.S. manufacturing.
Carbon fiber is replacing other materials in products that benefit from high strength to weight ratios. It’s a $27 billion dollar global industry and growing.  Lightweight carbon fiber composites reduce the weight of a product, thus reducing energy consumption.  However, they are expensive to produce and do not deteriorate, creating long term disposal issues.  Twenty-seven million pounds end up in U.S. landfills each year; two million from Washington State alone.  Our Port is well on its way to providing a solution to this problem through a public-private partnership, the Composite Recycling Technology Center.
Our Port has headed an effort to recycle the production scrap of carbon fiber manufacturing processes, a first-of-its-kind recycling center. There are research efforts in the U.S. and Europe addressing so-called end-of-life carbon fiber recycling—a more complex and energy-intensive process—but we will first focus on the low hanging fruit of recycling and repurposing production scrap.
Carbon fiber products already reduce energy consumption by reducing weight in industries from transportation to sporting goods.  Recycling carbon fiber composites will drastically reduce the energy required for manufacturing.  The recycled carbon composite in the CRTC approach will use only 6% of the energy required to produce virgin carbon fiber fabrics.
In my rural, economically-distressed county, we have several manufacturers that use advanced composites and are dealing with this very issue.  They make yachts, cutters, snowboards, aerospace parts and more.  Also located in our county is the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) Marine Science Lab; it has permitted in-water facilities to test carbon fiber wave and tidal energy technologies.  Last year, our community was an integral part of a West Coast application for the $70 million Department of Energy award for a composites institute.  Our multi-state team lost that competition to Tennessee, but the program represented a compelling solution for industry and small businesses, so we have carried on without the DOE funding.
Our Port has received preliminary award of $4 million from the US Department of Commerce, Washington State, and Clallam County.  In addition, the Port has provided the space for the facility and committed $1.5 million in cash for its development, an advanced manufacturing program in the works since 2012.
The 25,000 square foot facility will be a shared equipment center that serves four functions. It will accept uncured scrap carbon fiber fabric and remake it into a useable form.  It will manufacture and sell secondary repurposed products.  It will serve as a workforce training space for local colleges.  Most importantly, it will serve as an industrial-scale shared equipment space for entrepreneurs and universities.
These functions will create a locally trained workforce, drive accelerated technology transfer with a national reach, and deliver a significant economic impact to our struggling county.
I sit on the Executive Board of our state’s Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing. I often hear business owners say they can’t find employees with the needed skillsets. This Center of Excellence has aggressively coordinated with the state’s technical and community colleges to address this issue.  Washington state community colleges deliberately design their curriculum to match local employers’ requirements.  In fact, colleges often buy equipment identical to that used by manufacturers in their facilities. Standardization through certification programs serve two constructive purposes.  First, it develops the certification programs employers need.  Second, it enables employers to readily hire qualified workers.
At the CRTC, we have a parallel workforce training effort.  Peninsula College is relocating their Advanced Manufacturing Composite program and equipment to our facility.  The CRTC will house both the business innovators and their future workers.
The CRTC will accelerate commercialization of technologies from the lab to the manufacturing floor.  Small businesses will lease the CRTC lab space to develop proprietary products at our shared equipment center.  They will also have access to CRTC material and process experts, accelerating the development process.  We believe the reduced costs and resident expertise will produce innovation and induce capital investments in carbon fiber technologies.
Mervin Manufacturing, a local company with $13 million in annual exports, makes skis, skateboards and surfboards, and several brands of snowboards from virgin carbon fiber.  They intend to further innovate in the Center’s maker space in order to replace virgin carbon fiber with recycled carbon fiber for their snowboard bindings, skateboards, and surfboard fins.
We currently have five major universities from three corners of the country that intend to send researchers and students to the Center. They intend to demonstrate and commercialize their technologies to the CRTC community.
At Washington State University, we intend to leverage the Composite Material Engineering Center. It has a 35-year history of commercializing composite wood products like the plastic lumber materials used in decking. We are finalizing an agreement with WSU to test CRTC products for certification in the construction industry at their facility.
CRTC efforts will re-shore jobs back to the United States.  As an example, Batson Enterprises is a local wholesale supplier of fishing rods.  They currently purchase component composite and aluminum parts overseas in order to keep their overall costs competitive.  By partnering with the CRTC for product development using our recycled carbon fiber, Batson Enterprises will be able to manufacture those components with higher quality materials that were formerly cost-prohibitive.
The CRTC will be a small step in bringing back American manufacturing. We can’t and don’t want to compete with foreign countries on labor costs.  Recycled carbon fiber lowers material costs, allowing companies to profit while paying a living wage.
I thank the committee for considering legislation supporting carbon fiber recycling.  I look forward to your questions.

Report McAleer gave to the Port on Monday:

Commissioner McAleer’s report on:
Hearing on Energy Accountability and Reform Legislation
June 9, 2015
Senator Cantwell is the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Cantwell asked me to testify on behalf of the Port and our partner’s efforts associated with the Composites Recycling Technology Center. A copy of my oral testimony is attached.   The Energy Committee works on far-reaching legislative activity covering the following major areas:
Energy resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and standards;

• Nuclear energy; 
• Indian affairs; 
• Public lands and their renewable resources; 
• Surface mining, Federal coal, oil, and gas leasing; and 
• Water resources.

Five energy experts, including the Department of Energy’s Undersecretary for Science and Technology, Lynn Orr, testified at the hearing as well about national level energy issues and programs supported through the Department of Energy funding.  Undersecretary Orr’s office oversees 14 of the 17 National Labs to include Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that has their Marine Science Lab in Sequim. This hearing was the fourth and final hearing in a series specifically addressing energy legislation and authorization. Forty two different bills are being considered as part of the legislation. One of those bills is the Carbon Fiber Recycling Act of 2015.
Boeing also submitted written testimony about the importance of the legislation.
I had eight meetings in two days. I met with twelve staff members from four senator’s offices and Derek Kilmer’s office.
The importance of this trip to our community is that our efforts have been highlighted on a national stage as an example of innovation supporting advanced manufacturing.
I’d like to thank Port staff, our technical and business consultants and my fellow commissioners for driving this effort. The work is just beginning though. Once the Composite Recycling Technology Center is officially stood up and begins operations the real work will begin to become a transformational program for our community.

Editorial Note: While that drama was playing out in D.C. locally, the feud between the County Commission, and County Treasure was heating up like the sunny days of summer. Which were reflected on the local media headlines which I collected:

Clallam commissioners to issue $1.3 million in warrants for Opportunity Fund grants despite treasurer's objections
(PENINSULA DAILY NEWS) Clallam County commissioners will proceed to issue $1.3 million in disputed warrants from their Opportunity Fund, despite the elected county treasurer's refusal to approve them.


Clallam prosecuting attorney says treasurer must release funds; Barkhuis seeks attorney general's intervention
(PENINSULA DAILY NEWS) The Clallam County treasurer has no legal reason to delay paying $1.3 million from the Opportunity Fund to support a composites recycling center and a waterfront park, the county prosecutor has decided


Candidate weighs in on prosecutor’s opinion
(PORT O CALL) Bryan Frazier, candidate for county commissioner, weighs in on county prosecutor’s opinion in re treasurer’s refusal to honor grants to Port of Port Angeles and city of Port Angeles which she feels were made in violation of the law and county policy.  Here’s Bryan’s take on it.

Treasurer rejects warrants; seeks proper review by Selinda Barkhuis

By Selinda Barkhuis, WSBA 24139, Clallam County Treasurer

(PORT O CALL) Last month, I wrote about the Clallam County Commissioners’ attempt to give away $3 million from the County Opportunity Fund in unanticipated, non-budgeted, and no-strings-attached grants ($1 million to the Port of Port Angeles, $285,952 to the City of Port Angeles, and $1.7 million in “Undesignated Projects”), without holding prior public hearings to change the budget and without any written contracts to spell out what the County taxpayers are receiving back for these gifts of their public funds.  The $3 million being used to pay for these grants had, up to then, been committed to repaying the $10 million debt to the State that will be incurred in the construction of the Carlsborg Sewer.---read more

Editorial footnote: Many of the candidates that responded to my question on the decision of the County Treasure to withhold these funds were favorable to that decision. So why is the current County Commission seems hell bent in giving this grant funding? I have a hunch that the Treasure will be found correct in her decision, and it will end up being drugged in a long court battle. Still no word on what the State Attorney Office has to say on the matter. So I would keep my eyes on the State Attorney General office.

So, I hope we get the Composite Recycling Center here in Port Angeles, but it has to be operated by private business, not under governmental management. As for the feud between the County Commission and County Treasure, it will be interesting to watch how all that plays out. Many times something like this could end up causing a bad working environment, and resentment all around, usually end up costing someone to loose their job, or cause them to resign out of principle.  ---Peter Ripley, Publisher

WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK?

PORT TO DEFEND FORMER PORT DIRECTOR CLYDE BOODY

During their regular session on Tuesday the Port will issue DEFENSE AND INDEMNIFICATION OF FORMER EMPLOYEE.

According to staff memo provided: Defense and Indemnity: RCW 53.08.208 authorizes the Port to defend and indemnify Port employees, officers and agents against claims arising from their good faith

performance or failure of performance in their employment with or duties for the Port.

According to the statute, the Port Commission may grant the request of any such Port

employee, officer or agent, for counsel of the Port’s choosing to defend any such claim.

Additionally, the statute authorizes the Port to pay attorney fees and, if the employee,

officer or agent was acting in good faith and within the scope of his or her employment,

the defense costs and any settlement or judgment amount awarded to the claimant.

On January 13, 2015, the Port Commission adopted Resolution No. 15-1096,

confirming the Port’s intention to defend and indemnify its current and past employees

and officers against claims arising from their good faith performance or failure of

performance of their duties to the Port. According to that resolution, whenever any

action, claim, or proceeding is instituted against any individual who is or was an

employee or officer of the Port, arising out of that individual’s performance or failure of

performance of employment with, or duties for, the Port, and if the Port Commission

determines such employee or officer was acting in good faith and within the scope of his

or her employment with or duties for the Port, the Port Commission shall grant a request

by that individual that the attorney of the Port’s choosing be authorized to defend said

action, claim or proceeding, and the costs of defense, attorney fees, and any obligation

for payment arising from such action, claim or proceeding not otherwise paid by

insurance shall be paid from the Port’s funds.

Claim Against Past Executive Director: Past Port Executive Director Clyde Boddy has

been named as one among multiple defendants in a lawsuit filed in Clallam County

Superior Court, under case number 14-2-00407-1, involving real property interests near

the Port Angeles harbor waterfront. The Complaint alleges that Mr. Boddy is personally

liable for alleged damages to the plaintiff for an alleged taking of the plaintiff’s alleged

property rights. The claims against Mr. Boddy are related to a Short Plat and a Binding

Site Plan he signed on behalf of the Port in 2004, in his capacity as Executive Director

of the Port and not in his individual capacity.

See other items on the Port Agenda this coming Tuesday: http://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/06232015-107?html=true

COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: 

Some noted budget hearing items from the County Treasure:

Prosecuting Attorney, Local Crime Victim Compensation – Change from 37.5 hours to 40/$2,582

Treasurer

 Part-time fiscal specialist III/$19,500

 Computer setup/licenses for new employee/$3,040

Treasurer, REET Electronic Technology – Part-time fiscal specialist III/$23,500

Treasurer, Operations and Maintenance – Change from 37.5 hours to 40/$1,399

See full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf

Details of agenda items: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf

Other local and regional meetings:

City of Sequim agenda highlight: Temporary Appointment of Interim City Manager position

FORKS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA 

PORT TOWNSEND PARKS, RECREATION & TREES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AGENDA

Agenda highlight: Lead Pool Operator New Hire Update

Full agenda: http://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=235

FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT

AGENDA - VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL

Agenda item highlight: Council is considering an application to authorize the creation of three small lots to enable the construction of one new small lot house.

See full agenda: https://victoria.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=83778

Candidate questions and answers

This week's question was about the CSO project:

Candidates, This question is mostly directed to City Council candidates, but feel free to put your two cents in. You probably seen this item on this week's Port Angeles Digest, a item which is on Tuesdays City Council agenda:

"Summary: The Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Phase 1 project is the first of two parts of the City’s approved CSO Reduction program. A contract to construct Phase I was awarded to IMCO General Construction on August 7, 2012. Work on Phase 1 has been successfully completed, but during construction a dispute arose regarding the amount of sales taxes due to the State of Washington and the method of payment. The City and IMCO reached a settlement of that dispute on December 10, 2014. The settlement agreement was ratified by the City Council on December 16, 2014. This Change Order implements that settlement and allows the Phase I contract to be closed out.

 Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign a change order to increase the final contract amount to $17,976,027.52 to implement the settlement agreement ratified by the City Council on December 16, 2014. "

My question is what can you do to help getting funding for this project which now costing the local taxpayer well over 17 million. This is the largest undertaking perhaps not since 1914 when the street levels were raised to solve a sewage issue back then. Was Kilmer right to point out the faults of Victoria BC with their dumping raw sewage in the Strait, while we are struggling with a huge bill to fix our own? Should he be more focus in finding funding instead of pointing fingers up north? 

Shan Pak was the only responding Candidate:

This doesn't look like a well thought out undertaking. I suspect it will cost more and more in the future. I believe there must be a simpler and more effective solution in fraction of the cost. 

The bottom line is that we cannot go in debt as a city and potentially ruin its economic future.---Shan Pak, City Council Candidate

Now, I gave everyone on the mailing list plenty of time to answer the question regarding the ever increasing CSO project, which now is at little over 17 million, and probably end up being more when it is all said and done.

FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:

Murray Calls on Washington State Insurers to Increase Access, Transparency on Affordable Care Act Services that Help Tobacco Users Quit

IMMIGRATION: Sen. Murray Commemorates 3rd Anniversary of DREAMer Initiative, Calls for Immigration Reform

Murray Statement on Department of Education Decision to Deny Central Kitsap School District Critical Funding

Kilmer, Cantwell, Murray, and Heck Reintroduce Maritime Heritage Legislation to Promote WA Tourism

Other local news headlines:

 Port of Port Angeles schedule for KPly mill site cleanup advances

(PENINSULA DAILY NEWS) The Port of Port Angeles may know by mid-July who will clean up the former KPly mill site  and how the contractor will do it

Lawmakers in Olympia grinding it out

(SEQUIM GAZETTE) If silence is golden, a lot of wealth is stockpiled in the state Capitol, where lawmakers and the governor are mum on progress in reaching a deal on a new state budget.

Salmon slayers head north

 ( PT. LEADER)The rules are, you press the coffee button before the engine button,” said the authoritative skipper. Fishing is serious business.

FROM ACROSS THE STRIAT:

Now the westside: 20 potential sewage-plant sites selected   

(TIMES COLONIST) Twenty “technically feasible” sewage treatment sites on the westside were identified on Thursday by Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins and Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton, who now want the public to weigh in on the options.

Jack Knox: Stink of grow-op stigma lingers for homeowners

(TIMES COLONIST) Bad enough to have a nightmare. Worse when it comes back to haunt you six years later. Which is what a Cowichan Valley couple are finding as they try to sell a house that...

COLUMN: The perilous path of public perception

(VICTORIA NEWS) After nearly 40 years in the journalism business, one would think I’ve “seen ‘em all,” at least when it comes to political public relations disasters.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

  

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Mark 8:36 NKJV