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Joint Town Council Board of County Commissioners Meeting

Resolution may be near
on town/county public works sites

posted 12/06/01
San Juan County Commissioner John Evans was optimistic early this week about resolving siting issues for both the town and county's public work yards. He told his fellow commissioners about progress made at a Dec. 3, 2001 meeting he had with Town Administrator King Fitch, and Town Councilmembers Bill LaPorte and Vonda Sheiman. "It was a very positive meeting," he said.

According to Evans, the county would buy the Sutton Road transfer station site for fair market value. The town would use that money to purchase part of the county's Guard Street property. The rest of that site would be leased to the town for a nominal fee. The town could buy the leased portion after 20 years. "That allows the town to save up the money," he said.

The county would purchase a lot adjacent to the Guard Street property for a maintenance building. Part of the Guard Street property would be used for shared storage of materials. Evans said there may be other opportunities for sharing equipment, but he noted many times the town and county need the same equipment at the same time.

The town council will most likely discuss the ideas brought up at the Dec. 3 meeting during their town council meetings held at noon and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 2001 in Town Hall.

The town and county had discussed swapping property last year.

San Juan transfer station can expand

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 10/19/01
Pending review of the lease by the county prosecutor, San Juan County Public Works can expand their operations at the Sutton Road solid waste transfer station. Friday Harbor Town Councilmembers agreed Oct. 18, 2001 to lease the shelf area of the town-owned site to the county for $10 per month. The lease is on a a month-to-month basis.

The lease is the result of months of discussion between the two governmental entities. Originally a trade was proposed which would have had the town and county swap property. The town would move its public works yard to the county-owned Guard Street site and the county would take over the Sutton Road site. The swap was scuttled in May 2000 after 50 residents vehemently opposed the move. They did not want the county to operate a public works yard at the Sutton Road site.

Talks then turned to an outright sale of the property to the county. Negotiations have been hung up in a disagreement over the price. The county says it is mandated to pay fair market value. The town says fair market value includes costs associated with the difficulty of siting such a facility.

Town councilmembers are reluctant to sell since they have been unable to find a comparable site for the town's public works yard. The BOCC will not consider selling the Guard Street property because it might be needed in the future for office space.

At their Oct. 18 meeting the council considered charging the county $450 per month for the site. Town Administrator King Fitch had estimated that was the fair market value for the 15,000 sq. feet. Town Attorney Don Eaton argued the town would be better served by demonstrating a spirit of cooperation by leasing the space for a nominal fee. He said the law allows intergovernmental sales or leases on terms other than fair market value. "If you believe in it, stick with it," he told the council. After a discussion the council agreed to "take the high road" and charge $10 per month.

The lease allows the county to move its recycling operations to the shelf area and create a safer traffic flow. If county Prosecutor Randy Gaylord signs off on the lease, the area will be available Nov. 1, 2001.

County ready to purchase
Sutton Road property from town

The town needs a site for a maintenance shop, the county needs to expand its operation at the Sutton Road solid waste facility. After a direct solution -- a trade -- was blocked by neighbors, negotiations are proceeding for the county to purchase the $410,000 property outright from the town.

"The sale is funded in this year's budget," said county Public Works Director Tom Huse at the Jan. 4, 2001 town council meeting. "We're ready to proceed."

If the town council decides to approve the sale, they are left with the problem of finding a suitable site for the town's maintenance shop. Town Administrator King Fitch estimated 2 ½ acres would be necessary. The town's preferred option was a property swap -- trade the town-owned Sutton Road property for the county-owned Guard Street property (the county's old public works site).

"(The county's idea of trading property and moving its road maintenance facility to the Sutton Road site) was vehemently opposed by the abutting property owners. They made it clear they would do whatever they could to stop the project," Huse told the council. "I've met with them and there seems to be no problem with material storage on the site. But they are not willing to allow any expanded use of the site."

Use of the site would also be restricted by the county's agreement with the neighbors not to remove any live trees. "To take a live tree, we would have to negotiate on a one (tree) by one (tree) basis," said Huse.

If the sale goes through, the county plans to create a separate recycling area and possibly a county-based thrift center similar to the Orcas Island exchange.

After the council's discussion of operational issues associated with the potential sale, Councilwoman Vonda Sheiman said, "I don't have a problem with selling it. My concern is where are we going to go."

"We should move ahead with further investigation," said Councilman Bill LaPorte.

The council recessed into executive session to discuss potential property purchases.

Land swap put on hold

County commissioners yesterday, May 2, put on hold a proposed land swap between the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County after about 50 residents of San Juan Island's Hillview Terrace neighborhood packed the Courthouse Hearing Room.

Commissioners John Evans and Darcie Nielsen voted against pursuing the exchange of the town land at the solid waste transfer site for the county's Public Works yard.

"If this was my neighborhood, I wouldn't want it there," Evans said. "I'm not in support."

"I don’t think we’re anywhere near a land swap," Nielsen said.

Board Chair Rhea Miller voted for it. "This is a very live possibility for me," Miller said.

The county has been trying to find a way to expand its footprint at the Solid Waste Transfer Station on San Juan Island. More room is needed to solve problems caused by the inadequate layout of the facility. Commissioners have expressed concerns about safety issues at the site. The county was considering expanding its trash transfer station at the site and possibly basing its public works yard there.

The Town of Friday Harbor needs more space for its Public Works Department. Currently most of the department's equipment is stored at its facility at the corner of Spring and Marguerite streets.

The town owns the land the transfer station is on. The county-owned property on Guard Street next to the library was used as a public works yard by the county.

Thomas Huse, county Public Works Director/Engineer presented a capital facilities plan which included a land swap of the two properties at a public hearing in April.

"The town is clear: the only way they’ll let us expand at that site is if we acquire or swap," Huse said.

Neighbors of the transfer site, tired of noise pollution and litter along roads, testified at the May 2 public hearing, they would rather see any future expansion at the site permanently buried.

"We are prepared to do whatever it takes to stop this proposed project," said Susan Campbell-Webster.

"It’s a really crummy facility and you’re really bad neighbors," said Claudia Mills.

County staff had considered several other sites, before focusing on the potential land swap. Nielsen suggested re-exploring one of the them--the Liebman property off of Beaverton Valley Road.

"It may be overpriced but the cost may be considerably less if you take the wider economic view," Tom Schroeder said.

Evans suggested the public works’ needs – a maintenance yard, sand and gravel storage -- could be located at different sites. It would be nice if it’s all in one spot, but it doesn’t have to be he said.

He suggested both the Liebman property and a potential site on Port of Friday Harbor airport land should be reconsidered.

Miller noted she has a "mandate" to provide facilities for all islanders. She said she is committed to mitigating impacts, including light pollution and rainwater runoff, at the Sutton Road site. She opposes purchasing the Liebman property because locating the public works facility there would lead to environmental impacts equal to those at the Sutton Road facility and "sprawl."

Land swap discussed

Friday Harbor Town Council and San Juan County Commissioners may trade two hard-to-site public facilities.

The BOCC has been trying to find a way to expand its footprint at the Solid Waste Transfer Station on San Juan Island. More room is needed to solve problems caused by the inadequate layout of the facility. Commissioners have termed the site dangerous.

The Town of Friday Harbor needs more space for its Public Works Department. Currently most of the department's equipment is stored at its facility at the corner of Spring and Marguerite streets.

The town owns the land the transfer station is on. The county-owned property on Guard Street next to the library was used as a public works yard.

Preliminary discussions have taken place about a possible land swap of the two properties. Besides solving the county's need for more room and the town's need for a public works building, the plan has other benefits according to Friday Harbor Mayor Gary Boothman. "Neither one has money saved up," he said. "No additional property would be taken off tax rolls."

The town would have to disincorporate the land. Currently it is part of the incorporated Town of Friday Harbor. Land used for municipal purposes can be incorporated into the town's limits even though it is not contiguous.

The county Public Works Department will hold a public meeting on the possible swap from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2001 in the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons.

The town council will discuss the possible trade at a future meeting.