ISLAND COUNTY NEWS & UPDATES

From Commissioner Melanie Bacon, June 2026 …

The November general election ballot will include an advisory vote for the County Commissioners regarding consumer fireworks. What the Commissioners will ask voters is: should the Island County Board of Commissioners amend Island County Code Section 9.08A – Fireworks to ban the use of consumer fireworks in Unincorporated Island County? This will be an advisory yes/no vote only—the Commissioners want to know how you feel before we decide whether or not to take any further action on fireworks. I plan to include Pro and Con statements in the Voters Pamphlet, which means I need to form a committee of 1 – 3 registered voters to write the Con statement (a committee has already volunteered to write the Pro statement). These statements are limited to 200 words, and I will provide the committee with template and submittal information. If you are interested in serving on the Con committee, email me at district1@islandcountywa.gov.

Melanie

From Commissioner Janet St. Clair, May 2026 …

As we enter the summer months, I find myself rediscovering our beautiful islands.  The trees soar to the sky to delight us, they also protect us as they allow the spring rains to recharge our aquifers and as they capture carbon, doing their part to reduce GHG emissions. It is why I have worked for forest protection and the partnership we now have with Washington State DNR for our county’s forest health and wildfire mitigation. 

The same is true for our coastal waters. Carbon sequestration is even more significant in our coastal ecosystems.  It is why I am so proud of the work of our Island County Marine Resources Committee, partners like our Conservations Districts, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Northwest Straits and Sound Water Stewards, on shoreline restoration. It is why Island County promotes the Shore Friendly Program for soft armoring as an alternative to hard armoring on the shoreline. The return of forage fish and salmonids has been both measured and remarkable.  In turn, those forage fish feed our iconic orcas and other marine mammals. 

The link between the commitment to protect our islands and infrastructure resiliency was never clear to me until I became a County Commissioner. Now I know.  As we approach the finish line on our Comprehensive Plan, with additional emphasis on climate resiliency and infrastructure like our water and septic, I know that will help us with housing and ensure we invest in innovations, identify solutions like our point source pollution programs, and help incentivize conservation and coordination to reduce infrastructure failures and strengthen the future of island county.  By reducing pollutants in our streams and outflows, through partnerships that help soil health and transform agricultural practices, through education and regulation that manages our resources, Island County is working for a balanced future that manages housing needs with sustainability.  

So, step outside, take in the beauty and thank you for your advocacy for our islands.

Janet St Clair, Island County Commissioner