This just in from the SJ County Newsflash wire… Ballot Proposition No. 2 is asking voters to continue an existing levy lid lift first approved by voters in 2009 and renewed in 2014.  The current voter approved levy lid lift costs property owners 16 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2019.  Ballot Prop. No.  Continue Reading

Here’s what’s in the San Juan Update mailbag this morning… To the Editor: We usually fill out our ballots as soon as they arrive in the mail. However, we need more information before we can vote on Proposition 2. We completely support the programs funded by Proposition 2’s levy lid lift. In 2009, during the  Continue Reading

In the San Juan Update mailbag this morning we have this letter from Louise Dustrude… If you haven’t yet turned in your ballot, perhaps it’s because you think there’s no reason to vote in so many uncontested races. Here’s another way to look at it. In the public hospital district election, which is my focus  Continue Reading

Tim Eyman is back on the ballot with another $30 car-tab initiative, I-976. You may have seen the TV ads or visited www.no976.com on the web. Among a long list of cuts, I-976 would have an immediate effect on funding for ferry operations as well as maintenance and improvements. The repercussions of Eyman’s I-695 twenty  Continue Reading

A judge has confirmed public access to the 180-acre Mount Grant Preserve. This means that the 180-acre Preserve will remain open to the public from West Valley Road on San Juan Island. Some signage will be necessary to show alternative access to the 70-acre property that adjoins the preserve. The court ruling came in response  Continue Reading

Flu season is here and it is time to get your flu shot!  San Juan County Health & Community Services has scheduled the 2019 flu clinics for the public.   All flu clinics will be by appointment only.  Be advised that there are limited doses available at this time based on vaccine availability from our  Continue Reading

The four fire districts of San Juan County have received a regional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to replace aging personal protective equipment for firefighters and increase compatibility between agencies, maximizing mutual aid throughout our islands while reducing costs to our tax payers. FEMA awarded $923,115 from the Assistance to Firefighters grant to the  Continue Reading

Town of Friday Harbor Planning Commission Positions Available Are you interested in becoming more involved with the community and helping guide the Town’s future development? The Town of Friday Harbor is seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on the Town Planning Commission. The five-member Planning Commission meets regularly and acts as the fact finding agency of  Continue Reading

Vote Counting Equipment Testing October 18 at 11:00 am A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County for the November 5, 2018 General is scheduled for October 18 at 11:00 a.m. The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if the results  Continue Reading

The Town of Friday Harbor is holding a surplus sale for six vehicles. A list of surplus vehicles and bidding form can be found on the Town website at www.fridayharbor.org or by contacting Town Hall in person or by telephone at (360) 378-2810. Items may be viewed October 2nd through October 9th at the Town  Continue Reading

The Department of Community Development is excited to announce that the you can now search for permits, check permit status, request code enforcement, pay fees, and request inspections through the **NEW** San Juan County Online Permit Center. Links to the new online permit center are found on the Community Development Webpage or at the following  Continue Reading

Notice of a San Juan County Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at the County Council Hearing Room, Legislative Building,  55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island Beginning at 9:15 A.M. to Obtain Testimony on a Resolution Extending the Moratorium on Siting Licensed Marijuana Production and Processing Adopted in  Continue Reading

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans invites the public to attend voter forums for candidates on the ballot for the November 5 general election. The Orcas forum will be Monday, October 14 from 5 to 7:15 pm at the Orcas Fire Hall, and the Friday Harbor forum will be Wednesday, October 16 from  Continue Reading

The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council  Continue Reading

The Town of Friday Harbor’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is accepting applications through September 4, 2019, for grants to fund tourism promotion of events and activities taking place within the town in 2020. Preference will be given to those operations and activities that encourage tourists to visit during the shoulder and winter seasons. Summer  Continue Reading

The Port of Friday Harbor is pleased to announce that the Port has entered into an agreement with Barnhill Construction Company to purchase Shipyard Cove Marina. The purchase price of $4,500,000 is based on appraised value and the agreement includes a feasibility period for the Port to conduct due diligence activities. Shipyard Cove Marina adjoins  Continue Reading

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is recruiting for two new members for its Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, which awards grants to improve parks, trails, boating amenities and access to shorelines. It also awards grants to conserve working lands, such as farms and forests, and to protect pristine wildlife and natural areas. During  Continue Reading

Come to the Sidewalk Sale at the Mullis Center, Saturday August 24 from 9am to 2pm for bargains on a wide array of household and kitchen goods, vintage/collectible items (including a steamer trunk), luggage, and more. The League of Women Voters of the San Juans sponsors candidate forums, programs, and voter registration in order to  Continue Reading

In the San Juan Update mailbag today we find this letter from Steve Ulvi… Tilting with Windmills on San Juan Island I am compelled to respond to a recent inflammatory opinion piece by the editor in one of our local media outlets. And now another in the last few days. The gist of these is  Continue Reading

Do you love a good argument? Then your County needs you! This November, there will be seven local measures on the general election ballot. Those measures are: Lopez Island Library Levy Lid Lift Shaw Park & Recreation District Formation Shaw Park & Recreation District Authorization for Excess Levy Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District Excess Property  Continue Reading

The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council  Continue Reading

Whew! You almost missed your chance to run for office. Fortunately, you’ll get a second chance. During the candidate filing period in May, several of the offices open for filing had no candidates file. When no one files for an open office, it’s called a “void in candidacy.” When a void in candidacy occurs after  Continue Reading