Friday Harbor Town Council May 1, 2025

The County Manager gave a brief update on the May 12 county council meeting agenda which will have a review of the utility element of the comp plan and an update on opioid settlements.

The public works director told the Council that its light pole supplier has changed its design, so the new poles being ordered for Nash Street will not match the ones on other blocks but should reduce the lighting intensity as requested by residents as well or better than the older design.

After executive sessions on collective bargaining and to review an applicant for public employment the Council approved a labor contract with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees for 2025-2027 with no further discussion. An ordinance to ordain salaries for appointed town employees was tabled until the May 15 meeting.

The Administrator reported that the wastewater treatment project was out for bid. They will open the bids on May 22 or June 2 and hope to award a contract by June 5. The council had already approved a bond note that will be issued through Savi Bank.

They need a councilmember to sit on the board of the Northwest Clean Air Agency as the largest municipality in the county. Barb Starr may be willing to do so. They will ask the agency director to join the next meeting via Zoom and clarify what the role entails.

A fourth water plant employee has been certified, so the plant now fully meets state standards. The town got a Department of Health Loan for the fourth water filter and a portion of the loan will be forgiven, leaving a $2.9 million balance to be repaid at a 1.75% interest rate.

The legislative session ended with no cuts to the Public Works Fund which helps small towns and rural areas finance public works projects. The rules for Real Estate Excise Taxes 1 And 2 were conformed and both may be used for the same purposes. The 1% property tax increase cap was raised for schools but not for other entities.

The town council has special meetings scheduled for May 5 and May 8.

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