PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have put the brakes on naming a Port Angeles representative to the Trust Lands Advisory Committee.
Commissioners Tuesday removed Port Angeles Deputy Mayor Cherie Kidd from a resolution appointing new members to a 16-member ad hoc panel that will study state management of revenue-producing forest trust lands.
City Councilman Lee Whetham told commissioners that the council had not discussed the city’s participation on the committee, let alone the appointment of a specific member.
“If you guys would grant us the patience for us to actually have this open, public discussion during our council meeting, that would be much appreciated,” Whetham said.
The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
Whetham said he learned third-hand Monday that the city was slated to participate and that a representative had been forwarded by ex-Mayor Dan Di Guilio.
“Again, I ask that you postpone the actual name and keep our spot open at the table for future discussion by Port Angeles City Council,” Whetham said.
“It’s not a democratic action that’s occurred, and I’d like to just put the brakes on. Keep our spot at the table if we choose to participate.”
Board Chairman Mike Chapman said a city representative would be appointed to the committee with City Council approval.
Kidd could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
She told commissioners in a Nov. 23 work session the city “would be happy to participate” if wanted, needed or requested.
Kidd thanked commissioners Jan. 5 for providing the additional spot.
“It’s an important issue for our community,” she said of timber sales.
“It brings in sales tax to the city, sales tax to the county.”
Modified resolution
The modified resolution that commissioners passed Tuesday appointed to the committee Josey Paul of the North Olympic Group of the Sierra Club, Coleman Byrnes of the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and Darryl Wolfe of Olympic Medical Center.
The committee had sought members from those organizations and the city of Port Angeles because representatives expressed a willingness to participate.
The Clallam County Trust Lands Advisory Committee held its first meeting Dec. 18.
Its second meeting will be at noon Friday at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
The committee will hear a presentation on Clallam County trust lands and DNR trust management.
Last summer, the elected Clallam County Charter Review Commission voted 10-4 to ask the board of commissioners to assemble a committee to examine state management of county trust lands.
Specifically, it asked the committee to examine the “history, issues, benefits, challenges” of reconveying state Department of Natural Resources trust lands back to the county for management.
If reconveyance is not in the county’s best interest, the committee will engage DNR on how it is fulfilling its trust obligations to the county, its citizens and junior taxing districts that rely on timber sales to fund schools, hospitals, libraries and fire districts.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
