EYE ON JEFFERSON: Commissioners to mull public defender contract Monday

The three Jefferson County commissioners will consider approving a proposed public defender contract renewal when they meet Monday.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

The $1.5 million contract covering July 1 through Dec. 31, 2018, would be awarded to Jefferson Associated Counsel and could be renewed until 2021 if the county chooses to do so.

The workload is determined by caseload points, with an estimated allocation of 1,125 each year.

The firm would represent indigent defendants in the county’s Superior, District, Juvenile and Civil courts.

During the commissioners’ briefing session at 1:30 p.m., Sheriff David Stanko will propose hiring a consultant for a strategic plan.

Staff has suggested the commissioners review the idea during a supplemental budget hearing July 18.

Items on the morning’s consent agenda include:

■ Scheduling a public hearing on the Port Ludlow Drainage District assessment system for 10 a.m. Aug. 8 in commissioners’ chambers.

■ Approving a $296,209 contract with Mattila Painting Inc. of Monroe to paint the transfer station and waste facility.

■ Agreeing to administer a $100,269 Community Development Block Grant for Olympic Community Action Programs.

■ Approving an extension of a contract with Environmental Science Associates for updating critical areas regulations that apply to agricultural areas.

■ An agreement for a professional nursing overview for the department of public health in the amount of $3,238.

■ An amendment increasing an agreement with the state Department of Ecology agreement by $19,381 to support coordinated prevention and solid waste enforcement. The county’s match is $4,845.

■ A $12,000 agreement with Ecology for site hazard assessment, which is funded by Ecology.

Port Townsend city

The Port Townsend hearing examiner will conduct a public hearing concerning Trinity United Methodist Church’s plans for a new fellowship hall project Monday.

The hearing will be from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

The Port Townsend City Council does not meet this week.

The public hearing consolidates applications for conditional use permits and a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) appeal.

The church has applied to remove a series of 1940s-era church additions totaling about 1,300 square feet and replace them with a new 2,000-square-foot hall.

Requested variances would allow the lot coverage for the church to exceed what is normally allowed by the R-II zone, provide relief from parking requirements and allow it an 8-foot setback rather than the 10 feet usually required.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall.

Scheduled city committee meetings taking place in conference rooms at City Hall, 250 Madison St., are:

■ Council Finance and Budget Committee — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, third-floor conference room.

■ Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Board — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, first-floor conference room.

■ Civil Service Commission — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, second-floor conference room.

Jefferson Transit

Jefferson Transit commissioners will consider a contract for construction of a Bike and Ride at the Transit office when they meet Tuesday.

The special meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Transit Authority boardroom at 63 Four Corners Road, Port Townsend.

Commissioners will consider authorizing the general manager to sign an agreement for professional services with Shea, Carr & Jewell Inc.

Port Townsend schools

The Port Townsend School Board will hear a Peninsula Housing Authority update on the proposed use of the Lincoln Building at a meeting Monday.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Gael Stuart Building, 1610 Blaine St.

It will be preceded by a board retreat to refine the new superintendent’s contract from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the same location.

Also at the evening meeting, the board will review Bridges in Mathematics for kindergarten through fifth grade.

It will consider approval of the district motto, mission, vision and core principles statements.

Hospital conference

Commissioners with Jefferson Healthcare hospital, Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles and Forks Community Hospital will meet Wednesday.

The special meeting will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the River Room at Campbell’s Resort at 104 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan.

The meeting, at which no formal action is expected, will follow the 40th annual Rural Hospital Conference, presented by the Washington State Hospital Association and the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts.

The commissioners will discuss affiliations and the Olympic Community of Health and behavioral health.

More in News

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas and Sue Authur, and Main Street employees, Sasha Landes, on the ladder, and marketing director Eryn Smith, spend a rainy morning decorating the community Christmas tree at the Haller Fountain on Wednesday. The tree will be lit at 4 p.m. Saturday following Santa’s arrival by the Kiwanis choo choo train. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Decoration preparation

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves balanced $200M budget

City investing in savings for capital projects

Olympic Medical Center Board President Ann Henninger, left, recognizes commissioner Jean Hordyk on Wednesday as she steps down after 30 years on the board. Hordyk, who was first elected in 1995, was honored during the meeting. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
OMC Commissioners to start recording meetings

Video, audio to be available online

Jefferson PUD plans to keep Sims Way project overhead

Cost significantly reduced in joint effort with port, city

Committee members sought for ‘For’ and ‘Against’ statements

The Clallam County commissioners are seeking county residents to… Continue reading

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on Saturday at the Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Peninsula Friends of Animals. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Santa Paws

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on… Continue reading

Peninsula lawmakers await budget

Gov. Ferguson to release supplemental plan this month

Clallam County looks to pass deficit budget

Agency sees about 7 percent rise over 2025 in expenditures

Officer testifies bullet lodged in car’s pillar

Witness says she heard gunfire at Port Angeles park

A copper rockfish caught as part of a state Department of Fish and Wildlife study in 2017. The distended eyes resulted from a pressure change as the fish was pulled up from a depth of 250 feet. (David B. Williams)
Author to highlight history of Puget Sound

Talk at PT Library to cover naming, battles, tribes

Vern Frykholm, who has made more than 500 appearances as George Washington since 2012, visits with Dave Spencer. Frykholm and 10 members of the New Dungeness Chapter, NSDAR, visited with about 30 veterans on Nov. 8, just ahead of Veterans Day. (New Dungeness Chapter DAR)
New Dungeness DAR visits veterans at senior facilities

Members of the New Dungeness Chapter, National Society Daughters of… Continue reading

Festival of Trees contest.
Contest: Vote for your favorite tree online

Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Festival of Trees event goes through Dec. 25