EYE ON JEFFERSON: County mulls appointing interim sheriff at Monday meeting

The three Jefferson County commissioners will consider the appointment of an acting sheriff 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.

Sheriff Tony Hernandez is resigning effective Friday.

County staff recommends that Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole be named acting sheriff, to serve from Friday until the appointment of a nominee from the county Democratic Party or until certification of general election results Nov. 25.

They also will hear an update on income from land within the county managed by the state Department of Natural Resources.

An executive session on actual litigation is set for

11 a.m.

Commissioners will be briefed on plans for a county sign code update.

On the consent agenda, commissioners will consider setting a public hearing for Oct. 6 at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., on a six-month moratorium approved Aug. 11 on recreational marijuana businesses in certain land-use zones.

They will consider a declaration of imminent danger on Quinault South Shore Road to expedite state approval of maintenance work on the road so repairs can be made by Sept. 30 after the Quinault River eroded the bank to less than 12 feet of the road.

Also on the consent agenda:

■ Scheduling a public hearing on the 2015-20 Jefferson County Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program for 10 a.m. Sept. 15.

■ A call for bids on mid-size hybrid sedans, with the bid opening Sept. 8.

■ A contract with ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp. of Seattle, Everett, Tacoma and Spokane for $6,840 for courthouse elevator maintenance.

■ Adding a Marine Resources Committee eelgrass survey to an agreement with the state Department of Ecology. The survey would determine a baseline for a 2015 expansion of a no-anchor zone.

Port Townsend city

The Port Townsend Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the docket for the 2014 amendments to the comprehensive plan when it meets Wednesday.

The special meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

On the docket are proposals concerning a Jefferson Transit rezone, Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park policy, language to encourage a master plan for Fort Worden State Park, a Parkside Park rezone and a Beech Street property rezone.

Commissioners also will hear an update on Howard Street extension plans.

The Port Townsend City Council will not meet this week.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

Other city meetings, which are in conference rooms in City Hall at 250 Madison St. unless otherwise noted, are:

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

■ Climate Action Committee — 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cotton Building, 607 Water St.

Port Townsend schools

The Port Townsend School Board will consider approval of policies on the library media centers, gifts and wellness when it meets Monday.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Gael Stuart Building, 1620 Blaine St.

The board also will review the policy for a drug-free workplace.

Port of Port Townsend

Port of Port Townsend commissioners will consider approving contracts for installation of an Automated Weather Observation Station at Jefferson County Airport when they meet Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at 333 Benedict St.

Contracts must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, which will pay for 90 percent of the project. Another 5 percent will come from the Aviation Division of the state Department of Transportation.

The total cost to the port would be $15,412.

Commissioners will discuss the possible effects on the Quilcene Marina of a Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group project on the Big Quilcene estuary.

Also on the agenda:

■ A contract of $18,748 with Humphrey Construction of Aberdeen for roofing of the Sperry Building.

■ Possibly increasing technical support services.

Public development authority

The Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority will discuss the future of Fort Worden’s food and beverage services when it meets Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Fort Worden Commons.

More in News

Two dead after tree falls in Olympic National Forest

Two women died after a tree fell in Olympic National… Continue reading

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend, volunteer at the Martin Luther King Day of Service beach restoration on Monday at Fort Worden State Park. The activity took place on Knapp Circle near the Point Wilson Lighthouse. Sixty-four volunteers participated in the removal of non-native beach grasses. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Work party

Sue Long, left, Vicki Bennett and Frank Handler, all from Port Townsend,… Continue reading

Portion of bridge to be replaced

Tribe: Wooden truss at railroad park deteriorating

Kingsya Omega, left, and Ben Wilson settle into a hand-holding exercise. (Aliko Weste)
Process undermines ‘Black brute’ narrative

Port Townsend company’s second film shot in Hawaii

Jefferson PUD to replace water main in Coyle

Jefferson PUD commissioners awarded a $1.3 million construction contract… Continue reading

Scott Mauk.
Chimacum superintendent receives national award

Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk has received the National… Continue reading

Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting canceled

The annual meeting of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, scheduled… Continue reading

Bruce Murray, left, and Ralph Parsons hang a cloth exhibition in the rotunda of the old Clallam County Courthouse on Friday in Port Angeles. The North Olympic History Center exhibit tells the story of the post office past and present across Clallam County. The display will be open until early February, when it will be relocated to the Sequim City Hall followed by stops on the West End. The project was made possible due to a grant from the Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Post office past and present

Bruce Murray, left, and Ralph Parsons hang a cloth exhibition in the… Continue reading

This agave grew from the size of a baseball in the 1990s to the height of Isobel Johnston’s roof in 2020. She saw it bloom in 2023. Following her death last year, Clallam County Fire District 3 commissioners, who purchased the property on Fifth Avenue in 2015, agreed to sell it to support the building of a new Carlsborg fire station. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group file)
Fire district to sell property known for its Sequim agave plant

Sale proceeds may support new Carlsborg station project

As part of Olympic Theatre Arts’ energy renovation upgrade project, new lighting has been installed, including on the Elaine and Robert Caldwell Main Stage that allows for new and improved effects. (Olympic Theatre Arts)
Olympic Theatre Arts remodels its building

New roof, LED lights, HVAC throughout

Weekly flight operations scheduled

Field carrier landing practice operations will be conducted for aircraft… Continue reading