HISTORICAL NOTE
Island County's
first Commissioners' meeting takes place in Coveland April 4,
1853.
On April 4, 1853, the
first Island County Commissioners' meeting takes place in Coveland,
the newly designated county seat, located on Penn's Cove northwest
of Coupeville on Whidbey Island's east coast. The meeting is held
at the home of Commissioner John Alexander. The other two commissioners
attending are John Crockett and Samuel D. Howe.
Island County was one
of four counties carved out of Thurston County by the Oregon Territorial
Legislature. At the time, it included the future Island, San Juan,
Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.
The first regular business
for the Commission was a proposed road to Coveland from Ebey's
Landing on the west side of the island. The board approved a petition
for the road from Colonel Isaac N. Ebey (1818-1857) and 11 others.
They appointed Ebey, Daniel Show, and Samuel Crockett to lay out
the county road, as requested. They also appointed Hugh Crockett
as sheriff.
Island County Mission
Statement:
Recognizing the uniqueness
of our island community, we are committed to working together
to understand the public needs of the citizens of Island County,
and to provide courteous and cost effective service.
The Board:
The Board of County
Commissioners is the County's legislative authority and is made
up of three commissioners elected to four-year terms. The county
is divided into three geographic districts based on population
and at the time of election, each Commissioner must live in the
district from which they are elected. The County Commissioners'
positions are partisan and are nominated in a primary election
embracing only their particular district. All voters in the county
are given an opportunity in the general election to select the
commissioner who will ultimately serve.
The Commissioners are
charged with overseeing county operations; financial and budgetary
matters; and the adoption of laws that regulate county growth,
health, safety and welfare of it's citizens.
Board Meetings:
The Board of Island
County Commissioners meets in regular open session the first three
Mondays of every month at 10:00 a.m. and the fourth Monday beginning
at 11:00 a.m. for roundtable discussion with elected county officials
and appointed department heads, regular session commencing at
2:00p.m. (excluding holidays).
Monday meetings are
televised via a videoconferencing link to Island County's Camano
Annex offices, 121 N. East Camano Drive south of Camano Plaza
and Camaloch Golf Course. A public comment period is scheduled
at 10 a.m. on the first three Mondays of each month.
The Board also meets
regularly on the first and third Wednesdays beginning at 9:00
a.m. for Staff Sessions with Department Heads and the third Monday
of each month at 1:15 p.m. as the Island County Board of Health.
Meetings are held in
the Commissioners Hearing Room located downstairs in the Courthouse
Annex Building, Room #B102, at 1 NE 6th Street in Coupeville,
Washington.
Location/Contact Information:
The Board of Commissioners
office is located in the Courthouse Administration Building, 1
NE 7th Street, Room 214, Coupeville, Washington.
Mailing address is:
P.O. Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239 Email address: BICC@co.island.wa.us
Phone: 360-679-7354
FAX: 360-679-7381
Toll Free from S. Whidbey: 360-321-5111, Ext. 7354
Toll Free from Camano Island: 360-629-4522, Ext. 7354
Camano Island Courthouse Annex: 360-387-3443, Ext. 0
|
