Public Policy in Action

The Feb 2 BOCC meeting was a lesson in civic engagement and public policy application.

1. Annette McGee scored again on making her point that the county commissioners cannot legally delegate to the Director of Public Works their responsibility so far as the opening of bids and the award of contracts for county roads. (see my Jan 20 blog posting "Taking the Public Out of County Business"). Ms McGee pointed out that RCW 36.77.030 requires the BOCC be in charge of the bid opening process. I'd think she might know what she's talking about having served as the Chair of the Washington County Rural Arterial Board.

Ross Gallagher offered that the Board has involved the public when they allowed us to take part in the TIPCAP and shared with us through a public hearing their annual road plan. According to former County Commissioner Annette McGee state law requires another step that cannot be delegated to staff.

2. But the big show was the public hearing on the annexation of a development into the Belfair Water District. The issue in a nutshell here is that Belfair Water District commissioners had proposed for county approval to annex a neighborhood less one piece of property - the Waggett household. (You know I couldn't make this stuff up.) Belfair Water District Commissioner Phillips charged that Mr. Waggett was a "serial harasser". The commissioner further stated that he was doing this simply to protect the staff of the water district from a harassing customer. Mr Waggett stated that he was a retired manager and that he couldn't tolerate sloppy work. When he asked questions of the water district, that's when he got in trouble with them.

Those pesky citizens asking questions are the bane of the elected officials existence. I did get some great quotes for posterity.
"It's either a blessing or a burden of public office that you don't get to choose the citizens you represent." And better yet, "As elected representatives we have the responsibility to be public servants and that means we are servants of the public." These quotes were from two of our county commissioners.

Bottom line is: the BOCC denied the request from the Belfair Water District.

In my mind I'm drawing some connections between Number 1 topic above and Number 2 that follows. I hope my expectations aren't getting over blown. It is a new year though.