County offices open Jan. 24

Build it and they will come.

At least, that was the idea when the county Commissioners committed roughly $650,000 of taxpayer money to build county offices in Eastsound. But fearing empty space when offices open next month, commission Chairman John Evans last week urged fellow commissioners to join his effort to push county staff out of Friday Harbor and over to Eastsound.

County offices in Eastsound are due to open Jan. 24.

Not to worry, county Auditor Si Stephens said of Evans’ apprehension. Fifteen county offices at 62 Henry Road are pre-designated for specific departments, and although relocation may take time to complete, the move is going according to plan.

Who will be there?

“Lots of folks,” Stephens said. “Not all departments will be open every day, but we’ll have a schedule posted, I’m sure it’ll take some time to get everything running smoothly.”

The list of departments with dedicated offices includes Public Works, Planning, Permit Center, Parks, Health and Community Services, the Board of County Commissioners, Juvenile Court, and space for the financial group: Assessor, Auditor and Treasurer. Two county offices are available for lease to related non-profit agencies, Stephens said.

“We’ll have representatives of those offices available ‘X’ number of hours during the week,” said Stephens, adding office hours are yet to be determined. “Not all departments will be open everyday but there will be a schedule posted.”

“I’m real excited,” Stephens said about the upcoming adventure. “For the first time we’ll be able to provide direct county services at another island location other than San Juan.”

Several departments already have regular field operations on Orcas Island already, said Administrative Services Director David Zeretzke. Now, Public Works, public nurses, building inspectors and parks staff will have centralized locations at the new office space, he said. The new building provides clinic space for health care too. Offices are fully computerized and new phone systems have been installed, Zeretzke said.

“A lot of folks (county staff) are currently working on Orcas and we’ll look at those people who are already there to move in right away. It’s not new stuff,” he said.

What is new will be the opportunity for Orcas Island residents to access county services for land-use or building permits, and resolve financial business such as purchasing licenses, paying taxes or researching property assessments without riding a ferry.

Senior Services Director Jan Koltun’s office is down the hall from the county wing. Construction of the building was a partnership between the county and the Senior Services Council and of Orcas Island. Construction of the 10,000-square-foot facility cost $1.8 million. With $315,000 of donations this year, Koltun said the senior group less than $100,000 from full payment of its portion.

Orcas Island has about 353 paying members of the senior group, Koltun said, but senior services -- transportation, lunches, on- or off-island medical care, and home delivered meals -- are available to all island seniors.

About 60 to 70 seniors meet for lunch each week.

Stephens said satellite offices make more sense than continually building bigger county facilities in Friday Harbor. If the experiment on Orcas Island satisfies the needs of citizens and county expectations, the format could be replicated on Lopez Island in the future, Stephens said. The county owns a small lot in Lopez Village, an ideal location for a satellite office if the trial-run on Orcas fulfills its purpose, he said.

— Scott Rasmussen is Staff Reporter for sanjuanjournal.com and The Journal of the San Juans. He can be reached at (360) 378-4191 ext. 13 or email.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.