Reporting from today's County Commissioner meeting...After much discussion (both here and at the recent public forum), and after much hand wringing (both verbal and silent), the Benton County Commissioners voted two-to-one to stay in the lawsuit against the state. Annabelle Jaramillo was the lone vote to opt out, and to at least try and live in the 21st century.
Here are some pertinent quotes:
Annabelle Jaramillo: Stated she "doesn't like using litigation to balance our budgets."
Xan Augerot: Regarding state funding for counties, said it's "appropriate for counties to fire a shot across the bow of the state." Along a similar line, she also said this issue is "one more demand they (the state) need to take into account."
Anne Schuster: Echoing the above, stated she "wants to send a message to the state." And yet, later she said she "wants to hear what other counties are thinking on this" (with a decision deadline looming just over 24 hours away) and explained that she's "not an expert on this."
Annabelle Jaramillo: Worried that this "lawsuit will create more divisiveness."
The sad capper may have come when newbie Commissioner Augerot, chiming in with the others over how difficult a decision this was, said: "It's only my third week on the job!"
Augerot also stated that, between the comments they've received both in public and in writing, she believes that a majority of county residents want them to opt out. (Having been to the meeting and having read the comments submitted, I agree with that statement.) But when it came right down to it, no one wanted to make a motion on this issue.
Finally, after some stalling and delay, Annabelle Jaramillo made a motion that Benton County opt out of the lawsuit. The motion died for lack of a second.
Then, Augerot moved that they stay in the lawsuit, and Schuster seconded the motion. The vote was held, and that's how the two-to-one split went down.
No one seemed happy with the result, frankly, and a brief break was called.
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As a related subject...Today's County Commissioner meeting featured a presentation on a inspiringly large trails project (www.c2ctrail.org); another presentation dealt with funding for the Old Mill Center and their services for abused and traumatized kids; and, of course, there was the multi-million dollar do-we-stay-or-do-we-go issue regarding the timber lawsuit.
Big issues, big subjects, big dollars...And there were just a couple of members of the public there. I continue to be shocked that, with all that's in play and at stake, there aren't more members of the public attending these meetings. Big, big things go down, big, big decisions get made, with very little in the way of public oversight. I can't help but think that the 9AM meeting time is a real hindrance to more public interest and participation. Or, do people just not care?
Here are some pertinent quotes:
Annabelle Jaramillo: Stated she "doesn't like using litigation to balance our budgets."
Xan Augerot: Regarding state funding for counties, said it's "appropriate for counties to fire a shot across the bow of the state." Along a similar line, she also said this issue is "one more demand they (the state) need to take into account."
Anne Schuster: Echoing the above, stated she "wants to send a message to the state." And yet, later she said she "wants to hear what other counties are thinking on this" (with a decision deadline looming just over 24 hours away) and explained that she's "not an expert on this."
Annabelle Jaramillo: Worried that this "lawsuit will create more divisiveness."
The sad capper may have come when newbie Commissioner Augerot, chiming in with the others over how difficult a decision this was, said: "It's only my third week on the job!"
Augerot also stated that, between the comments they've received both in public and in writing, she believes that a majority of county residents want them to opt out. (Having been to the meeting and having read the comments submitted, I agree with that statement.) But when it came right down to it, no one wanted to make a motion on this issue.
Finally, after some stalling and delay, Annabelle Jaramillo made a motion that Benton County opt out of the lawsuit. The motion died for lack of a second.
Then, Augerot moved that they stay in the lawsuit, and Schuster seconded the motion. The vote was held, and that's how the two-to-one split went down.
No one seemed happy with the result, frankly, and a brief break was called.
One of the factors cited by the two Commissioners who voted to stay in the timber lawsuit was the recommendation from the County's own Environmental Issues Advisory Committee that they do just that. However, I have learned that it was a close vote, and that two members who would have voted for the county to opt out were absent from the EIAC meeting where they voted on the issue. On a related note, I have just been appointed to that very committee, and, needless to say, I would have voted for the county to stay out. Clearly there are some structural issues with the EIAC (allowing proxy votes, phone in meeting participation, etc.) that I look forward to addressing ASAP. ###
As a related subject...Today's County Commissioner meeting featured a presentation on a inspiringly large trails project (www.c2ctrail.org); another presentation dealt with funding for the Old Mill Center and their services for abused and traumatized kids; and, of course, there was the multi-million dollar do-we-stay-or-do-we-go issue regarding the timber lawsuit.
Big issues, big subjects, big dollars...And there were just a couple of members of the public there. I continue to be shocked that, with all that's in play and at stake, there aren't more members of the public attending these meetings. Big, big things go down, big, big decisions get made, with very little in the way of public oversight. I can't help but think that the 9AM meeting time is a real hindrance to more public interest and participation. Or, do people just not care?
This is SUCH a disappointing outcome! I expected more from our three Democratic commissioners. These results look like we have two Republicans sitting in there.
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