County approves letter to Jamestown S'Klallam; some residents raise concerns about Puget Sound Partnership ties

Clallam County commissioners on Aug. 26 approved a consent-agenda item sending a letter about trust land transfers to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and accepted a $120,000 grant agreement from the Puget Sound Partnership to support on‑site septic management.

The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included item 1D — the letter to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe concerning trust land transfers — and item 2E, an agreement with the Puget Sound Partnership providing $120,000 to the county to support compliance activities related to on-site septic systems and data-management improvements. County staff told the board the funds would be used to support compliance with county code and to implement parts of the county's on-site septic management plan.

Why it matters: staff described the Puget Sound Partnership grant as an example of how local integrating organizations fund projects that advance regional environmental priorities and county public-health goals. The Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network (referred to in public comment by its acronym CERN) is the local integrating organization that administers some Puget Sound Partnership funding in the region; county staff said the grant supports county-led policy implementation and does not transfer decision-making.

Public comment objections: Several residents used the public-comment periods to oppose the letter and the partnership agreement. John Worthington of Sequim said the letter to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the partnership agreement represented improper transfers of authority and alleged civil‑rights concerns tied to local integrating organizations. "This is why the ethical decisions or their decision to remove ethical violations...this is how it works," Worthington said during public comment. Ed Bowen also asked that the county quantify payments in lieu of taxes the tribe provides and questioned the county's approach.

County response and context: County staff and commissioners noted the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network is one of several local integrating organizations that the Puget Sound Partnership works through, and described the grant as funding specific, staff‑led work — not policy outsourcing. Commissioners reiterated that the county retains policy control and that the grant will fund implementation of compliance, inspection and data-management work tied to county code.

Next steps: The county will accept and execute the Puget Sound Partnership agreement and proceed with the on-site septic management activities funded by the $120,000 allocation. The letter to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe was placed on the record as part of the consent agenda.

Ending: Public commenters signaled continued interest and asked for more transparency about payments-in-lieu-of-taxes and the role of regional organizations in county decision making.