Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board approves two grants, rules Slip Point Lighthouse ineligible

The Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board on a unanimous voice vote approved two funding recommendations from its 2025 heritage fund round and discussed several applications ruled ineligible by the county attorney’s office.

Board members voted to recommend $2,000 for the North Olympic History Center and $15,795.24 for the Clallam County Genealogical Society from the heritage fund. Both approvals followed motions on the floor and were recorded as unanimous by the board’s chair. At the start of the funding review the board said roughly $15,000 had been budgeted for the grant round; board members noted the requests exceeded available funds and discussed possible adjustments or use of other revenue if needed.

The board also reviewed three applications that the attorney’s office found ineligible. The Slip Point Lighthouse Keepers Association submitted additional materials after the first review, but the attorney’s office again determined the application ineligible because the U.S. Coast Guard still owns the property; board staff said the Coast Guard must complete a transfer or provide a letter clearing the ownership issue before funds can be awarded. Another application listed as ineligible was a private hardware business’s request for an access ramp; staff and the board noted the applicant is not a qualifying nonprofit and was advised to seek city improvement-match programs instead.

Public commenters spoke during the review. Chad Eiser, who identified himself as having visited Slip Point, said he had inspected the lighthouse and “I'd like to stand in support of 1 of the grant applicants, if possible,” urging the board to consider the building’s condition. The board heard technical clarifications about accessibility requirements from commenters and a volunteer with experience in historic properties: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and National Register status can affect what kinds of capital work are required or eligible, but speakers said those rules are applied differently depending on ownership and whether the building is open to public access. David Bridal described local fundraising plans for a separate railroad restoration project and asked the board and community to help publicize a March 30 fundraiser.

Board members emphasized the limit of the heritage fund’s authority: projects on federally owned property or structures still owned by another federal agency cannot receive these county funds until ownership issues are resolved. The board said it will forward its two funding recommendations to the Clallam County Board of Commissioners for final approval. Board staff also said they will notify applicants of approval or ineligibility and will relay the attorney’s review notes to those turned down so they can reapply if they resolve the eligibility issues.

Discussion also touched on application details the board may clarify for future rounds, including whether applicants should be required to document ADA compliance or explain how historic-register status affects accessibility work. Several board members suggested improving outreach so more groups know the heritage fund exists and to reduce future incomplete or ineligible applications.

The board conducted routine business earlier in the meeting, adopting the meeting agenda and approving minutes from the prior meeting by voice vote. The board also elected officers for the coming year during the same session; those personnel actions were recorded by voice vote as unanimous.