Clallam County commissioners approve grants and contracts as residents criticize consultant payments, taxes and outreach

CLALLAM COUNTY, Wash. — The Clallam County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved several agreements and contracting items, including a federal grant aimed at fentanyl interdiction and a county contract for highway resurfacing, while members of the public used the meeting to press the board on consultant payments, forest-conservation support and property-tax increases.

Public commenters criticized payment to consultant Shannon & Wilson and a lack of transparent budgeting for road and reservoir projects. John Worthington, a Sequim resident, told the board he was "in opposition to the Shannon Wilson payout today," saying the county was "basically re, inventing the wheel" and suggesting earlier local plans had been displaced. Pepe Whipple, also of Sequim, cited recent vouchers and asked how much more the county would pay, arguing for greater transparency: "If the commissioners never set a budget, then there's no cap, no limit, just an open tab." Ed Bowen of Clallam Bay urged postponing the board's letter of support for a Forest Legacy application, calling parts of the application "misinformation" and warning of a "major paradigm shift" for the county's timber economy.

Other speakers pressed the commissioners over taxes and perceived conflicts of interest. Jeff Tozer, a Jamestown Road resident, said Commissioners had not communicated with residents about a state bill he named as House Bill 1334 and described it as a plan to allow a 3% annual property-tax increase without voter approval. Denise Lapio suggested canceling special elections to save money after low turnout. Several speakers tied local project decisions and grant partnerships to broader concerns about accountability and landowner engagement in river- and forest-related planning.

On formal business, the board approved a five-item consent agenda that included vouchers, payroll, minutes, a letter of support for a Washington State Forest Legacy application, and the appointment of Scott Clawson to the Board of Equalization (District 1). Commissioners also unanimously approved the county's acceptance of an Operation Stone Garden grant that pairs local law enforcement with federal partners on border and drug-interdiction priorities; a contract with Jefferson County for at-cost noxious-weed control services along select roads; acceptance of a previously awarded resurfacing contract for the Old Olympic Highway with Lakeside Industries (technical authorization for signature was clarified); and a purchase order to Bryte for 10 mobile data terminals for patrol vehicles.

Commissioners and staff addressed procedural questions about Zoom meeting controls after the board experienced disruptive postings at a previous meeting. A county speaker noted the board had limited remote participants' ability to share video and screens for the current meeting and said staff are evaluating additional Zoom functionality to balance openness with the need to prevent disruptions while remaining in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

The meeting included updates from commissioners about outside bodies: Commissioner Doss reported attending the Dungeness River Management Team meeting and said the county is monitoring state emergency-management funding uncertainties; another commissioner described ongoing work to explore a "shared services" approach for medical and behavioral-health staffing that would cover both the jail and juvenile services in order to address vacancies and supervisory-credential requirements.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 1a–1e: weekly vouchers; payroll; minutes; letter of support for Washington State Forest Legacy application; resolution appointing Scott Clawson to Board of Equalization): approved unanimously. - Agreement with Washington Military Department / U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Operation Stone Garden (program period 09/01/2024–03/01/2027; award $136,500): approved unanimously. - Interlocal agreement with Jefferson County Public Works — noxious weed control services (at-cost, select Jefferson County roads): approved unanimously. - Contract clarification and authorization to sign: Lakeside Industries — Old Olympic Highway resurfacing (CRP C1263): approved unanimously. - Purchase order with Bryte for 10 patrol mobile data terminals (through Washington State DES contract; includes warranty and docking stations): approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The approvals authorize near-term spending and interagency cooperation on law enforcement, road work and public-safety technology; the public comments signal sustained local concern about project budgeting, county outreach on river and forest projects, and the potential local impact of changes in tax law and county partnerships.

What commissioners said: In response to public comment about the Forest Legacy letter, a commissioner explained the county's interest in preserving harvestable forest land and connecting trail development to the Olympic Discovery Trail. A staff speaker explained that the Operation Stone Garden grant coordinates sheriff's office, Port Angeles Police Department, Clallam County Port Police, and Washington Fish and Wildlife with federal border-patrol priorities and identified fentanyl interdiction as an emphasis of the grant.

The meeting concluded with routine announcements and a reminder of an executive session later in the day and an upcoming Board of Health meeting.