Skagit County commissioners approve consent agenda and award housing, infrastructure grants

Skagit County commissioners approved a 28-item consent agenda Monday, June 16, and voted to award multiple grants for public facilities, economic development and housing projects. The board later approved a funding agreement of $1,996,906.81 in HOME and HOME‑ARP funds for a 42‑unit affordable rental project in Burlington.

The consent agenda—which commissioners moved and seconded and approved 3‑0—included budget and finance items, personal service agreements and project awards that commissioners described as supporting public facilities and workforce housing for 2025. Commissioner Browning highlighted awards to parks and trails partners and a variety of locally focused projects. Commissioner Wiesen noted appointments to the Upper Skagit Library District Board and adjustments to the Whitmarsh landfill cleanup schedule.

The board reauthorized a previously awarded $500,000 grant to the city of Sedro‑Woolley for the John Minor Road railroad undercrossing project that had expired earlier this year and approved a block of economic development awards totaling $3,250,000. For the first time the county set aside a block of funds specifically for workforce housing projects totaling $2,000,460; the transcript lists the following project awards from that workforce housing pot: $950,000 to Community Action of Skagit County for ‘‘Culchin View Apartments’’; $700,000 to Family Promise for a Cottage Village and transitional housing project; and $810,000 to the Housing Authority of the City of Anacortes to refurbish the Olsen Building. (The transcript used inconsistent spellings for some place and project names; the article uses standard local names where available.)

Under miscellaneous business the board considered two separate funding items. For miscellaneous item 1 the board approved a resolution to award grant funding for a public infrastructure portion of the Beatty Square development in Sedro‑Woolley. A commissioner recused from that vote because a relative is involved in the development; the motion passed (recusal noted in the record). For miscellaneous item 2 the board approved a funding agreement with Volunteers of America Western Washington for HOME and HOME‑ARP funds in the amount of $1,996,906.81 to support VOA North’s 42‑unit multifamily affordable rental housing project on East Rio Vista Avenue in Burlington. That agreement will commence when all parties sign and will remain in effect through the 20‑year HOME affordability period; Commissioner Wiesen recused from that vote. The motion on the VOA agreement carried 2‑0 with one recusal.

Other items mentioned in consent included a personal services agreement between Parks and Recreation and Washington Trails, an agreement with the Hospitality Association Friendship House to provide food for the First Step Center, and a GRAMA grant or similar allocation with North Sound Behavioral Health that supports the North Star project. The Whitmarsh Landfill cleanup schedule and cost adjustments were noted; staff said the cleanup work is scheduled through June 30, 2027.

The board recessed and returned at 1 p.m. for a public hearing on the county’s 2025 periodic comprehensive plan update and development regulations.