Residents press commissioners over Dungeness roster and $1.4 million Conservation Futures award for Big Red Barn Farm

Clallam County commissioners on April 21 approved several consent items that included a $1,400,000 Conservation Futures request for the Big Red Barn Farm and the Dungeness River management team roster, but a string of public commenters told the board they oppose the roster and questioned the transparency of the land-protection plan.

At the meeting's public-comment period, John Worthington said he "does not approve of the roster" and criticized the river-management team's handling of logjams and river science. Theresa Miller of SWIFT Washington told the board she was "opposed to that as well" and read concerns from the roster she said were unresolved, particularly noting vacancies and ambiguity about who would ultimately own conserved property when a landowner dies.

Commissioners moved the entire consent agenda, which included appointments to a homelessness task force and the conservation-funding resolution for the Big Red Barn Farm, and the board approved the consent package by voice vote. A county staffer had read the consent items into the record, including item 1f' the Conservation Futures resolution requesting up to $1,400,000 to place permanent agricultural conservation easements on the farm.

Commissioner Johnson explained the county's approach to conservation easements: the county pays the difference between a parcel's market value and its value under a restricted farm-use appraisal, and the easement prevents future development while allowing continued agricultural use. He said the Conservation Futures tax was adopted to seed farmland protection and that metrics tied to the tax will be evaluated as the program moves past its initial 10-year focus on farmland.

Public speakers also sought clarity on ownership and future use. Theresa Miller read aloud language from the project's description noting the applicant entity (Olympic Peninsula Conservation Resources, LLC) and seller financing. "Who will be the ultimate owner of the property, especially when the owner passes away?" she asked, and urged the board to clarify whether the county receives any ongoing stewardship role or financial return.

The board did not place conditions on the consent approval during the meeting; commissioners indicated staff would follow up on specific questions about roster vacancies and the conservation easement mechanics. The consent vote took place as part of the morning consent agenda (staff read items 1a'1h and the board approved them by voice vote). The county did not record a roll-call tally on the record at the meeting beyond a voice "aye."

What happens next: staff and commissioners said they will provide additional detail about vacancies on the Dungeness River management team and the conservation easement terms in response to public questions; the county packet lists the Big Red Barn Farm application as eligible for up to $1,400,000 in Conservation Futures funding.