At this morning's citizen access time, there was an appearance by Shireene Hale, former head planner in charge of our CAOs, and David Dehlendorf, current head of the San Juan County Democratic Party and persistent supporter of Shireene Hale. You can watch their appearances on video at this link.
Now, before we talk about the Hale/Dehlendorf appearances of today, let's walk down memory lane for a moment. When heading up the CAO effort, Hale frequently claimed that the public intimidated her. She referred to some of our CAO public participation meetings as "awful". She even asked sheriff's deputies to show up at public meetings. When a former Planning Commissioner jokingly suggested that she might want to take a "sick day" as a means of avoiding one potentially contentious meeting, Hale accused him of (wait for it) ... intimidation. She also accused a former County Commissioner of intimidation, because of comments he made during a CAO meeting.
The County didn't abandon the "intimidation" angle after Hale left. It was adopted by Gibboney and Mike Thomas in their recent efforts to dump former Building Head John Geniuch. When contractors and other islanders supported Geniuch, the County claimed an angry mob was being organized (yes, Gibboney really did use the words "angry mob" in an administrative law hearing ... but the judge was not persuaded). Gibboney and Thomas took the "intimidation" melodrama so far as to send out an email instructing employees to call the sheriff if John Geniuch was seen on County property.
Okay ... now for the events of today. Hale shows up at citizen access time this morning and says that Pamela Morais (our local County Catbert) and Mike Thomas intimidated her prior to yesterday's public access time. Hale said they pressured her into withholding comments about Portland Fair. Dehlendorf then followed Hale's comments by calling for Mike Thomas to be reprimanded ... even resign, for intimidating a private citizen into silence.
Ever seen that picture of a snake eating itself? Shreene Hale, the woman who invented intimidation as public-participation kryptonite used it in her public comments to accuse her former employer of intimidation tactics that she used when she worked there ... which aforementioned tactics said employer still uses against employees and the public (e.g., Shireene presently).
The ever-composed Mike Thomas, who is accustomed to helping people invent intimidation stories rather than be on the receiving end, found himself out-maneuvered ... caught off-guard. After Dehlendorf finished, Thomas asked to make some comments himself. It stings to be out-smarted by Hale, and it showed in Thomas' comportment. Thomas said he was offended by the public access comments (although he didn't say they were untrue).
In upcoming posts, we'll explore the codependent relationship that has developed between the Council and Mike Thomas. It seems wherever Mike Thomas goes, allegations of misconduct follow. Mike Thomas has now been accused publicly of intimidating private citizens. The Prosecuting Attorney found that he violated County policies and procedures. This, along with other allegations, would appear to violate the County's employment contract with Thomas.
But, we have reached the point in San Juan County where Mike Thomas doesn't just run San Juan County government, he IS San Juan County government. Whatever Mike Thomas says, goes. The job of this Council is simply to back up Mike Thomas. They have given him raises, cleared him of wrongdoing. Mike Thomas is bulletproof. As the Prosecuting Attorney declared when clearing Mike Thomas of Improper Government Action (IGA) in the Portland Fair situation:
Manager has the duty to "comply with all lawful governing body directives, state and federal law, Employer policies, rules and ordinances. ..." See County Manager Employment Agreement and San Juan County Charter Section 4.40 and 4.41. The IGA Report mentions similar obligations of employees in the Personnel Rules Section 15, but the Personnel Rules (which have not been updated since the adoption of the Charter in 2005 or Charter Amendments in 2012) were not written to apply to management level employees and do not apply to the County Manager. See Section 1.010 and Chapter 4 of the 1992 Personnel Rules.No rules apply to him. This is why Mike Thomas can approve (or disapprove) any wetland study ... or anything else for that matter. He can do whatever he wants, and the Council (and the PA too) have backed him. The dynamic that has emerged within the employment ranks of San Juan County is that if you are loyal to Mike Thomas, your job is safe. If you aren't, you will be eliminated.
Looks like Gibboney is safe.
Can we get any more farcical? I watched the public comments, and is it any wonder why we are in trouble? Shreene says we have to follow codes that are wrong and incomprehensible. Jamie says the county can ignore the codes when they want to because the code says they can. Shireene says that wetland "experts" like Scott Rozenbaum can see things the rest of us can't. The head honcho is accused of intimidation, and is offended. Dehlendorf drags up Pratt's cancelled contract and PC appointments he disagreed with.
ReplyDeleteExcept for losing money, Land Bank waste, and PW incompetence, this one clip shows virtually everything wrong with county government.
Mike Thomas has done something no politician has been able. He's united all of us. None of us can stand him. I never thought I would be on the same side as David Dehlendorf.
ReplyDeleteWe are one.
Mike Thomas certainly has a new paragraph for his resume: "I made enemies on all parts of the political spectrum in San Juan County!!"
ReplyDeleteIn fact, potential employers will find quite the array of stories about him if they bother to Google. Assuming that Council hasn't designated him County Manager for Life.
Sounds like Mike Thomas is even more powerful than the Friends. That's probably an unfamiliar feeling for DD and SH. Historically, Stephanie B. and Janet A. would run everything.
ReplyDeleteIf yo work for San Juan County --Yoose work for Massa Thomas til yoooo six feet n da grave, brotha. He down talk to you da resss o yo lye-av.
ReplyDeleteWhy did he not use his super powers and declare her a wetland?
ReplyDeleteWait, the same Mike Thomas who's tape recorder stopped half way through his meeting with Geniuch, or -- a different Mike Thomas? I'm confused.
ReplyDeleteCould someone airbrush the side of my van with a picture of The Dorf riding a Heron through a rainbow?
ReplyDeleteMike Thomas and Pamela Morais are co conspirators in a plot to rid the County of all who have an independent thought.
ReplyDeleteIf you think for yourself, have morals, and believe the law should be applied fairly you are driven out and replaced by a yes-man hack.
The truly malevolent aspect to the plot is those yes-men are forced to accept management jobs with no severance package, unlike Mike Thomas who would get about $70,000 if he gets fired, so they effectively become Mike's puppets and completely at their master's mercy.
And this is how you create the perfect corruption machine.
Everyone should be aware that Mike Thomas performs one thankless task that no other human being would willingly perform.
ReplyDeleteHe is Rick Hughes' lunch buddy.
Considering the agony involved with that duty, I believe Mike is underpaid.
Next up - Shireene Hale accuses Gerber's Baby Applesauce of intimidation! Report at 11.
ReplyDeleteIn a related story, DCD sends out an alert to call the sheriff if anyone notices Gerber Strained Peas on county property
DeleteWow we do not deserve this as citizens. This makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteOf course you deserve it. You had a mediocre Council member from San Juan, and, because you were so hung up on the perception of a Machine, you replaced her with a known incompetent. Better you should have focused on finding a good candidate for the Council rather than spending all your energy bringing down the one who was there. This is the consequence of your focus on character assassination instead of on positive change. Reading the TH today it's apparent that nothing has changed, so I would expect more of the same.
DeleteNote that ECK is still on the "iceberg government" meme. Evil outsiders are the cause of all of San Juan County's (perceived) problems. The evil outsiders and the county elected officials have been completely replaced since the original introduction of this idea, but somehow the problem remains. Possibly you finger pointers should look at the four fingers faced back at you. You are the only constant in this equation (because you are still here). What can YOU do differently to make this a better place.
You are so right. The only problem in this county is a small blog that no one reads. That's the only constant here. Everything else in this county is different. The department heads are different. The committees are different. The prosecuting attorney is different. Judges. The DOE is different. Change and reform has swept through the county like a breath of fresh air. NOT.
DeleteGlad to see those who criticize and minimize the TH are so intimately familiar with its memes and themes. Glad to see those who criticize and minimize the TH give it credit for changing everything.
You think there was just one mediocre council member replaced with a known incompetent? There's only one constant here, and that's people like you thinking badly.
The events of yesterday prove to any reasonable person that the county is the supreme example of character assassination. Laid out before our eyes in real time was a WWE smackdown of intimidation manipulation between the two reigning champions. Hale vs. Thomas.
DeleteHale won.
Actually, many of the department heads are different, but they're not different, if you know what I mean. Gibboney replaced Beliveau. Not an upgrade. Thompkins replaced Manning, but then immediately sacrifices whatever credible independence he had by being Gibboney and Thomas's stooge against Geniuch. Public Works has a new head and it's too soon to tell, but how much can that department improve as long as Rachel Dietzman and Ed Hale are wandering the halls.
DeleteCorrection. I believe one of the points being made is that there is only one department head now. Mike Thomas runs everything.
DeleteUsing allegations of intimidation as intimidation. Puts people on the defensive. Direct hit by SH on MT. When did you stop beating your wife, MT? When will MT stop intimidating the public? You may think you're more clever by half Mr. Thomas, but I would wager that SH has more experience with the intimidation and civil discourse fraud than you. You are a rookie by comparison and you looked like a rube today. Way outsmarted by SH and DD. You took the bait. Fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteWhether MT really intimidated SH or whether she just made it up doesn't matter because Mr. Thomas undoubtedly was involved in cooking up intimidation charges against JG. I hope MT will have to answer for that. Now MT knows what it's like to be on the other side. You're offended?!? Now you know how CAO commenters felt. Now you know how JG felt.
Proverbs 5:22
Proverbs 5:22 - I like it.
ReplyDeleteAs you intimidate, so shall you be intimidated.
Way to go Mike. You now have managed to piss off the only two camps that pay any attention. Someone, JT perhaps, needs to cross stitch you a reminder for your office that says "Never Go Full Retard"
ReplyDeleteWow. The kindly shriekmeister David Dehlendorf always willing to hurl incoherent ideological dung balls at anyone or anything starting to stray from the Party Line. In his new role of protecting the innocent from intimidation from bullies. Sure pal.
ReplyDeleteAll I said is we don't deserve this and you attack. Wow
ReplyDeleteAnd all I was saying was that you (everyone) does deserve it because the opportunity to make a positive change is there, especially if you get out of the mode of attack, attack, attack. And, the opposition is mediocre, at best, so it should not be too hard to make a change. I see that people are dealing with the hospital situation in a positive way. The same could happen with county government, for sure.
DeleteOgod, not the "if you just be nice to them and ask" person again. They had a very long honeymoon period and squandered it. They betrayed us with inaction, tax increases, budget support for pointless politically inspired programs, no reform, horrifying staffing decisions, stalled committee appointments, bad committee appointments, and worst of all - a fundamental inability to understand what they were supposed to do - everything in county government needs to be revamped and improved.
DeleteIt's very hard to make a positive change when you put your faith in disengaged idiots. Their crowning achievement to date - Mike Thomas.
Thousands and thousands of hours wasted. WASTED. They are to politics what Greece is to money.
I still would like to know just one example, just ONE, of how the being nice to the county council has resulted in anything positive. Name one. Tell me something you've worked with them on that has had concrete positive results.
DeleteBy positive change, I meant put forward someone competent with a positive message to take over the job. And, meanwhile, there are ways to participate constructively that don't involve character assassination. There are even some on your side who do it well. I agree with your assessment of the current council, but, of course I did not support them in the first place.
DeleteYou may think I am a TH critic, but I am participating, and that has to be a positive for the TH.
I still don't know what you mean by character assassination. Give me an example of TH character assassination because I don't see it.
DeleteI see facts and occasional satire. Does John Stewart participate in character assassination?
You are participating even though we have differences. I give you credit for that.
DeleteTime for a serious overhaul. This place is wacked. How about people who can simply and positively get the damn job done.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Step up and do it. And, again, there are ways to participate right now. You could start tomorrow.
DeleteAgreed.....Already have and will continue to everything I can to help the citizens of this county because we have to be selfless. There is no other way. A must for a public servant.
DeleteAttack?
ReplyDeleteThat's all the SJC government does is attack.
Attacks people's property rights
Attacks people's income
Attack any who stand up to them
Attacks their own employees
And now?
ATTACKS THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ITS OWN CITIZENS!
We all may remember Shireene's rancor when she was one of the Attackers, but she is still a U.S. citizen who has a right to petition her government without being intimidated and brow-beat.
Here's a news flash Mike, we here in the San Juans may have wildly opposing views but trampling on someone's fundamental civil liberty is NOT one of them.
THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY - Pack your bags mister, you're on your way back to the mainland where you belong.
What is the previous commenter talking about a Mike Thomas and John Geniuch meeting recording that was lost or disappeared?
ReplyDeleteAnyone (original poster) have any more info on that?
I hadn't heard about that and would like to know more.
Everyone would. Not time yet. Until then: Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.
DeleteSo Emperor Thomas commands it and thy will be done?
ReplyDeleteIs that how this is supposed to work?
Does anyone know why the council is so enamored with this guy?
I get that it's fun to have a lunch buddy, but there has to be more than that?
Does the council of 3 really fall easily for the good game being talked?
Thomas is corrupt, arrogant, and willing to break rules and laws to fulfill his own ends including his apparent lust for power.
We need a real manager, one with less government experience, more experience transforming a fledgling company to a successful one. Not the same old process crap that gets us nowhere.
Sam Gibboney? That was Thomas's idea. Bring this lady over from public works. She is cut from the same cloth. Talk a good game. Use all the buzzwords. Promise the moon. Fail to deliver. Attack and blame subordinates.
Rick is an embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteHe's been seen palin' around with Mike so much that people are wondering when he's going to file for divorce.
No kidding. "JT" Hughes.
DeleteIf I might take a stab; when you have three people as lost and as inexperienced in basic management as our three Councilmen, they desperately seek a strong leader. Amazing, is it not, that these three knew what was expected of them, but almost immediately ducked all responsibility and grabbed someone they could dump their job on.
ReplyDeleteSo they did, and they got away with it for awhile until the guy they enthroned decided he do his own thing and none of the three gutless "bosses" took control back because that would involve actual work and a commitment to further work.
When you get paid for doing nothing, it's kinda tough to cut the cord.
8:04 and 12:24 are on the mark. Name one original motion brought to a Council meeting by any one of these three jerks that proposed a benefit to the public and I'll buy you a good ice cream.
Character assassination? Are you kidding? There is no character to assassinate.
They have written some very nice letters to agencies and departments who don't give a crap about their opinions.
ReplyDeleteThat's worth $70,000 a year right?
Now we know why Ricky was so eager to give his new BFF a massive pay raise after 9 months, he found someone to do his job AND think for him!
What a disaster.
@ 1:32
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow!
We now know who JT really is!
I think it's Mike's love term for Ricky - maybe "Juicy Toy"?
"Just Teasin'"?
"Jiffy Top"?
Je t'aime Hughes
DeleteMike Thomas's statements and public treatment of Shireene Hale are despicable.
ReplyDeleteHe has shown himself to be dishonest, corrupt, and generally untrustworthy. This is not the kind of leadership this county needs.
The council made a mistake and won't admit it.
Thomas is here until the 2016 election.
Hughes and Jarman have clearly cemented themselves in the 1-term department.
Lord willing, we will find 2 (or more) candidates, one for San Juan and one for Orcas to step in, place their personal lives in limbo, and rise to the challenge of selfless service with a commitment to better government.
What has been happening for years can not go on.
Some fairly well informed rumor bubbled up a few years ago shortly after Mike Thomas came in after the Community Conversation Guy moved on who filled the gap following the departure of Pete Rose (can you even remember all that?).
ReplyDeleteThe story was that Thomas was no fan of where the CAO politics were heading, he found the proposals to be pretty much overkill, preferring rather to stick with Corps of Engineers regs as the legally defensible baseline and much simpler to deal with (as an administrator.)
Now we have Jame Stephens lecturing Shirene the other day that basically, well, the county can interpret these new regulations pretty much any way it would like to on a case by case basis if some squeaky wheel out there needs a bit of grease. Who cares? After thousands of hours, millions of dollars, on going court battles and what not it just boils down to the whim of an elite. Shirene should well understand at this point that building a totally ungovernable regulatory Tower of Babel was going to result in just this kind of corruption, the kind of corruption that basically just seeks the easiest way to cut through the red tape.
So are we seeing a sort of background agenda coming in around the edges that is basically saying, if its good enough for the Corps of Engineers its good enough for us. Is this why the Bubble Machine is howling? I'm not one for giving MT a pass, in fact my curiosity about who this guy is and how he operates grows deeper by the day. I am just wondering if there is a bit of the old KISS factor working behind the scenes. Keep it Simple, Stoopid.
Who gets the KISS treatment and who doesn't?
DeleteThat theory does not fit with Sam G.'s appointment and continued presence. You don't hire Sam G. to be simple. Permits are piling up. It's longer and more complicated than ever to get anything done, and many people don't even try anymore it's so complicated. It's not simple at all.
DeleteThere is a fork in the road. One direction, labeled KISS is a fine clear and level path, straight and wide. The other, well, not so much. There is a gate and a guard on the KISS path ... few may pass. The other, well, there is a long line. It is slow going. It is the path maintained by Sam Gibboney.
DeleteWe all know why.
My take w/this council is that Jamie Stephens has undue influence over Rick and Bob. He has a way of sounding very authoritative w/an edge of sarcasm or suggestion of frustration when his boys don't get something or answer something the way he would like them to. He treated Bob Jarmon in a patronizing way early on and now seems to counter his patronizing w/something like apologies. And that seems to me to be because Bob is easily controlled and Jamie has figured out just the things that Bob responds to. The way Bob acted supportive of Shireene's public speak yet didn't even start to address the content was upsetting. My goodness. What a show they all make. Who could run for council next? I think all three need to go far far away.
ReplyDeleteIn the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. You have to remember that of the three, Jamie is arguably the only one with an IQ that approaches three digits (emphasis on "approaches"). Rick's hanging tough somewhere in the low to mid 80s and, sure, he can make himself a sandwich or read a ferry schedule, but c'mon, he's not going to be helping the kids with algebra homework. Jarman probably used to have a measurable IQ, but he's had general anesthetic too many times and has the wet brain and confusion that goes with people who've spent too much time as patients in hospitals. We don't have a council, we have a well-rounded field for the Special Olympics.
DeleteKISS? No correct acronym is derived from: Faux Enforcement Legislated Legalistically Allows Tremendous Institutional Obfuscation.
ReplyDeleteThe new reality among many of us is: Just Do It. Avoid any contact with "Government."
ReplyDeleteWhen you have a "superfly" that is buzzing around doing things that are unethical, corrupt, and in violation of your county manager's contract, it's time to get out a "Super Fly Swatter".
ReplyDelete(insert name here) for Council 2016 - The year of the fly swatter!
What's with SH telling the council their code is bad and needs fixing when she is the one who is responsible for its creation?
ReplyDeleteHey! I am not sure but I may have possibly heard a rumor but I really don't know that David Dehendorf might have been intimidating a local librarian to burn a very offensive book called "A Confederate General from Big Sur." Shocking. Just shocking. http://tinyurl.com/phzpayy
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing Dehlendorf bloviate about the need to censor that paint job on the General Lee replica truck in Friday Harbor, and then transition without a flinch to how horrible it was to intimidate people for exercising their right to free speech.
ReplyDeleteI know. Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed because it was lost on DD. DD - let me proudly tell you how I just pressured someone to take away their rights to free speech and expression; and then, I condemn those of you before me for pressuring Shireene to take away her rights to free speech and expression.
DeleteMeanwhile for MT - I'm offended by your allegations of intimidation but I allege intimidation by others.
It's been said many times before, but you can't make this up.
One more thing. DD and his crowd have been after the Carquest people for years. They could drive a Pope Mobile and DD would find something to complain about.
Dear Dorf,
ReplyDeleteYou truly epitomize the whacko left.
Lefties love censorship as long as it silences their opponents, but when it happens to their minions - WHOA!! Gotta stop that right now! Our minions deserve RIGHTS, and those rights MUST be protected!!
That guy with the Confederate Flag painted on a truck? OH NO NO he must bow to the lefty demagogue!
I'm no fan of superfly but I think I can speak for the entire TH nation in saying we've all been wanting to tell Shireene Hale to SHUT THE F*CK UP for a long time.
Loved it when Shireene gave her good sailing buddy Pam a pass on trampling her Constitutional rights - you lefties have absolutely no moral center to speak of.
The ends always justify the means, until the means targets you, then the fake righteous indignation pours out.
Dave, you're a pathetic joke.
If Thomas's management style is that of intimidating employees who are in fear of losing their job, so be it. That's what he was hired to do. Manage the county sheep. We might not like it, but we have made our choices to not work for county government.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not it was Shireene or not is irrelevant. He crossed the line (not the first time) when he attacked her in public session.
Thomas needs to go.
I agree with Dorf on that point. The whole confederate flag thing, that just shows that the D machine actually has a plan and talking points. Sad that Dorf is such a minion and tool, but it clearly exposes the frauds they are. Blind squirrel finding nuts, broken clock twice a day,,, and all that...
Even the Dorf will get something right on occasion. He did with Thomas.
Thomas needs to go. This issue isn't going away.
If Thomas is so easily annoyed by Siren Hale why the hell didn't he arrange for her departure a long time ago? And how is that Siren Hale is all of a sudden such a trembling shrinking violet that she needs the leadership of a political party to use her this way? How can she say you have to follow the rules when the Rube Goldberg contraption she built is so logically incoherent that no one can figure out what the rules are?
ReplyDeleteWhich of course flings open the doors for corruption in that there are those who will say: "I understand that there are rules, just not as how they apply to me ..."
"We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." Leona Helmsley AKA "The Queen of Mean"
ReplyDeleteOne small correction. There is no "TH Nation" if that means anything political. The TH from the very beginning has attracted folks of all stripes, but mostly people who think clearly and have little care or use for political ideology.
ReplyDeleteWell, we do hate our shitty island government, that does seem a given.
Ya-ta-hey. We of the noble TH Nation have been fighting for our tribal recognition for hundreds of years. Why does the Bubble Machine have so much territory? Were they here first? Legend has it those usurpers only arrived here on ferries from wealthy east coast plantations just before they changed the weather. It is written. Somewhere I guess.
ReplyDeleteThere is a TH nation.
ReplyDelete5:47 PM, you are mistaken. We will be made up of exactly who you describe, "mostly people who think clearly and little care or use for political ideology".
When in the Course of Island events, it becomes necessary for the islanders to dissolve the political bands which have been previously established by charter, and to assume among the powers the earth, the freedom from Olympia dictates and urban models, to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle us, from a healthy respect to the opinions of those we seek to dispose, we shall declare the causes which impel us to separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all islanders are created equal, that we are endowed by our Creator with rugged individualism absent any need for intrusive governance, and that we are endowed by our Creator with abundant unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. To secure these rights, a small local government is instituted among Islanders, deriving its powers from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.
Whenever this or any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Do you get it?
We demand small local government.
The monster needs to be slain and replaced. It has morphed from a board of county road commissioners to a 51 million dollar behemoth.
May God bless the Trojan Heron Nation.
Hopefully God will. But it is unlikely to help much. Now we all of the TH must find ways other than expensive lawsuits to throw the buggers out. Many thanks to those who took that task in hand and the many who funded the effort. Problem is it takes too long and the courts are stacked with government supporters.
ReplyDeleteWe need a better more efficient mode of attack.
OK. Remember various lawsuits are still grinding along and more in the pipeline. But, how much money has been raised and invested in legal battles so far? What could be done with a war chest half that amount? Don't knock the lawsuits. They are powerful even with losses. So much is learned, issues become so clear, and some behavior will change.
ReplyDeleteWe have to remember that our goal must be SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
We must begin now to seek out reasonable people on Orcas and San Juan and assure them that support for a campaign on their behalf is ready willing and waiting.
ReplyDeleteCertainly this effort needs to be through. I mean I thought Patty Miller was a hands down good find and Fralick also a good choice. YIKES!!! Patty knew all the right answers but somehow never had the guts to vote in the interest of islanders. Fralick got so far back in his lounge act at the dais I feared he would fall over, but he at least never nodded off in a crescendo of snore with Rosenfeld. Not much else though.
Our need is to find candidates that have vision and a real interest in getting things going like in a normal well run government. A government wherein the answer to every problem is not a new or higher tax. (Read the current focus on vacation rentals.)
Systemic change must come with a mind set that views working for the electorate as a responsibility respected after election.
In that last several years, I can't think of an issue where government elected people have not been out to screw the public out of every nickel they could get. And in fact that has been focus of most in not all of their governmental actions.
I don't know how we can avoid another Patty, but we should start now to find someone. At least one of the Friday Harbor Town Council might be good. Your choice?
John Genuich.
DeleteGeniuch?
DeleteAre you serious?
Someone who worked hard to diligently support the construction community through common sense solutions?
Someone who stood up to illegal government action even at personal risk to a career?
That sounds like hard work, honesty and integrity.
Not a prayer as an elected.
Yes!!!!! Someone who has our back. Is honest selfless and will manage a budget as if it was his own household rather than a pot of money to throw around.
DeleteI would be very interested to hear more about a possible Geniuch candidacy. An early start would have a first mover advantage. There is also a real plus for someone coming in 1) knowing how the system works and what buttons to push and 2) knowing what the system will do to you if it can.
ReplyDeleteI know we all want outside plain folks but really, that rarely happens. Patty was crawling all over committees for years, Jamie had been the Entitled Mayor of Lopez Village and even aw shucks Bob has been commissioner and board guy of this and that for years. And always knew where the bodies -- er I mean cables -- were buried. Bob Meyer? Gimme a break, a creature of the Machine if there ever was one, and Gene was a former PA. Keven - don't get me started. And Lovel? Ewww. So yeah, John Geniuch would be an excellent candidate for my money.
I'd be happy with the first candidate who openly commits to replacing the over priced Prothman hack Mike Thomas, the unqualified Sam Gibboney, and the corrupt Morais.
ReplyDeleteThey are the heart of SJC's problems at the moment.
Someone like John has real sense for how things work on the inside and out. Its a no brainer. They fire the best thing we had and we can simply rehire him. Let's do it! From here forward it is nothing but positive changes.
DeleteWhat is so interesting is that given the fact those three individuals are exempt employees they serve at the pleasure and can be dismissed without cause, as in "Gosh we love ya, but we just need to make some changes, nothing personal, don't let the door hit you on the way out." Done. Although I suspect Thomas has a well negotiated poison pill employment contract with a sizable parachute. Is that accessible to a public records request?
ReplyDeleteThen that is the mistake of those in office now. Lets cut our losses, pay him his severance and put him on the next boat.
DeleteGreat idea. These good old boys simply put........are ruining stuff! 2016 will be an exciting year for change. I will continue to do my part.
ReplyDeleteI think the further we get out in front of this the better off every one will be and the less money will need to be raised including the opposition. Let them know well in advance it is time for them to cut their losses as well ... I say demoralize the hell out of them. Kill them with kindness. Exude condescending pity and make them feel very small ...
ReplyDeletePerfectly said. We shall be kind and exude professionalism. A solid solution to our current problem..
ReplyDeleteThink professionalism. Think budget. Get out ahead on the 2016 budget process. Single best way to follow the money and see how the pigs are arranged at the trough. Finally, get a roster of everyone who has been directly involved in Leadership San Juans since inception, in any capacity. The reasons will become clear as we move along. That's not necessarily a blacklist, but its an important list. The goal was never leadership as much as it has been indoctrination and vetting. Some took to it hook line and sinker. Others were appalled and felt deceived. Others fell somewhere in the middle. But not a nuetral program. If you are looking at a generational shift, which would be a real good idea IMHO you need to come up to speed on LSJI, who created it and why, how people are being positioned once they come to acquire the taste of koolaid.
ReplyDeleteSooooo Disappointed with Bob Jarman. Supporting him was a hugh mistake.
Delete“Finally, get a roster of everyone who has been directly involved in Leadership San Juans since inception, in any capacity. The reasons will become clear as we move along. That's not necessarily a blacklist,”
DeleteActually, it should be a blacklist. LSJI is a tool of The Machine.
Orcas, you're up next. Who you like?
ReplyDeleteBack on SJI; love the Geniuch call, an excellent choice, but we would have to deal with attacks on his legal issues with the existing pro-forma. I think we can do that by telling the truth. The guy got sucker punched right in the kisser.
99% of us want honest government. Genuich is an excellent choice. It should not take this many months to get a damn permit. He asked for help, the money was there and the answer was NO?!? He has what it takes that's a fact! We need someone on Orcas who mirrors this standard.
ReplyDeleteI guess we'll find out in time if Geniuch thinks this is a good idea, hope he's reading along and talking to folks. I bet there could be others as well. Orcas, I would note that Orcas demographics are the most favorable in the county to young working families with children. Also, for years, Orcas was assumed to be almost impossible to organize due to geography, scattered hamlets and "too many zip codes." In the age of Facebook however, all that has changed, and the online social networking is really transforming on that island, and favors the younger population. I don't see the same phenomena on SJ and Lopez, I know this is happening everywhere but Orcas is unique in the County in this respect. I would find a few folks who know what's up over there and go hang at the little microbrew place just outside of Eastsound and chat up the regulars and staff there.
ReplyDeleteI hope so. John pretty please, we need you NOW!
ReplyDeleteAnyone willing to file a whistleblower claim on our out of control government has my vote.
ReplyDeleteJohn Geniuch for Council!!
I hope Trust Islanders! The CSA, and all fair minced people will realize that aw-shucks BJ is a failure and complete disapointment.
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the machine has good 'ol BJ dismantled?
Anyone?
Exactly, he did however raise our taxes and voted to hire a Prothman zealot for $140,000/ year and fire John Geniuch for pulling back the curtain of CD&P funding scam.
Way to go Bob.
John Geniuch has my vote.
@6:12
ReplyDeleteI know BJ is good buddies with many of the CSA leaders.
What say you CSA?
Did you not support BJ?
Tell us all what he has done to dismantle the Machine?
He has supported raising our taxes, has not overturned the CAO, and is caught doing what the FOSJ does, but to date none of us have heard any condemnation.
CSA = Comforting Stupid Administrators
Jarman has not done anything we elected him to do. NOTHING.
ReplyDeleteSome of the CSA members are staunch supporters of him, no matter what. Some are realizing that we elected someone who is wholly unqualified.
Herein lies the crux of what needs to change.
We need new candidates that are not part of either machine, not affiliated with any party.
Candidates that are willing to make personal sacrifice for the benefit of the community. Not the same old cronyism that goes on. We can't have someone who is angling zoning law changes to benefit their Eastsound land holder friends. We can't have a FOSJ candidate who is pushing their agenda, and we can't have some ancient "aw shucks" guy who can't get anything done besides laughing at his own jokes.
Geniuch might be a good candidate if he is willing to make the sacrifice. Lord knows he has already sacrificed quite a bit for the county. Can we get him to give a little more? If he is anything like most of the taxpayers of this county, continually being asked to give and give more, it should work.
It might be a hard sell. To ask someone to delve back in to a machine that unjustly brutalized them already.
It's worth a shot.
Orcas presents a dilemma. Rick Hughes and his new buddy buddy relations with Ranker and Thomas have probably firmed up the over inflated ego of Hughes and he is likely going to run again, in spite of his glaring incompetence and lack of achievement.
I want to hear soon from possible candidates and see what vision they can articulate.
We know what the problems are, what are the solutions that candidates will put forward?
Hughes IS going to run again. He's been saying that for at least 12 months to anyone unfortunate enough to make eye contact with him. Being open about it is a smart move politically (which makes me think it wasn't his idea), because it will have the effect of freezing anyone contemplating running for the seat. A Hillary-style move.
DeleteI'd bet a small but sporting amount of money that Jarman won't run for reelection. His health problems are well known, he got pounded over the greenhouse debacle, the council expended a fair amount of political capital papering over the Portland Faire wetlands issue and Jarman still has his utter and complete legal f*** up vis a vis Genuich in the on deck circle.
Watch for The Machine to pick a candidate early - they got out maneuvered by CSA and Trust Islanders last time when Jarman was elected and they don't want it to happen again. Jarman has been absolutely shitty as a council member, but he hasn't been an automatic second vote for Jamie. Other than greenhouses, Rick has been Jamie's second vote (still don't understand this, I'm convinced there's some backstory to Ricky's pro pro pro greenhouse stance that hasn't come to light yet). As bad as he is, Jarman is probably the reason that Jamie hasn't gone full-FOSJ on us. A Machine candidate in Jarman's seat ensures that we won't really need to even have council meetings any more - we can just wait for the joint weekly memo from Zee, The Dorf and Stephanie Buffum to be released by Mike Thomas. We can go 100% theme park then. Can't wait for the new zoning encouraging wheelwright, cobblers and taxidermist businesses. Oh wait, that's Lopez Village. We're so fucked.
We're so far beyond fucked that the light from fucked won't reach us for two years.
Delete" ... not part of either machine ... " Thank you for (finally) recognizing the true nature of CSA. Wouldn't you say that the CSA types over the years have sought mediocre candidates whom they can manipulate once in office. They used to be known as "good ol' boys". The pushback against this began, in San Juan County, as far back as the recall of Alton Boyce in the late '70s. Eventually the other side prevailed, developing their own version of good ol' boys, and thus the Trojan Heron came about as pushback to the pushback.
ReplyDeleteBasically, you need elected officials with enough character and self-confidence (and competence, too, I guess. It is sad that so many, on both sides, appear to lack the ability to even understand the issues.) to take advice into account but to make their own decisions. I have never before been in favor of a "none of the above" option on the ballot, but such a thing would have been useful in recent county elections.
Is there anyone in San Juan County with the character and competence to do the job, are they willing to serve, and if they step up, will the voters recognize a good thing when they see it?
There is and I sure hope so. Some of us would have to sacrifice our careers to run. However, watching what has gone on I feel obligated to step up if someone else does not.
ReplyDeleteSacrifice our careers to run?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, that makes Geniuch an even better candidate.
The sacrifice has already been made, courtesy of the County,
Agreed.....Go Geniuch! Where do I send my first contribution.
ReplyDeleteWe do need someone intelligent, competent, and confident sitting on the Council who is not afraid to stand up for what he or she believes, get rid of the bad eggs, and allow our good County employees to do their jobs. I am not sure John Geniuch is the one for the job as I have seen his alter ego. In my case he provided false testimony to the Hearings Examiner after the Record was closed to further testimony. Even more disturbing was the e-mail I have which shows that he had private meetings outside of his office with my opposing counsel. He did not discuss his conclusions with his coworkers or supervisors before writing the Hearings Examiner and that is testament to the dysfunctionally of CD&PD, or CDP, or DCD, (whatever they are calling themselves now). To his credit he did recant his statements after a coworker told him the error of his ways but that was too late for him and also for me. This whole incident shows a lack of semblance to any working relationship between the Council and Department Heads and their employees. When they are all fighting among themselves or patting themselves on the back nothing of any importance gets done.
ReplyDeleteI am a proponent of a Citizen Review Board made up of competent individuals who are not adverse to getting off their high horse, putting aside their bias views, and interpreting the Code we have when called upon by a private citizen who is not getting answers through the system. This would benefit individuals who feel they are not being treated fairly or have questions about how DCD or other Departments came to the decision they did and more importantly why they came to that decision. I am sure in the above pool of ‘anonymous' there are many such individuals who would give up their time to assist the Council make intelligent, informed decisions and be able to thwart the behavior we have been seeing of late. I have only received lip service for my efforts and was told that it is not needed or there would be no call for it as only 2 or 3 issues in the last several years would qualify for any outside review.
It is time to take back control of our County. Seems like all the Departments are fighting for a bigger piece of the pie. DCD wants more planners yet can’t keep the good ones they have, the PA latches on to any disagreement and turns it into a litigation issue so they can justify their staff, Public Works needs more dollars to widen the road corridor and raise the overhead canopy all the while telling us that roads are safer that way and increased speeding is an enforcement issue. Soon we will have the Sheriffs Department asking for more deputies to control speeders. Does anybody over there get the big picture that we came to the San Juan’s because they are beautiful and special and we want to keep them that way without all these regulations and the huge budget with the resulting increase in taxes?
I could submit this as anonymous but the powers that be already know who wrote this. I have bombarded Rick, Bob, Jamie, Mike, Rachael, and Randy with my objections to their own decisions and actions and their employees decisions and actions in order to defend my person and property rights. As anonymous knows, standing up to that crowd is not for the the easily discouraged nor for the faint of heart. It is time to get some good people in office who will listen to citizens and who will stand up and make a difference when necessary for all our benefit. We have a chance next year to make a difference. Lets do it.
Michael Durland, property owner and business owner on Orcas Island since 1977.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteJohn is a good man who risked his career and paid a heavy price to expose the county's illegal use of building funds.
It's far too easy to sit on the outside and throw stones at people on the inside who have taken a stand.
Perhaps you would be willing to stop calling Rick Hughes to complain and run against him for council.
I would be glad to talk to you about Geniuch and the whole lot of them. Call me.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Michael Durland
ReplyDeleteSpreading joy and happiness throughout Deer Harbor one law suit at a time.
"One law suit at a time"?
DeleteTry "multiple ongoing lawsuits spanning decades".
Isn't he suing the PA's office and Code Enforcement officer for "civil rights violations"? Using an attorney that was running around the state filing small claims for "civil rights violations" at the amount that is likely to get settled, in the sub $10k range?
It's like ambulance chasing only much more douchey.
Probably wise to heed the cautions about the supposed new savior. You need look no further than the examples of Bob and Rick to see the consequences of not doing that.
ReplyDeleteI would rather vote for someone who has enemies because he did something than vote for a do-nothing who everyone likes. As an employee, John G. has tried to do more to change government than any elected official. He has my vote.
DeleteFace it. No one from Orcas should talk about who is qualified for office. With maybe one exception, our elected officials from Orcas form an unsurpassed pantheon of backstabbing, self-impressed, con men and women. Orcas is Lopez without the congeniality and thorazine. I especially am not in the habit of taking lessons in how to treat my neighbors from anyone from Deer Harbor.
Taking responsibility for your own actions is soooo just not Orcas.
I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression from my comments. Rick, you're not the one exception.
DeleteAgreed. Well said. I would rather vote for someone who put themselves out there to change this norm. I know very few that do not like John and those who don't were being naughty. John has my vote too. As we learned in the Rice and Portland Fair ordeals, respect thy neighbor and do what is right. We also cannot have a government who creates rules which set people up to fail. Only a candidate like John can change that and make sure the balances are in place for success.
DeleteLopez & Thorazine? Nope.
DeleteWhat island has the resident who sucker punched an OPALCO employee? Lopez.
What island sent a flash mob to the hardware store to start an impromptu demonstration because they sell RoundUp? Lopez.
What island provides the entertainment for the others regarding a $12 charge on their OPALCO bills? Lopez.
What island can get enough whiners ginned up to complain that the staging area for OPALCO equipment isn't "pretty enough" that OPALCO ends up spending thousands of dollars to build a pretty fence? In an area of the island where the predominate housing unit is abandoned travel trailers? Lopez.
Want to start a fistfight at Blossom? Whisper the phrase "It'd be awesome if we actually got cell phone service on this island". Brace yourself for what follows.
What island has residents actively planning secession from the U.S. and a return to a hunter-gatherer society? Lopez.
Lopez would be less dysfunctional if they sent nurses aides daily to ensure residents were actually taking their Thorazine. Seriously.
The new Lopez Village plan for telecommunications? Phone booths. Seriously - you can look it up in the draft. Before they trundled along with that festering turd of a plan, did anyone bother to call CenturyLink to see if there's anyone still employed at CL who knows what a "phone booth" is?
DeleteLopez: where early 20th century technology goes to die.
I think the future of San Juan County is Orcas. Yeah I know about the sleazy side of Eastsound and the anti-competitive mindset of some businesses that set upon any newcomer who might potentially carve off a bit of local marketshare; there is a local mafia there for sure. There is a mindset that somehow allowed the public works buffoons to pour grant money into a festering sump of a "constructed wetland."
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, fabulous Saturday Market that actually works in its diversity and tone, unlike the sad creepy little commie collectivist funny farmer back alley Brickheads in Friday Harbor.
Orcas population pretty much on par with San Juan. Think census data will show younger demographics on Orcas. What I am saying is that there is a voter bloc on Orcas that is tired of the old guard and local mafia over there and would like to break out. Rick is not their candidate of choice and more than Lisa would have been, and there are probably good alternatives there.
Orcas has the potential to carry the election, because even though council candidates are selected at the district level, they are voted on at the general level. And Orcas voters can swing the outcome.
I don't doubt the influence of Orcas, I doubt their political judgment. I hope Orcas isn't the future. How depressing. Not that I can disagree with you about the other islands though.
DeleteWe need to find a candidate that 100% of the people like 100% of the time. Then we won't have a problem.
ReplyDeleteThat will never happen... think about it. Especially in SJI one of the most controversial places I have ever lived and I am from Washington not a Californian import.
DeleteI am guessing that was meant to be sarcastic, in response to the fact that anyone who is mentioned for office as a potential candidate will have some level of detractors.
DeleteYes. 100% is a pipe dream for any candidate. There will always be a handful of detractors.
DeleteI guess my wants are more simple. I just want someone who works hard to solve problems and make necessary government efficient in its service to the people.
ReplyDeleteBut, my big want is to have someone who works for the people and NOT for the State, NOT for Special Interests, and NOT for the enrichment and power of the Upper Levels of County Government Staff.
You said it!, in service to the people not just the ones that make noise! God forbid!
Deletethink about the ones that dont speak, the ones that are hold up behind locked gates because these elected jerks dont understand the liberties they give away!
the Introverts!
Who is "The One" on Orcas?
ReplyDelete"Sue thy neighbor".
ReplyDelete-Book of Orcas 4:13
Another name on SJI is Alexandra (Alex) Gavora. (We're on our knees here Alex)
ReplyDeleteAlex would be great!
DeleteWell on Orcas last time our three candidates were Lisa Byers, Greg Ayers, and of course Rick. Any thoughts on how Byers or Ayers would have turned out on the job?
ReplyDeleteAre there any new possibilities for candidates from Orcas next time around? Is there a Cincinnatus lurking on Orcas who could be drafted - trusted to fire half the county staff, destroy the embedded bureaucracy, and then return to his/her farm afterwards?
Ayers is a pompous rich guy who is out of touch with the requirements of struggling to live here. Byers doesn't really need the job. She has more control of the county currently as a non-member of the council than Rick has ever had while in office.
DeleteRick is a salesman and that is what got him the job. He sold, we bought and now we are past the return date. He'll likely win reelection because it's hard to do anything too wrong while you are doing nothing at all.
I'd like to see Nick Jones from Lopez run.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteWe need someone from Orcas who is under 50, has actually WORKED for a living and is not afraid to be hated by every person on Orcas at least 49% of the time.
ReplyDeleteAnd please god, not someone who has worn a tie to work every day of their life. We have proven that a council of bureaucratic bullshit is not working!
Neither Bob nor Rick have any personal awareness of how messed up the county is. They didn't "get it" before they were elected. Four years into their term, they still don't get it. It's not that we need someone under 50 with a job or blah blah blah. We just need someone of any age who gets it. Under 50 with a job? You mean Kyle Loring? Mike Thomas? Linda Lyshall?
DeleteStop evaluating people on meaningless criteria. The only criterion that should matter is whether they want reform bad enough to actually attempt it.
I come here every so often for entertainment and had to reply to this thread. Finding good people to run for Council is imperative. Seems like anonymous may be jumping the gun for Geniuch. Did anyone call Michael to find out what his experience was? For that matter did anyone call Geniuch to find out first hand what happened? It is no wonder persons are leery about running after what happened to Michael. He proposed an idea that had some merit that might rein in Departments and gets slammed because he stood up to the PA in a lawsuit. Is that a bad thing now? I thought anonymous was looking for someone not afraid to stand up to the old guard. Randy is as entrenched and old guard as they get. Would be good if the Council would stand up to him now and again. They have the power to ask for a second opinion you know. Oh, and by the way, San Juan voted in Rick last election. Orcas voted overwhelmingly for Lisa, so San Juan, Rick is your doing. Both Rick and Bob are on your hands.
ReplyDeleteTouche. You are right that San Juan voted in the current council, but there's no way you can get around the previous comment that the candidates and elected officials from Orcas have been deplorable. No one expects a good candidate from Lopez, although the suggestion of Nick Jones is a good one, because the population of Lopez is too small and mostly beholden to the Ecoboro Bufferist Church or the Leisure Community Land Trusts. By contrast, I would have hoped that the populations of San Juan and Orcas could conceivably put up at least some respectable candidates, but I'm still waiting for that to happen. The candidates from San Juan may not have set the world on fire, but omg, you look at what Orcas has produced for candidates over the past 10 years, and it's a horror show. In terms of narcissistic egoists, Orcas is in a league of its own.
DeleteRegarding Michael Durland's suggestions, I love them. I think they are terrific.
As for Michael Durland versus John Geniuch, you might as well argue about Mac versus PC or Pepsi versus Coke. There is no right answer, just sides. Michael advocates for his interests. John had a job to do. John's supporters may not like the way Michael looks after his interests. Michael's supporters may not like the way John did his job. No matter because they're never going to agree about the past. However, they both have first-hand experience with the corruption and bias in the county. I think they should work together. I don't think that will happen, but I wish they would anyway.
Michael Durland should run as a candidate from Orcas and John Geniuch should run as a candidate from San Juan. I would support them both.
DeleteYes Geniuch erred and screwed Michael over, as does Randy to the people (always) we have learned "that" can always be expected. But seriously Michael's view is not a popular one, too much isn’t considered. Why can’t someone move in to protect people, their ability's to live privately in a community where opinions are as diverse as people can be? The Rural Character of the island is disappearing quickly to me, rural character is most critically centered on people and people that historically choose to live privately in rural areas are being outlawed by rules and regulations that simply do not allow for character. It is criminal to watch this happen. Does anyone else feel this way? Popularity effects people in some pretty distasteful ways, it can turn an egotist into a backstabbing lying asshole that most people don’t see because of the face he puts on, and it can turn a nice guy into a total dummass jerk for other reasons like “temporary insanity” I’m not naming names just saying
ReplyDeleteAsk the County Council and the Planning staff why they are so resistant to having the required Rural Element in our Comprehensive Plan.
ReplyDeleteIts pretty obvious they are both too dam dumb to understand, and at would cut too deeply into their ability to fuck people over to do anything about it.
Delete"Rural" means what? They dont want to know any more than the pretty post card what it looks like, not what it is. dont give a FUCK about the people,rural areas mean, outskirts, places where we the fringe, we know this,it is who we are, this is not a democracy, but a republic, it is a place where people "all of whom are invested in this place" rural spaces are about respect for privacy, respect for differences, our county government has been turned upside down for too dam many years "what does it mean to be an islander after all" we dont have to share mainland bullshit values, we can choose to live at a higher level. our differences should be nothing more than topics of meaningful discussion not the likes of which bring about public nuisance because some dumb ass decided to put it to ordinance that SJC doesnt accept your living circumstance thank You Randy, and all of our good democrats. Of course our Republican friends were so busy looking after their own asses they forgot to look after their neighbors. Weve got just exactly what we asked for nothing less. This should be the Platform of our county government Period!
"Rural Character", gee that sounds pretty Libertarian
DeleteThe only thing Michael has been doing is harassing his neighbor with endless law suits.
ReplyDeleteMichael, like so many on Orcas, wants the County out of their business but very much into their neighbour's.
I don't trust people who sue their neighbours.
No idea what he's talking about in regards to Geniuch but I do know Geniuch exposed fraud in CD&P and was fired for it.
I'll take a whistleblower over someone who a hypocrite any day.
I am tired of Angercrats
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should tell my story. I stood up for my property rights against DCD and Randy when they issued an After-the-Fact building Permit and After-the-Fact Change of Use Permit for my neighbors storage barn allowing it to be turned into a guest house. The barn sits 17” from my property line. During my Shoreline Development Permit in 1986/1987 it was agreed by Planning, Building, the owner of the barn, and the Board of Adjustment that the barn was an illegally built building but we would allow the barn to stand as an illegal storage building as a buffer to the proposed industrial/commercial boatyard next door. Not once was I asked about the history of the storage barn 17” from my property line when the neighbors got caught with illegal construction. The reasons that were given to me for the change of use were that the barn had been built 10’ from the property line then my boundary line moved. This statement is absolutely false. The second reason that was given was that in a private agreement as part of my Shoreline Development Permit I had agreed not to build a building within 20’ of the barn and I was told that this private agreement superseded County Code setback requirements. Another absolutely false statement. That is why I sued the County. I again sued the County because they issued a simple building permit in the shoreline to these same neighbors instead of requiring a Variance or Conditional Use Permit. People try to make this a neighbor against neighbor issue but I sued the County in order to protect my property rights and I am sure every one of you would feel the same way though you may not have the conviction or fortitude to do the same. We all have restrictions on what we can do on our property and the only way this works is that our neighbors have the same restrictions. Where this goes awry is when one of us takes advantage of his neighbor by circumventing the Code. Would you sit still if you were required to build 50’ back from the shoreline and then your next door neighbors were given a permit to build 10’ back from the same shoreline and directly in your view? Would this devalue your property? This happens time and time again because it is more about who you know, how much money you have, or how good a lawyer you have. We need a Council who will listen to citizen concerns rather that the message I received from Randy early on - "The County has moved on and so should you”. What I have received for my convictions and fortitude is Code Enforcement which when confronted in Court the County retracted the Notice of Violation.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am most concerned about is that a seemingly well liked member of DCD felt he could go off on his own without discussions with his coworkers or supervisors and documentation shows that he had private meetings outside DCD with an opposing attorney. This tells volumes about the dysfunctionally of not only DCD but the County Administrator and the Council as well. Most of our County employees are intelligent, diligent people but when they have supervisors who tell them to what to do without regard for the proper procedures or proper Code requirements what happened to me and what happened at Portland Fair will continue to occur. Anonymous can slam me all you want. Nobody can stay in business in these Island for 30 years and not make a few enemies. If any of you want a meaningful discussion of who should replace the current Council it is time to move this out of the anonymous column and get serious.
Michael Durland
"What I am most concerned about is that a seemingly well liked member of DCD felt he could go off on his own without discussions with his coworkers or supervisors and documentation shows that he had private meetings outside DCD with an opposing attorney."
DeleteThat did not happen, at least not the way you imply. There was no conspiracy against you, at least not involving the Building Inspector. This wasn't Portland Fair where someone did a favor for someone else and word went out to the Building Inspector to "get you." John Geniuch, as Building Inspector, provided information to the Hearing Examiner about your case. When he realized the information he provided was incorrect, because your own attorney raised that point during the hearing, he subsequently did further research to correct it. As he discovered, there turned out to be two sets of county books regarding the permit in question that had the effect of two permits being issued with the same number. Who could have known that ahead of time? When John Geniuch provided the corrected information to the HEX, the county got upset with him and you did too because it weakened your case. Be that as it may, none of that affected the outcome of your case according to the Hearing Examiner himself who explicitly addressed the matter in his ruling. It did not turn out the way you wanted, and you may have been screwed and been the victim of discretionary enforcement perhaps, but you are barking up the wrong tree by trying to blame any of your woes on John Geniuch.
I agree with the previous commenter that if you are that upset with the county, you should run for office yourself. Discretionary enforcement is a terrible problem here. Question for you. Are you in favor of the county actively hunting down people who may be in violation? Your spoke up when your neighbors seemed to get away with something. Should that be county policy - to hunt down violators? If you knew of some other violators of county code, would you speak up and turn them in? Your ideas about a Citizen Review Board are fine and dandy, but how would cases get there in the first place?
I agree Michael. The laws apply to everyone, pretty simple. We cannot have people in office who are unable to do this. Nothing more.
DeleteIf the laws apply to everyone, then we should see a record of Michael turning in any number of his friends through the years. Do we see that?
DeleteWe should also see Michael's participation in all sorts of property rights policy issues over the years too? Do we see that?
DeleteDurland's views on consistency are not consistent with his own record of inconsistency. I support what he says, but he's looking for consistency only when it benefits him.
DeleteIf my neighbor got away with doing something under the radar I certainly wouldn't snitch on them.
ReplyDeleteYour argument seems like classic 5 year olds tattle telling.
Mooooom! You made me clean my room and not Joey!!
Good grief.
I don't know about making enemies by doing business but suing people usually does it.
When it is a flagrant violation of laws that apply to everyone else you betcha we can turn them in. I cannot see sitting idle while they require you to do something but another does not and then tell you basically fuck off......we will do what we want.
DeleteI see. Michael turns in his neighbors, but not the Speeds. The Speeds pick on Pearson, and it ricochets back on them because of flagrant violations. I see how these flagrant violations work now. Before you know it, you've got Orcas.
DeleteYou are completely missing the distinction between neighbors hating one another and "property rights." These are not property rights battles. These are battles between neighbors who hate one another for any number of reasons, and they will use whatever tools are at their disposal to go at it. Don't pretend you have a principled position on "rights" or "property" because you are just looking for ways to win your petty battles, nothing more.
6:55-Clearly you've never had terrible neighbors and had to deal with the County...
ReplyDeleteUntil you have been grossly, negligently screwed over by the county. you have NO ROOM to criticize a neighbor that tries to defend his property rights. Michael was correct in his actions.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to move past these gross instances of negligence. There is no justice in the courts not against the county
I agree too.
DeleteOkay, so Michael was protecting his property rights. Weren't his neighbors doing the same thing? Each side was advocating for their property rights and at least one of them was going to be upset with the outcome. This isn't a situation where the state or county was taking away property rights, it was a conflict between two people and one of them was going to lose.
DeleteYou ignore the fact that what the neighbors have in common is repeated errors by DCD that are not corrected, and when a citizen brings them up, that citizen gets retaliated against, all in usual incompetent DCD way. Pearson got some erroneous permits; Speed complained; County decided to chase Speed rather fix the Pearson thing. And worse with Durland--Neighbor built way too close to Durland's property line; county gave Durland right to operate boat yard. Then neighbor takes violation further with guest house. Durland complains and rather than fixing neighbor's issues, they start backpedaling on what he was approved to do--after a decade. Trying to put him out of business with a vengeance. Vengeance is real big over at the PA and DCD. Don't dare ask them to do their jobs or question their au-thor-i-TAY. So, yeah, it is the County taking property rights by letting neighbors get away with stuff that interferes with your use of your property.
DeleteWe all have to play by the same rules and if a building was built without permits and did not follow the regulations it should be removed period. I have seen it happen to some and not others. If you buy a property with a violation then you inherit it.
ReplyDeleteWe all have to play by the same rules, but who made up that rule? Tell me when the county has ever forced someone to remove a building? This is exactly what the Friends want. They want people to remove their buildings for whatever reason they happen to have grant funding for at the moment.
DeleteYou have to be kidding me if you think that's property rights. My idea of property rights is leaving people alone. Yours is to make people remove their buildings even when there is no precedent for it. You have made up a rule and think everyone ought to follow it.
In fact, the people who genuinely argue for property rights fight tooth and nail to protect non-conforming structures from your kind of "playing by the rules," which are a figment of your imagination, but that's property rights on Orcas. Dress yourself in the flag and property rights when you want to be a victim. Then, dress yourself in the flag and property rights when you want to persecute someone too.
The last thing you guys understand is how to "play by the same rules."
There is a difference between legal non-conforming and illegal. If a structure is illegal, then at least theoretically, it can be removed. I agree with the previous comment that the county, as bad as they are, tries mightily not to do this even in that case. For legal non-conforming, there are no grounds for removing the building, unless of course, you work for Ecology and give powerpoint presentations that say so.
DeleteI'm sorry, but you lost me at "should be removed period." There may be a job opening for you at the state though.
Thank you 9:49 remove a building bullshit, not unless it is built on my land by a trespass
ReplyDeleteThe distinction is in the nuisance. A trespass or what the county refers to as a nuisance!
ReplyDeleteEvery building is a nuisance and trespass according to the Friends.
DeleteFor our county to permit an expansion of an occupancy to include residential occupation of a structure 17 " from Michael's property line Is a trespass, no only by the neighbor against michaels wishes but by the county in extending the legality of such occupation with no consideration for the nuisance the physically created. This is simple. That doesn't mean tear it down
ReplyDeleteIt might be an increase in non-conformity, but it's not trespass.
DeleteOh there we disagree, this created a real and significant threat to the quiet title the peace and tranquility and liability this occupation effects on Durland, for protection from fire or other hazard. This occupation is an effective 0 lot line setback not at all appropriate for the variation of occupancy characters.
ReplyDeleteNot even sure what you said, but I agree that we disagree.
DeleteMaybe you just lack the experience to fully comprehend the impact of your misunderstanding
ReplyDeleteYou could be right, but I rather think it's because I fail to comprehend gibberish.
DeleteThe real masterpiece took place following the neighbor issue, when the county piles on against Mr. Durland on a pile of nonsensical issues in an enforcement action, just like the Bullies they have become. While I may agree on the outcome concerning the neighbor and the private nuisance Mr Durland tried to defend against, The county "then" decides to get back at Mr Durland for his behavior in defending his rights. This is where as reasonable people you must draw the line. As a county, every citizen deserves representation, "All of the time"
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly that our beloved county is petty, vindictive, mean, capricious, and makes examples of people. That's the way we roll. That goes for the council, the prosecuting attorney, and pretty much the whole shootin' match.
DeleteLet's not encourage it though. The way to back off is to have fewer laws that are more clear and to stop using the dysfunctional laws to go after people we hate. If I hate my neighbor, that's my problem, not his.
That's Right, That is not "the way to roll" that is not the way "WE" roll, time for CHANGE
DeleteWhat sheeple. Divide and conquer. The "regulated community" eats their dead. Brew up incoherent rules and let nature take its course.
ReplyDeleteWay back in the day I watched Angela Davis give a talk ... the Boston school bus riots were burning both poor black and poor white blue collar neighborhoods at the time. What's wrong with these folks? Don't they get it? The Man is a puppet master setting up these neighborhoods to fight among themselves and they do not recognize their common enemy.
It is so easy. In a "regulated community" (go on Google the expression, its a term of art) the enforcers can't be everywhere at once and really must rely on neighbors turning in neighbors and the way you do that is to arbitrarily interpret the rules to benefit some and toss others in the pit.
And so the sheeple rise up and demand that everyone be forced to obey the same incoherent unfair and illegal rules. Neighbors will encouraged to tap their baser instincts and rat each other out. That is why Siren Hale always said it would be easy and inexpensive to enforce these new regulations.
I would think a lot of folks on Orcas would vote for a serious reform candidate in a heartbeat.
Wow, At least the conversation is getting a few serious comments which might lead to a reform. When I look at the information presented I see that in 1987 the County and neighbors worked together to make the best of a situation where the builder of the barn built it illegally. Converting it to a living space without permits sounds like they were following the tried and true axiom here in the San Juans of “It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission”. In a case like this one I see why no permits were applied for as it is doubtful they would have been issued. But when an action like this goes to the PA and to the Courts who knows what might happen. So the County tells all parties involved in 1987 that the storage barn is illegal and graciously allow it to stand then in 2015 they renege on their statements. No wonder Michael sued the County. The County gladly turns this into a neighbor vs. neighbor battle because that takes the heat off them. No doubt in my mind that the Council should have stepped in.
ReplyDeleteI doubt if the Pearson/Speed issue is all what it seems. Wasn’t there a well drilled in the wetland? is it safe to have a propane tank under the airport flight path? Did CD&P actually get a warrant and Sheriff to enter Speed property?
A Review Board might nip these issues in the bud before it is a contest of attorneys. It is all well and good to sit in front of your computer and pontificate until it happens to you. With a Review Board in place you could ask your peers what they thought and their answer I assume could go straight to the Council before attorneys get involved. Sounds good to me. Why was it that the Council, (or Randy), thought it was a bad idea?
The property rights question is a good one. Michael was defending his property rights? Were the neighbors exercising their property rights by not applying for a permit? I don’t think any one of us is in favor of going out searching for violations and doesn’t sound like Michael did that. But when a flagrant violation that the County tries to push under the rug surfaces then we all should be up in arms.
Now who is running for Council from San Juan and Orcas next year?
I have to nip this Citizens Review Board idea in the bud. I think it's an apocalyptically miserable idea. If you have a problem, go to court, and the faster you get there, the better. We all should know that we won't get a fair hearing here in the local county courts, so go to appeals court. Run, don't walk, to appeals court. I don't want to see any more of these hearings boards, review boards, political compliance boards, kangaroo court boards. They are THE problem. Proposing more of them makes me gag. They are the places where everyone with an axe to grind camps out. They are the ecosystem for injustice and internecine neighborly squabbles. No. God NO. HELL NO.
DeleteThe answer to ineffective and unjust bureaucracy isn't another one. The system we have is imperfect, but making it more elaborate with more local input is not going to make it better. That's like running into the burning house to get away from the fire.
Just look at the hearing examiner documents instead of pondering. The structure had been here for a long time, and it got all fouled up with some boundary line changes. It wasn't a situation where a new building all of a sudden appeared 2 feet from the boundary line in the last couple of years and everyone shrugged and said, "Okay, looks good to me." It's an old building. I'm sure you've seen the occasional old building in the islands and other rural areas where the front door is right on the street with virtually no setback. Imagine if a house like that were converted from one use to another and a confusing tangle of boundary line changes were happening at the same time. It was a slow moving trainwreck that happened over decades and everything finally hit the wall.
DeleteYes, as previously noted there is a big difference with a legal non conforming structure and those built without permits. Guess there is a MAJOR double standard in SJI and I will just not get a permit unless it is for something more major. Why should I? It is very disappointing to see how this place operates. it is just not that hard! ....and yes not all regulations makes sense and it why you properly document and exemption or change the rules.
DeleteI agree with 9:48 about quasi-judicial boards. They never work for real people. They add time, expense, and false hope to people who are not politically connected. They reduce case loads for our courts, and in so doing, they take pressure off our courts and prosecuting attorney and shield them from the full consequences of bad laws and policy. Assuming a member of the "regulated community" doesn't give up after he's lost to the board, our prosecuting attorney and biased judges then get his case after already being worn down and softened up. You've also revealed all your cards by then too.
DeleteFor most of us it is the MAD principle. My neighbors and I get along OK although we do have some basic differences, primarily regarding fire hazards on one person's property. Yes we are pretty much set up keeping our joining properties clear so when his goes up in smoke, our won't go too. And No, no one is interested in turning him in for his many property violations.
ReplyDeleteAnd why is that? Because, dear islanders, we are ALL violators of some rule or other or even several of them.
And all it takes is some bad ass behavior and all these damn rules get trotted out.
In my view a reform candidate would advocate uniform rule enforcement at a low level striving to resolve neighbor differences with solutions benefitting all parties. (Joe, you need to clean up your place and your neighbors want to help you do it, OK? We will get a public Works crew to help.)
The "Urban" rules concocted in recent years needs to be red penciled at every opportunity. (You need a permit for your daughter to get married on your property???)
Aside to Public Works: How's it going keeping the tall grass cut around those hundreds of posts along your newly installed URBAN guardrails...you know those "FREE" grant funded ones you stuck all over the place. Oh gee, it's costing how much?
That Board of Building Code Appeals Is "imperative" it is the "only" chance for the average citizen to achieve a fair hearing. I is not right to rely on courts, or a government appointed hearing Examiner to achieve essentially mediation for citizens that are not criminals. Abuilding code created to achieve order in an urban setting sometimes achieves an unreasonable broach on citizens in a rural environment. The courts will not recognize these flaws in the system. "Our neighbors hopefully can"
ReplyDeleteThere is no way you will get a fair hearing from your neighbors. I think everything about this thread shows that. If you want to fix the unreasonable broach on citizens, then fix the laws by fixing the people who pass them. Once they are in place, however, you can't expect any help from your neighbors.
DeleteI see an epidemic of Trojan Heron Attention Deficit Disorder. Want to cut back on quasi-jurisdictional bullshit? Wanna get rid of the Growth Management Hearing Board? Anyone remember the comments a mere few weeks ago about pushing the Council to hold a work session on opting out of GMA before the deadlines make it impossible to even learn about what we're missing through our own inaction?
ReplyDeleteFer cryin' out loud ...
The code we and most jurisdictions in this country use the IBC & the irc codify the demand for a boa, I think somewhat higher of my neighbors than you, and I am willing to test that amongst my neighbors right out in the open.
ReplyDeleteThe question is whether they have confidence in you if you are a proponent of removing their buildings.
DeleteIn a rural area, never should be a need to remove a building from private property, not unless it poses dire danger to another in particular
ReplyDeleteDurland/Geniuch for Council 2016.
ReplyDeleteLet the healing being!
I guess they won't agree about everything. What could possibly go wrong?
DeleteDurland for council?
DeleteSurely you jest.
His hands were all over the harassment of Pearson.
His attacks against his neighbors have nothing to do with property rights but are a manifestation of blatant homophobia.
This guy makes Greg Ayers look sane and rational.
Now that that has been said, I assume the people of Orcas will now nominate and elect him.
It couldn't be worse than what we have now? Could it?
Homophobia? Michael Durland? Are you nuts?
DeleteEXPLANATION OF "THE WAVE" by ISLAND
ReplyDeleteLOPEZ - On Lopez Island, residents wave at each passing driver in a friendly manner.
SAN JUAN - San Juan Island is the home to the government subcommittee that studies and reports on "waving activity".
SHAW - The residents of Shaw pay the house servants to tend to all of the waving needs.
ORCAS - Residents of Orcas Island wave lawsuits against their neighbors.
WALDRON - Residents of Waldron hesitate to wave because they don't want to bring any undue attention.
Fortunately, almost any reasonable person could run and be elected. The current batch ARE that bad.
ReplyDeleteGoogle maps Deer Harbor Boatworks to see who is affecting property rights. The barn or the row of unpermited sheds.
ReplyDeleteWhy would any reasonable person run in today's political/social environment here in our friendly county? Most people capable of doing the job are too smart to run.
ReplyDeleteHANDS UP!
ReplyDeleteDON'T SUE!!
#DeerHarborLivesMatter
Dear 1:33. You are right of course. So perhaps we all could think of what might entice a good reasonable person to run and be elected.
ReplyDelete1. The money is not bad. Plus if you hang in for a couple of terms I'm sure there is a hefty benefit package. Seems like there always is for any government type. (Of course we don't want you if you are in it for the money.)
2. You get to be a real power broker. You get to scold the populace and reward anyone you like. (Of course we don't want you if you are in it for the power....DD would run the ball up to the bell on that.)
3. You get to go to great lunches, usually paid for by someone else. (Well OK, but we don't want you if eat too much and die in office.) (And, there are those who would disparage such lunches. Dinner might be OK in a private home of course.)
4. You get a County car? Well no, but probably gas of every variety.
5. You're up.....gotta read the bedtime stories.
First off I did not hear that Durland wanted the building torn down. He allowed it to stay in 1987. Sounds like 8:36AM and 12:03 PM are a little too close to this. Are they the “neighbors”? At least Durland stood up to the County and anonymous and signed his name to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with July 26 9:48? Thats right, just take your beef with the Departments or Council to Court and spend minimum $30 grand doing that. That will show them. Exactly what Randy wants so he can hire more Deputies. And then 10:22 pipes up with his 2 cents. I didn’t get that a Review Board would be likened to a poker game.
There are some good comments here but if you are going to slam people who stand up and put their name out there then sign your name also or shut up. I am sure there is more to everyones story. Did anyone call Durland? It is easy to attack without having to identify yourself or provide documentation. He still has my vote.
Show me where "boards" have ever saved any complainant any money ever. I got an idea. Let's set up a pre-revew board, followed by a review board, followed by a post-review board. That many boards should save a wad of cash, and being reviewed by that many of our neighbors and friends would be so simple and fair. HA!
DeleteI hope Durland runs. I would even vote for him. Then I hope the review board idea is implemented. I do. I want to watch it backfire.
I'm not attacking Mr. Durland, but his proposal for a citizen review board states, "I am a proponent of a Citizen Review Board made up of competent individuals who are not adverse to getting off their high horse, putting aside their bias views, and interpreting the Code we have when called upon by a private citizen who is not getting answers through the system."
DeleteYou may be overlooking that our boards are chosen by a biased and incompetent council, which is elected by a biased voting population. If we can't find one prosecuting attorney or one judge who is fair, competent, and reasonable, what are the odds of finding a competent unbiased board? Slim.
"Strict Scrutiny", "All of the People, All of the time"! If you review the comments above there is so prominent the example of vindictiveness. We see it runs wild here/ The People that regulate have unfortunately become as vindictive as bad neighbors. We have an enforcement ordinance that encourages this behavior, we have a prosecutor that encourages this enforcement behavior, hell we even have judges that sit to validate this bullshit. We need a council that has ZERO tolerance for this behavior of our prosecutor, and anyone put in a position to serve. Including first and Foremost the council.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need a bill of rights, and a county policy that separates and properly defines a nuisance as something Real, not something superimposed upon the vastness of unique and rural in character that we are. We need to turn back into islanders always ready to turn and help another, No matter our differences.
ReplyDeleteA single wide is a nuisance and a blight. A McMansion is ... Well ... a liberal contribution to the FOSJ.
ReplyDeleteThat is why we are stonewalled on the Rural Element.
Thats right its time to destroy this mentality. If any of you have read or viewed the court records on the Durland case, it will make you sick! To think our County Government stooped so low/ below that even, to deny him his right to seek a fair trial. Then to further punish him for asking for fairness they trumped up a pile of bullshit to make him pay for standing up. And people ask why Anonymous? this is who we hired/ This is our representation/ This is bullshit!
ReplyDeleteI agree, if you read all the court documents, you will see that Durland has caused his neighbors incredible amounts of anguish and money over a very petty land issue that he had previously conceded. In the politically incorrect terms, basically, Durland was an Indian giver.
DeleteHe may have some point about the PA going after him, but the issue with his neighbor is just simply mean spirited, petty, and the antithesis of being a good neighbor.
That being said, I might vote for him if it came down to him and Hughes.
Geniuch got exactly what he dished out, but that does not make what happened to him right. any more than the Pearson, & Speed fiasco's. We should be able to expect that our County Government will not get involved in these absurd bullying matches. It pits neighbors against neighbors on a daily basis. We have more important things in common than we have room for this poor behavior. Frankly from their experience I wouldnt mind seeing a Durland Geniuch team. Maybe they have learned something/ of course maybe not
ReplyDeleteHelp us take back the Rural Element! Tell Them what they can do with all that!
ReplyDeleteLooks like we dodged a bullet with Brian McClerren, who seems to have run off the rails:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.islandguardian.com/archives/00005838.html
Dodged a bullet? Brian or no we've been riddled with bullets. At least Brian cried when he stole money unlike our council. As badly as Brian has blown it, since he lives on Orcas now, I still think he might be a better candidate than Hughes in the next election.
DeleteI do love it when someone commenting anonymously complains about others doing the same.
ReplyDeleteMust be from Orcas, land of do as I whine about, not as I do.
This sure got side tracked from the original topic of the TH.
ReplyDeleteRemember, this started off talking about the blatant corruption and antics of Jarman and Mike Thomas and partially Gibboney.
Thomas has been caught red handed, the council has covered for him, Gibboney is a willing accomplice, and we the people continue to pay for these frauds.
No one is happier right now than those three, getting this far of topic.
Some great discussion, make no mistake, but the original point and the point of several recent postings was that we have corruption at the highest levels.
The real "Thief of Orcas" is Kevin Ranker.
ReplyDeleteThis should help ease hard working Heronadoes burdens a bit. Behold, The Donald Insult Generator @ http://time.com/3966291/donald-trump-insult-generator/
ReplyDeleteI tried out a few:
Ranker is a dummy. Just look at Ranker's past.
Losers such as Ranker use me for publicity for themselves. They are strictly third rate.
Do you believe highly overrated Rick Hughes? What a dope!
Rick Hughes is truly as dumb as rock.
It's easy! It's fun!