PORT ANGELES — Clallam County reviewed a $73.3 million budget Tuesday without so much as a raised eyebrow in the audience.
In fact, there was almost no audience.
If three animal advocates hadn’t attended a satellite hearing in Forks, no one would have spoken for or against the spending plan.
As it was, the women extracted a promise from county commissioners to investigate providing animal control in the West End, possibly in conjunction with the city of Forks or perhaps with help from volunteers.
Otherwise, no one attended the commissioners’ public hearing Tuesday morning in the Clallam County Courthouse, which they recessed until to 6 p.m.
No one came to the evening session, either, in the courthouse.
The Forks women were the only participants at a teleconference link to the District 2 courtroom in Forks City Hall.
West End needs help
They questioned the county’s contract with the Clallam County Humane Society to provide animal control only east of Lake Crescent.
The women, all members of the Friends of Forks Animals, said commissioners should trim service to the county’s East End if that’s what it takes to patrol the West End.
“We have to have some help from the county,” said Juanita Weissenfels.
“If we knew that something would be available once a week, we’d work something out.”