EYE ON CLALLAM: County commissioners consider merging timber, forest land tax programs

The three Clallam County commissioners will conduct a public hearing on merging timber land and forest land taxation programs when they meet Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The public hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The programs for timber and forest land result in the same tax benefits for owners but have different application and administrative rules, county staff said.

Recent legislation allows the two to be merged. Doing so would simplify the application process, county staff said.

Commissioners also will consider issuing a request for qualifications for engineering, surveying, graphic design and printing services for inclusion on the engineering/surveying roster.

They will consider extending the time for completion of the Veterans Center remodeling project by 36 days, amending its contract with Aldergrove Construction Inc. of Port Angeles.

They also will consider:

â–  A contract with the state Department of Health and Human Services for the state agency to pay up to $25,000 for suicide prevention programming in Forks.

â–  A $123,000 contract with Peninsula Housing Authority for housing resource specialists.

â–  Contracts with Peninsula Behavioral Health to provide $39,800 for behavioral health services to juveniles in the court system and $12,500 for psychiatric nurse practitioner and mental health therapist services to unfunded low-income clients.

The commissioners will meet for a Monday work session at 9 a.m. to discuss Tuesday’s action items.

Port Angeles city

The Port Angeles City Council will consider awarding 2015 tourism marketing and visitor center contracts to the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce when it meets Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

It will be preceded by a 5 p.m. open meeting to conduct an interview with and possibly appoint Chad Aubin to the Planning Commission, followed by a closed-door executive session to discuss contract negotiations and potential litigation.

Action is expected following the executive session.

City Council members will hear a 2014 fourth-quarter report from chamber representatives.

Under the proposed chamber contract for tourism promotion, the organization must provide a strategy plan.

The council also will consider issuing a $1 million change order to the landfill stabilization project for additional removal costs due to contractor Magnus Pacific Corp. encountering more asbestos than the amount specified in the bid award.

Council members will consider awarding a $49,451 contract to Carlson Sales Metering Solutions of Vancouver, Wash., for the purchase of 1,536 electric meters.

County Planning Commission

The Clallam County Planning Commission will be updated on the recreational marijuana law Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse.

Olympic Medical Center

The five Olympic Medical Center commissioners will receive an update on plans for a new medical office building when they meet Wednesday.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in Linkletter Hall in the basement of the hospital, 939 Caroline St., Port Angeles.

Construction on the 39,000-square-foot, two-story, $18.2 million structure is expected to start this spring.

The commissioners also will consider purchase of real estate.

Other agenda items include considering supporting the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center levy on the Feb. 10 ballot, an agreement with a group of anesthesiologists and related professionals, installation of new second-floor hospital flooring, recruitment agreements with obstetrician/gynecologists, a physician employment contract and buying sleep medicine software.

Forks City Council

A majority of the Forks City Council may be present for the state auditor’s entrance conference Wednesday.

The special meeting will be at 11 a.m. at Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St.

No action will be taken.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will hear school improvement plan reports when it meets Tuesday.

The meeting, which has been changed from its regular Monday meeting date because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, will be at 6 p.m. at 503 N. Sequim Ave.

The board will hear of Sequim High School and Helen Haller Elementary School improvement plans.

School Board recognition also is scheduled.

Clallam PUD

Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners have canceled Monday’s meeting because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The next meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the boardroom of the Port Angeles main office, 2431 E. U.S. Highway 101.

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