EYE ON JEFFERSON: Board eyed to hear property tax appeals — corrected

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been corrected to reflect that the Jefferson Healthcare commissioners will meet Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at 2500 W. Sims Way, suite 302, in Port Townsend.

The three Jefferson County commissioners will consider convening the Jefferson County Board of Equalization because of a large number of property tax appeals when they meet today.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

The Board of Equalization can be convened when the number of petitions for property tax appeals exceeds 25 or 10 percent of those filed in the preceding year, whichever is greater.

Petitions for 2015 property tax appeals exceed 10 percent of those filed in 2014, county staff said.

The item is on the consent agenda.

At 10 a.m., commissioners will open bids for motor fuel purchases to cover the needs of various county departments over a five-year period.

Part of the contract requests the proposals to acquire biodiesel fuel at a reasonable price, as the state source for biodiesel is cost-prohibitive.

Other items on the consent agenda include:

■ A fund transfer of $85,000 to Western Federal Lands Highway Division as a county match for phase two of the Upper Hoh Road project.

■ An agreement to allocate $7,000 to Northwestern Territories Inc. of Port Angeles for material testing services for the Dowans Creek Road realignment project.

Port Townsend city

The Port Townsend City Council will consider authorizing the city manager to accept $11.9 million in state loans for construction of a water treatment plant and reservoir when it meets today.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

The city has budgeted $12 million for construction of the state-mandated treatment plant and 5 million-gallon reservoir replacement.

It has entered into a contract for the supply of the membrane filtration equipment that will enable it to comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations.

Bids will be requested for site preparation, including road improvements, and utility installation at the end of this month, and construction is scheduled to begin in July.

Design of the treatment facility is nearly finalized, and construction completion and startup of all facilities must occur by Oct. 31, 2016.

The council also will hear a 2016 Comprehensive Plan update and discuss the agenda for an upcoming town meeting about the subject.

It will consider appointing Lance Bailey to the Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

Other city meetings are:

■ Library Advisory Board — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Library Learning Center/Charles Pink House, 1256 Lawrence St.

■ City Council General Services & Special Projects Committee — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, third-floor conference room at City Hall, 250 Madison St. The panel will discuss changes to animal control and leash laws.

Port of Port Townsend

Port of Port Townsend commissioners will conduct a commissioners/senior staff retreat today and a special meeting Tuesday.

The retreat will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road.

Tuesday’s special meeting will be an executive session for finance director interviews. It will be at 2 p.m. at the port commission building, 333 Benedict st.

No action is to be taken.

Jefferson Transit

Jefferson Transit board members will hear a YMCA Capital Project Presentation at a meeting Tuesday.

The board will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St.

Jefferson Healthcare

Jefferson Healthcare commissioners will hear financial and information technology reports at a meeting Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. at 2500 W. Sims Way, suite 302, in Port Townsend.

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