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House approves Bailey
measure adding ‘lost’ islands to Island County
Several islands near
Island County are finally getting official recognition by the
Legislature after being "lost" for 153 years. The House of
Representatives today voted unanimously on a measure to officially
include four islands within the borders of Island County and to correct
the names of two others.
Rep. Barbara Bailey
introduced House Bill 2908 after Roger Sherman of
Coupeville brought the oversight to her attention. Sherman pointed out
that the islands were inadvertently overlooked when the Oregon
Legislature first created Island County on January 6, 1853, before
Washington became a territory or a state. The oversight continued when
the Washington Territorial Legislature formed the county boundaries in
1867, says Bailey. The statute was modified four other times, the last
in 1891, two years after Washington became a state – and the islands
were still omitted.
"We lost some islands and are now correcting that after all these years.
A constituent brought this to my attention and indicated we had islands
in Island County that had not been named in statute," said Bailey,
speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives.
"This bill recognizes the fact that we do have Strawberry Island, Baby
Island, Minor Island and Kalamut Island," added Bailey, "and it will
correct the name of Ure’s Island to Ben Ure Island, and Smith’s Island
to Smith Island. Now we will have all of our islands identified."
Sherman came to Olympia Jan. 26 to testify in favor of the legislation
before the House Local Government Committee. He told the committee he
discovered errors in state law while researching local maritime history.
"My hobby is maritime history, specifically Whidbey Island. I discovered
several discrepancies in the Island County RCW 36.04.150. This RCW uses
a strange method to describe Island County boundaries. Back in the old
days when they did this, they did it the easy way. They listed the
islands they thought were in Island County and then they said, ‘to
connect with the boundaries of the adjoining counties,’" said Sherman,
who noted the law is vague.
Bailey said this legislation is a good example of how citizens can
affect the legislative process.
"It only takes a phone call or an e-mail from a citizen. Mr. Sherman saw
a 153-year-old omission in our state law books and sent me an e-mail,
which started this legislation. The House of Representatives unanimously
agreed with his assessment that we should include these lost islands
into Island County and correct the errors. I’m very pleased this bill is
moving forward," concluded Bailey.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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