News Flash

County Corner Column

Posted on: May 30, 2023

County Corner - May

County Corner Graphic_May

San Juan County Resurfaces Over 14 Miles of Roads this Summer


San Juan County’s Public Works Department announced its annual summer road resurfacing schedule to chip seal over 14 miles of roads on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Island. Sections of roads to be resurfaced this summer include:  

  • May 15-22 on San Juan Island: Bailer Hill Rd, Beaverton Valley Rd, Shipyard Marina 
  • June 5-6 on Lopez Island: Dill Rd, Kjargaard Rd, Fisherman Bay Rd   
  • June 20-28 on Orcas Island: Deer Harbor Rd, Dolphin Bay Rd, Orcas Rd, Gravel Pit Rd   

 

Chip sealing is a pavement treatment that extends the life of the road surface. Learn more by visiting the County Roads Program webpage at sanjuanco.com/309/County-Roads.  

 

End of Public Health Emergency Declaration 


The public health emergency (PHE) declaration ended on May 11. COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be free for all and COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the U.S. government will continue to be provided at no cost until commercialization occurs. There is not a finalized date for COVID-19 vaccine commercialization, but the Washington State Department of Health has said they expect this to occur in Fall 2023.  

 

County Council Held Meeting on Shaw Island  


San Juan County Council held its first meeting outside of the Friday Harbor council chambers for the year. The meeting’s agenda included a discussion about senior services and rural health, Post Office services, Parks and Fair updates, information from Sheriff Eric Peter, and more. Roads impacted by sea level rise, ferry parking, and public dock space was also discussed.   

 

A Second Generation of Coho Salmon Found at the Land Bank’s Coho Preserve on Orcas Island 


Local Fisheries Biologist, Jenny De Groot, shared an update on the emergence of Coho salmon at Coho Preserve on Orcas Island. “As a keystone species, salmon play an outsized role in the health and wellbeing of their ecosystem,” De Groot wrote. “On April 9th, 2023, I spotted the first salmon fry at Coho Preserve. I caught a fry in a dip net, placed it in a photarium to identify it, and released it without harm. Surprisingly it was a Chinook fry - something we have never documented emerging from the creek!"    

 

Mental Health Awareness Month  


May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Health & Community Services is pleased to share the following resource:  

  • In a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.  
  • Mental Health Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the 24-Hour Mental Health Care Crisis Line (toll-free) - 1-800-584-3578.
  • Skagit County Crisis Center 360-757-7738 provides mental health crisis triage and subacute detoxification services.  
  • Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Washington State and you will reach a highly-trained information and referral specialist who will assess your needs and provide a list of referrals to available resources in your community. 

 

Learn more about the County’s recent news by visiting: sanjuanco.com/1930/San-Juan-County-Newsroom   


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