Other News
Nov 5, 2025: U.S. & Canadian Leaders Convene Cross-Border Forum to Strengthen Collaboration & Resilience
Oct 29, 2025: How Do YOU Want to Plan for Sea Level Rise in San Juan County? Join Community Workshops this December
Oct 29, 2025: Looking to Get Involved? Join the Land Bank Commission & Guide Conservation in the Islands!
Oct 17, 2025: WSF Ferry Terminals will Close for 48 Hours in Spring of 2027: What Timing is Best for You?
Oct 14, 2025: County Issues Proclamation in Recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Oct 14, 2025: Building the Team: San Juan County Welcomes New DCD Director, Fire Marshal, and Public Defender
Oct 11, 2025: Dr. Corey Casper’s Official Candidate Statement for Lopez Island Hospital District, Position 2
Oct 8, 2025: Fall 2025 Great Islands Clean-Up Collects Over 1,300 Pounds of Litter Across San Juan County
Oct 6, 2025: San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Acquires 225-acre School Trust Land Parcel on Blakely Island
Sep 25, 2025: Meeting Recap: Community Discusses Sheriff Substation Move on Lopez with County Officials & Staff
Sep 16, 2025: Interested in Learning About the County's Sheriff Substation Move on Lopez? Join us for a Briefing & Feedback Session!
Sep 9, 2025: Rising Tides: Protecting our Homes, Roads, and Habitat - Save The Date for Sea Level Rise Workshops this Fall
Sep 5, 2025: *POSTPONED* Watch Over Yourself Well: Coast Salish Gender, Sexuality, & the Canoe Journey
Aug 29, 2025: Black-tail deer Hunting Season Opens September 1 at Lopez Hill and Mount Grant Preserves
Aug 28, 2025: Free Public Lecture and Field Seminar Growing Old Growth: The Relationships that Define the Future of our Forests
Aug 20, 2025: Meeting Recap: Community Members Discuss County’s Potential Purchase of Decatur Island Property
Aug 19, 2025: San Juan County Awards $815,000 in Public Facilities Assistance Funding to Local Organizations
Aug 14, 2025: ‘Coffee with Kari’ Offers Lopez Islanders a Chance to Meet with Councilmember McVeigh on Sep. 27
Jul 31, 2025: Interested in discussing the potential Property Purchase on Decatur? Join us for a Brown Bag Lunch!
Jul 17, 2025: San Juan County Responds to Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Actions in the Islands
Jul 16, 2025: County Council Discusses Ferry Service with Governor Ferguson at Orcas Community Meeting
Jul 9, 2025: Potential Purchase by the County of Property on Decatur Island to Support Barge Landing Access
Jul 1, 2025: Updated County Fairgrounds Ready to Welcome Summer Picnickers, Fairgoers, Campers, and More
Jun 18, 2025: How Does the New State Budget Impact San Juan County Funding & Programs? Council Reviews Highlights
May 22, 2025: San Juan County Elections Disability Advisory Committee Annual Meeting June 10 at 9:00AM
May 17, 2025: Need Urgent Community Support: Tell Governor Ferguson to Sign HB2049 and Increase Funding for Lopez School
May 16, 2025: One Month Mark: County’s Pilot Transport Services Shows Steady Ridership & Variety of Uses
May 14, 2025: Hazardous Waste Round-Ups: What Lopez and Orcas Residents Need to Know Before Drop-Off Day
May 7, 2025: Auditor Seeks Writers of Argument against Lopez Island Library and Lopez Island School District Ballot Measures
May 2, 2025: Plastic Free Salish Sea Sets Sail with the San Juan Island Yacht Club and Washington State Parks
Apr 25, 2025: New Daily Service Schedule, Growing Ridership & Other Insights on County’s Pilot Transport Services
Apr 24, 2025: Building and Land Use Permits, Long-Range Planning Projects, & Staff Recruitments: DCD Leadership Provides Spring Update
Apr 4, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Transportation Element, Plan Intro, & Administration Piece Ready for Review
Mar 19, 2025: San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues
Mar 7, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Climate Element and Draft Official Map Amendments Available for Review
Mar 6, 2025: Governor Ferguson announces plan to restore Washington State Ferries to full service by this summer
Mar 4, 2025: Public Meeting: Land Bank Using Prescribed Fires to Manage Wildfire Risks & Restore Ecosystems
Feb 19, 2025: San Juan County Seeks Proposals from Transportation Service Providers for Pilot Project
Feb 12, 2025: Call for Candidates: Three-Day Special Filing Period for Lopez Metropolitan Park District Commissioners
Jan 19, 2025: Four districts, six unions, three PTAs, and county leadership all agree: legislators must take action to fully fund education no
Dec 19, 2024: San Juan County Parks and Fair Announces New Camping Software; Delaying Reservation Availability
Dec 10, 2024: County Council Considers Extending Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste to Allow for More Collaboration
Dec 5, 2024: San Juan County to Consider Updated Interlocal Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Dec 2, 2024: San Juan County Council Sets Public Hearing for Cultural Access Sales Tax at Dec. 10 Meeting
Nov 25, 2024: San Juan County Celebrates Completion of Lopez Skate Park and Calls for Inaugural Skaters
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Council Member Jane Fuller Responds
Dec 6, 2024
By Jane Fuller, San Juan County Council Member, District 3
To my fellow Lopezians and constituents whom I deeply respect, represent and serve as your elected County Council member for District 3.
I have been a resident of this island since 1978 when the 'Dump' was located on Port Stanley Road, where the concept of 'Take or Leave It' was first born. Our family were 'takers' of treasures for decades before my parents passed away, and we then became 'contributors' of treasures. I have always held a deep respect for the values of sustainability, recycling, and giving back to the community that it represents and upholds and I am profoundly appreciative and respectful of the countless volunteers and visionaries who have made our 'Dump' an award-winning and model public entity over the years.
When I began my term on Council in January 2023, some of the first Lopez Island community partners to approach me were the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Managing Board of the LSWDD - Pam Stewart and Ross MacDonald. I became aware of the history between LSWDD and the County and the need to broker a better relationship and help solve some long-standing issues. For the last two years, I have been working hard to help the LSWDD and the County arrive at a new multi-year interlocal agreement. Unfortunately, those efforts have been in vain, and we find ourselves in this difficult predicament which I sought to avoid, recognizing fully over the last two years that the County has had its role in contributing to this outcome.
This situation has resulted in the dissemination of false and misleading statements on social media and through press releases, the most erroneous of all being that the County intends to "take over operational control of the Lopez Dump", and that this effort has been led by me, your council member, and the Director of Environmental Stewardship. There is no intention on the part of the County to take over the Dump or its operations, nor is there any intention to alter the terms of the San Juan County Code Chapter 8.12 and specifically Article III (Solid Waste Disposal District "Lopez District"). This section of the code remains the basis upon which the new draft interlocal agreement has been developed.
Moving forward, it is imperative that the County, including the Governing Board of the LSWDD (i.e., County Council), and the Managing Board put aside their misunderstandings and disagreements and establish acceptable terms for a new multi-year inter-local agreement and budget. This will require professional, respectful, and thoughtful consultations.
I remain optimistic that we will be able to resolve the difficult predicament we are facing at present and finalize a new inter-local agreement that will enable the 'Dump' to grow, thrive and meet our goals of sustainability for many years to come.
If you would like to communicate with me directly about this, you can reach me at:
[email protected]
When I began my term on Council in January 2023, some of the first Lopez Island community partners to approach me were the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Managing Board of the LSWDD - Pam Stewart and Ross MacDonald. I became aware of the history between LSWDD and the County and the need to broker a better relationship and help solve some long-standing issues. For the last two years, I have been working hard to help the LSWDD and the County arrive at a new multi-year interlocal agreement. Unfortunately, those efforts have been in vain, and we find ourselves in this difficult predicament which I sought to avoid, recognizing fully over the last two years that the County has had its role in contributing to this outcome.
This situation has resulted in the dissemination of false and misleading statements on social media and through press releases, the most erroneous of all being that the County intends to "take over operational control of the Lopez Dump", and that this effort has been led by me, your council member, and the Director of Environmental Stewardship. There is no intention on the part of the County to take over the Dump or its operations, nor is there any intention to alter the terms of the San Juan County Code Chapter 8.12 and specifically Article III (Solid Waste Disposal District "Lopez District"). This section of the code remains the basis upon which the new draft interlocal agreement has been developed.
Moving forward, it is imperative that the County, including the Governing Board of the LSWDD (i.e., County Council), and the Managing Board put aside their misunderstandings and disagreements and establish acceptable terms for a new multi-year inter-local agreement and budget. This will require professional, respectful, and thoughtful consultations.
I remain optimistic that we will be able to resolve the difficult predicament we are facing at present and finalize a new inter-local agreement that will enable the 'Dump' to grow, thrive and meet our goals of sustainability for many years to come.
If you would like to communicate with me directly about this, you can reach me at:
[email protected]