Freeland Chamber of Commerce

Two Incorporation Town Halls
Draw Crowds--more to be held.

Breaking into small groups gave everyone a chance to talk.

Issues ranging from taxes and municipal boundaries to water, sewers, fire and police services were discussed during the two meetings. Dolan told them that not all the answers were yet known, but that now was time to try to learn, "What do people in the community want?"

Incorporation is one of many issues being studied by the Vision 2025 committee, which was created by the Chamber and the Friends of Freeland to, according to Dolan, "start a dialogue" of what Freeland should look like by 2025. He told the group that right now no one has all the answers, but that once they had heard what the community concerns were, if they didn't have them, "we're going to go out and get the answers."



Dolan explained the Vision 2025 committee expects that another 3,000 people will move into the Freeland area over the next 20 years. He asked, "where will they go, and by whose decision?"

People attending the meetings were broken into small groups where everyone had the chance to air their concerns. The concerns were then discussed by the entire group.

Dolan offered tentative good news regarding taxes, telling the group, "We will be in a position to not raise taxes and to improve city services. Committee member Chet Ross explained that the Freeland area is actually, "a cash cow for the county," meaning the area sends more tax money to the county than it receives in services.

On the subject of city boundaries, Ross said they haven't yet been set, calling it “a very simple complex exercise." He explained that other communities have had pre-existing school or fire district boundaries that could be used as a guide. However, in this case those two districts encompass all of South Whidbey.

Dolan also told the meetings that if people did indicate they were interested, the committee would start circulating petitions as early as this Fall, with a vote happening in November of 2007. To have a vote on becoming a city, 10% of the registered voters would have to sign the petition. In an election, only a simple majority would be needed to become a city.

However, Dolan said before that happens the committee will be working to hold additional Town Hall meetingsm including holding meetings in specific neighborhoods.

The group is working hard to keep the rest of community informed about the work being done. Regular updates are planned in the "South Whidbey Record," the "Whidbey Marketplace," this newsletter and online at the Freeland Community Forum--www.freelandcommunityforum.org and the Vision 2025 Committee's on website--www.vision2025committee.com.