Whatcom County moves forward with land transfer

Whatcom County Council member Sam Crawford last week reversed course and voted for a plan to transfer thousands of acres in the Lake Whatcom watershed from state Department of Natural Resources control to the county for parkland.

The DNR manages land - selling timber on it, among other activities - to raise money for various trusts.

Under an agreement the county and DNR approved last year, the state agency would move around and create large blocks of one type of trust land, which could then be transferred to the county. But more council approvals will be needed to finish the deal, probably in 2011 or 2012.

The incoming council, after the November general election, will include four members who have either voted against the transfer or voiced opposition to or skepticism about it. So the future of the transfer is in question.

But on Tuesday, Nov. 10, it took a step forward, with Crawford making it a 5-2 vote to approve a contract with DNR reimbursing the state agency up to $291,000 for costs associated with the transfer. Council members Barbara Brenner and Ward Nelson were opposed.

Crawford said he's a trails advocate, and the transfer is a good value for the amount of land the county is getting. But he still has many concerns, including whether the taxing districts that get revenue from DNR management will be reimbursed. He's also concerned about the risk of landslides on those lands while under county management, and he has reservations about county management or project costs while the county is in its current financial situation.

That's why he previously voted against it, he said. But the account the reimbursement is supposed to come from, Conservation Futures, isn't in the same trouble as the general fund, he said. The future management costs will come from the general fund, and he doesn't want to see those "until we have a more stable financial picture."

Council member-elect Kathy Kershner said she's skeptical the county can afford the transfer right now. Council member-elect Bill Knutzen opposes the transfer, but he acknowledged that "to try and stop the process after we've paid for it is going to be difficult." By the time the council votes on it again, it's likely most of the $291,000 will have been spent.

"We're asking the taxpayers to pay for this," he said, "and our only recourse after this is to tell them we paid for nothing."

County Executive Pete Kremen said he's hopeful the new council will approve it.

"I do believe that it's in the best interests of the community, and it really is a win-win proposal," Kremen said.