Ebey's Landing Administrative History

Chapter Seven:
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERVIEW

At the end of 1987, the trust board still lacked an interlocal agreement permitting it officially to manage the reserve. National Park Service Regional Director Charles Odegaard informed Richard Hoffman that he must have an interlocal agreement, one way or another, by May 1988. [28] Vicki Brown intensively lobbied Dick Caldwell, recently elected to the Island County Board of Commissioners (and in whose district EBLA lay), to speed the process along. Other county officials continued to express concern that the NPS would leave the county with the lion's share of responsibility for EBLA. Island County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jamieson raised the issue of liability due to actions or inaction by the trust board, and which agency would be responsible for these matters. He also reiterated that EBLA's legislation had required the NPS to manage the reserve until easements, management plans' and facilities were fully developed. But in January 1988, the four governmental partners at EBLA drafted an interlocal agreement. Half a year then passed while they reviewed the draft and discussed their concerns. [29]

On June 28 the NPS rented a room at the Captain Whidbey Inn and Caldwell and the government attorneys met to reach an understanding. The resulting final agreement defined the duties and responsibilities of each governmental signatory, the powers and responsibilities of the trust board, the means of financing and insuring the board, and its authority to acquire, hold and dispose of property. It committed only the county to a direct financial contribution (of an unspecified amount); the county would also donate in-kind services. Monetary contributions by Coupeville and Washington State Parks would be donated when possible; otherwise, their services were to be in-kind. Caldwell then took the document back to the other commissioners, who approved it and agreed to release $10,000 from hotel tax revenues to the trust board. The board could now take over. [30]

On July 24, 1988, NPS Acting Regional Director Briggle formalized the transfer of authority in a ceremony at the Prairie Overlook. Attended by U. S. Representative Al Swift and State Representative Mary Margaret Haugen, the event marked the trust board's "graduation day," veteran reserve advocate Herb Pickard remarked with satisfaction. [31]