Editor,

I learned through a Whidbey News-Times Oct. 31 article, that the owners of a parcel at the corner of DeVries and Green Road in Oak Harbor have been fined $10,000 for their attempt to drain a wetland.

But the $10,000 is not going to Island County. It’s going to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

We just learned of a 40% increase across the board for all development permits issued by Island County. Why doesn’t that $10,000 fine go towards the cost to Island County to monitor and resolve this wetland situation? Is that burden then placed upon all the other people applying for a permit, and to taxpayers?

I’ve also learned that some time ago, the county-approved of a water coursing alteration upstream of this wetland, that diverted more water onto this parcel, contributing to the expans

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