DIA May Newsletter
Decatur Island Alliance
Monthly Newsletter
May, 2025
In this issue:
Abandoned Car County Code Discovery Update
OPALCO Solar Build
Decatur Island School Update
Community Bulletin Board
Summer Outreach
DIA Merchandise
HELP WANTED!
Next Meeting and Agenda
Abandoned Car County Code Discovery Update
At our last DIA meeting, Charlie Conaway spoke about his efforts to engage San Juan County to remove derelict vehicles. Charlie shared that during this process, the county code that he was referencing was repealed in October, 2024. DIA submitted a records request to determine if this change followed protocol and if there was additional information that would explain why and how this code was repealed. DIA discovered that the repeal was initiated by the Public Works Director, Colin Huntimer. His rationale for repealing is that the county does not need to be in the business of managing this and that the process in Title 10 contradicts the process outlined in Chapter 46.55. In the legacy code, 3 properties were listed where abandoned cars would be taken and the county no longer owns 2 of those properties. Decatur Island and the issue at the ramp was addressed. It was suggested that the existing process be utilized in which we contact the Sheriff and then use a licensed tow truck to remove. HERE is the link to the meeting and the discussion around Title 10 starts at 2:40, with Decatur being spoken of at 2:42. The final public comment on this change was held on 6/25/2025, with the comment time starting at 27:00. HERE is the link for that meeting. Should our survey results indicate that this is a priority for islanders, we can dive deeper into how we utilize the existing process.
OPALCO Solar Build
OPALCO will be on Decatur this Saturday, at the school, to discuss their proposed development of a solar farm, adjacent to the existing solar array. At this time DIA is in the data gathering stage of this issue. If community members would like to see this issue on the survey, they should make sure and participate in the DIA meeting on Sunda, May 18, 10:00 am, at the school.
Decatur Island School Update
As of this spring, there are currently no students enrolled at the Decatur Island School. On May 1, the Lopez Island School District held a community meeting at the school to answer questions about funding for our “Remote and Necessary” K–8 school and to explore ideas for bringing students and families back. Superintendent Brady Smith and K–12 Principal Martha Martin led the discussion, joined by over 30 community members who want to help keep the school open. Several ideas were shared to help boost enrollment:
• Marketing & Outreach: Promote the school through local and regional channels like Destination San Juans, Facebook, Reddit, and in-person outreach at the Decatur Market this summer.
• Creative Programming: Offer unique, short-term specialty classes—like arts, baking, or law—to make the school a destination for learning. Some suggested a magnet or AP-style program, similar to Lummi Island’s model.
• Exchange & Part-Time Students: Welcome part-time or exchange students, with flexible curriculum developed in partnership with families.
• Housing Solutions: Affordable housing is a major hurdle. Other islands, like Shaw, have built teacher housing with private funding. Identifying and advertising available rentals could help attract new families.
Under state rules, the school can stay open with just one full-time student, and having more than five students would bring in additional funding and support.
The community agreed: the school is the heart of Decatur Island. While the challenges are real, the energy and ideas shared at the meeting gave hope for a path forward.
If you know of a family—on Decatur or the mainland—who might be interested in a unique, small-scale learning environment, please spread the word. This is a rare and special opportunity to be part of something meaningful.
Community Bulletin Board
A DIA volunteer has started the process of requesting from Lopez Island School District the permission to put up a community bulletin board on the school property. Another team of volunteers have started to plan the physical structure and get supplies figured out. Until we hear back from the school district, we cannot lock on a date for completion.
Summer Outreach
DIA is currently putting together summer activities for the island. Currently we have a Wildflower Hike planned, a discussion on DNR Forestry Maintenance and a beginners Mah Jong class. Additionally, DIA has been asked to take over the 4th of July Dog Pageant and will be hosting an ice cream social following that. If you have ideas for additional activities, please send an email to info@decaturislandalliance.org. DIA plans to have a presence at each Farmer's Market this summer. If you would be willing to staff a Saturday, please let DIA know. It takes a team to make the dream work!
DIA Merchandise
A few items have been shared on the DIA website store with simple branding. There are some shirts, cups, and a hat. We will continue to grow the merchandise store as our branding initiative completes. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please reach out to info2decaturislandalliance.org.
HELP WANTED!
A significant part of the DIA mission relies on keeping up with what is going on at the San Juan County level. DIA is looking for a resource who would like to be responsible for understanding the role of the county on Decatur Island as well as county government efforts that impact the island. This is a volunteer role that is focussed simply on San Juan County. If government research and understanding policy is something that interests you, please email info@decaturislandalliance.org.
Next Meeting and Agenda
The next DIA meeting will be on Sunday, May 18, 10:00 am to noon, at the school. We have two items to work through: DIA organization structure and survey questions. If you have an issue that you would like to ensure is on the island survey, please join us. We will also be voting on the structure of the organization, filling board positions, and adopting by-laws during this meeting.
