Summary of process for Land Bank acquisition of property:

A. Land Bank staff identifies prospective acquisitions for county council review and public comment.

B. County code 2.120.050 requirement for appraisal and approved purchase plan.

C. Prospective acquisition is presented to the County Council for a resolution of approval.

D. County Council votes on proposal for acquisition permitting the acquisition to proceed.

In April 2018, Lincoln Bormann, director of the Land Bank, makes an acquisition proposal presentation to San Juan County Council for acquisition of property identified as the Lester property ID 13481. Missing from the presentation is the fact that the director of the Land Bank owns property approximately 255 yards from the proposed acquisition. Resolution is passed for the acquisition. Bormann’s property is identified as ID 18237. Roll value history illustrates from 2013 to 2018 the assessed land value increases from $120,880 to $126,640 over five years, less than 1% per year. Then in 2019 (one year after the Lester property acquisition), the Bormann property assessed land value increases to $151,970: a 20% increase in one year! That just happens to be the same increase in value the Land Bank web quotes on their website:

“Being near conservation land boosts property values by up to 20% according to multiple analyses.”

RCW 43.160.040 Conflicts of interest — Code of ethics

In addition to other applicable provisions of law pertaining to conflicts of interest of public officials, no board member, appointive or otherwise, may participate in any decision on any board contract in which the board member has any interests, direct or indirect, with any firm, partnership, corporation, or association which would be the recipient of any aid under this chapter. In any instance where the participation occurs, the board shall void the transaction, and the involved member shall be subject to whatever further sanctions may be provided by law. The board shall frame and adopt a code of ethics for its members, which shall be designed to protect the state and its citizens from any unethical conduct by the board.

RCW 9A.76.175 Making a false or misleading statement to a public servant

A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. “Material statement” means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.

I argue the above information constitutes a conflict of interest voters should know.

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 1-EXTENDING CONSERVATION AREA EXCISE TAX