San Juan County

San Juan County sits in the Salish Sea, which is the Northwest section of Washington state. The county seat for San Juan is Friday Harbor, which sits on San Juan Island. The state officially created San Juan in 1873 and got its name from the San Juan Islands. The primary mode of transport in the state would be the use of ferry routes. 

The biggest island in the County includes Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and more. Plus, the densely populated areas include Vancouver and Victoria. 

Major Roles Served 

County Governments in Washington State, including San Juan County, serve three significant roles: 

1. The state agent serves in departments that involve developmental abilities, document recording, and drug abuse programs.
2. The regional government includes animal control, the county fair, and aging services.
3. The local government handles functions such as building permits, development regulations, and garbage handling.

San Juan County Cities 

There are two main cities in San Juan County map including: 

San Juan County Seat – Friday Harbor  

Friday Harbor ranks high up among the major commercial centers in the San Juan Islands. The harbor is one of the leading commercial centers of San Juan County. Friday harbor also makes up part of the archipelago of 170 islands that sit in between three regions. These regions exist in the Salish Sea.  

Many people know Friday Harbor for being one of the most spectacular and lush towns in the world. The reputation comes from aspects such as the ocean views, vibrant beaches, and fragrant woods.  

Waldron Islan 

Waldron is a 2,800-acre island that has an average population of 150 people. Most of the people in the area live as farmers, and there is a single public dock in the area. The primary mode of transport would be ferries and water taxis. There is also a grass airstrip that takes up to 1800 ft of grass space.  

County Departments  

San Juan also has several departments that are responsible for its everyday functions, including: 

The Agricultural Committee (ARC) 

The ARC started in 2005, intending to maintain the agricultural system and environment of the County. The committee hopes to achieve this goal through various measures, including awareness programs and government-sponsored initiatives. The ARC also features up to 15 members who are responsible for overseeing the operations of the committee. 

Judicial and Legal Services 

The Judicial and legal services are responsible for handling any court cases or legal issues in San Juan County. The departments of the Judicial and Legal Services department include: 

• County Clerk who is responsible for handling various procedures such as jury duty, passports, and court cases.
• The district court handles issues such as criminal cases, adult probation, and procedures such as name changes. 
• The prosecuting attorney is a small law office that features a full-time prosecutor and a victim center. The office also includes up to five staff members.

Public Safety 

The public safety department is also a significant branch of San Juan County. The department is responsible for overseeing the safety of San Juan residents. The members of these departments include: 

• The Sheriff’s department commits to serving and protecting the residents of San Juan.
• The Fire Marshal offers life safety protection services against any issues such as fires or any other relevant life-threatening problem.
• The Emergency Department helps the county prepare and respond to various types of disasters.

Finance and Records 

San Juan County has an extensive financial record, thanks to the various revenue-gathering efforts it has implemented over the years. The Finance and Records department specializes in managing and disseminating this information. Part of this process involves a team of three sub-departments which include: 

The Assessor whose goal is to evaluate the value of the taxable and personal property. This process aims to determine the right, equitable tax approach to take for each district. 

The auditor who is responsible for supervising elections, managing legal documents, and various other financial services. 

The treasure who works as the Ex Officio for all the regions of the country. They also serve as the person who stores the funds and data on county resources. 

San Juan County Public Records 

The County allows every person to access and inspect the public records based on certain factors. Any person who needs access to the public records has to contact the custodian. Below are some of his details which are available for public access: 

• Name: Joseph F. Sawyer, 
• Address: Aztec, NM 87410. 
• Email: [email protected].
• Phone Number: 505-334-3168.

Any person wishing to access the record might have to wait for approval from the custodian of these records. Usually, the duration is no later than two weeks after the first submission of the request. In some cases, the custodian might require a fee to provide access to the public records. 

These can include when the user requires: 

• For paper, copies expect to pay up to $0.50.
• Digital records, which you get through a flash drive at $10.00 per copy.
• Digital records that you can on a DC at an average of $3.00.

San Juan County Sheriffs Department  

The San Juan County Sheriff Office is a law enforcement department that acts on behalf of all the residents of the County. The area the department covers averages up to 2100 square miles and includes 130,000 people.  

The team also features 100 deputies and 25 civilians who help with law enforcement activities in the County. The department also enlists the help of various volunteers to help, such as when crime rates are high. 

The office also has different departments, which include: 

• The patrol detectives regulate the use of public roads and the use of automobiles.
• The narcotics department handles any illegal substances that get into the County.
• The aviation department handles all matters relating to flights in the County.

Aside from these main ones, San Juan County also has various other sub sheriff departments. These include the SWAT team, police instructors, and detectives department. The Office location is in Aztec, New Mexico, and it sits in the Lee Acres region. 

The name details of the Sheriff include: 

• Sheriff R. Shane Ferrari
• Undersheriff Cory Tanner

San Juan County Offices by Type