The Port of South Whidbey will officially cast its support for an independent review of the Island County Fairgrounds.

As a member of the county’s council of governments, Port President Curt Gordon wanted to pursue a consultant to evaluate the fairgrounds’ utility and organization. Commissioner Chris Jerome was involved in meetings about the fairgrounds and supported seeking rural county economic development funds to “see where their weak points and strong points are.”

Commissioner Dennis Gregoire was also in favor of trying to use those funds to pay for an evaluation. The port and fair, though separate entities, have worked together in the past toward economic development projects.

Port funds have been used for the Langley Main Street Association’s electric cart to move people from the marina up the hill of Wharf Street into Langley and to parking lots at Langley Middle School and the Island Church of Whidbey.