CHIMACUM — Jefferson County commissioners will host community outreach meetings across East Jefferson County, starting in Chimacum this week.

County commissioners and County Administrator Phillip Morley will go over recent county news and the 2018 budget.

They then will open up the meeting to break into smaller groups to allow community members to speak with commissioners or other elected county officials.

“It’s just to get the commissioners and Morley back out there to be more visible and available,” said Julie Shannon, executive assistant for the Jefferson County commissioners.

The commissioners used to organized public outreach meetings annually but, Shannon said, they haven’t had an outreach meeting since 2013.

“We’re just not starting them again,” Shannon said. “The commissioners just thought it would be a good idea.”

The first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Chimacum Fire Hall, 9193 Rhody Drive.

Similar meetings are scheduled for Brinnon, Quilcene, Port Ludlow and Port Townsend in November and December.

The meeting in Brinnon is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Brinnon Senior Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101.

A Quilcene gathering is scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Quilcene Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101. A Port Ludlow meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4 at the Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive. The final meeting will be the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St., on Dec. 14.

The Jefferson County Commissioners have discussed the 2018 budget for over a month and will consider scheduling a public hearing for the proposed budget during their Monday morning meeting.

The proposed hearing date for the budget is 10 a.m. Dec. 4 in the commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.