| Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XV Two Steps Forward There was a pretty good turnout considering it was the second GIFC meeting in less than a week. About 50 people gave up a couple of hours, in very busy schedules, to attend. Glen Veal gave a report on past, present, and future issues affecting our little ferry. He clarified the extension date of frequent user books and repeated that the car ferry will not make a Monday through Thursday 1 pm run after December 9, 2004. He also explained that negotiations with the unions about additional early morning and later evening runs have not yet born fruit. The ferry haul out in Spring/Summer of 2005 will be extensive since both engines will be replaced. Get used to the passenger only ferry! Info was sparse about the passenger shelter in the Guemes parking lot. Seems GIFC has not been privy to Public Works plans and ideas. Steve Orsini said, “A shelter has already been purchased by the county." He could only speculate as to what was purchased. He did mention that the current shelter is in the wrong place, compelling passengers to cross ferry traffic to reach their parked cars. Carl Cady shared graphs showing costs and deficits. The deficit for the year ending June 2004 is over $900,000. He also said that information about costs from the county is slow to reach GIFC and consequently the ridership. Carl hopes to meet with the county to crunch some numbers in January 2005. Seems to me that the communication from the county to GIFC to ferry ridership is a two steps forward and one step backwards process. Rumors develop with this lack of communication. One example, people in the audience asked whether or not the new pilings were placed correctly. Truth or rumor? The frequent user books, not being transferable between family members, are a bone of contention. Many don’t understand why this procedure had to be changed. Mostly, because of the abuse! The frequent user books were implemented for people who commute each and every day. Not for wedding parties, realtors, and contractors to use for their own gain. Perhaps a bulk user ticket book could be put into place at a reduced rate but not as reduced as the frequent user book. The transferability between family members could then be reinstated. In addition the ferry system loses revenue. I wonder how much of the deficit can be blamed on this revenue loss. The frequent user books themselves encourage the necessity for a fourth crewmember at an annual cost of $130,000/year. Speaking of money, Dixon reported that there is slightly over $150.00 in GIFC. Not enough to cover the cost of the upcoming election. Donations are accepted at Anderson’s store and can be mailed to:
The necessity for a reader board was rejected. So we’re back to having to get out of our cars and talk to one another. YEAH! Did the new handicap signs capture anyone’s attention? Took only 1 1/2 years! County expects to open the new Anacortes parking lot end of December for use until paving happens next summer {With lower level access}. Dixon Elder is resigning from The GIFC. Nominations from the floor were open for this opening. Jim O’Neil and Vic Garcia were both nominated again. Allen Bush was nominated and declined. Nominations from the floor will be accepted at the January 16, 2005 meeting. Any volunteers for the position? - MJ Andrak [12.10.04]
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