| Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XVIII Fanning the Flames The quarterly meeting of the GIFC was well attended on Sunday May 22. Glen Veal had full command of the audience, in spite of attempted disruptions early on. GIFC thanked all who attended the Commissioners hearing May 16, and all who wrote letters about the extended ferry hours. There was, {intentionally?} very little advance notice of the meeting’s agenda, yet many Guemes Islanders managed to juggle their Monday schedules so they could attend. There is also a petition circulating about several issues, including not extending the schedule. For those unable to attend the May 16th meeting Victor Garcia read verbatim Commissioner Ted Anderson’s comments. Evidently not with enough of the malice that Anderson exhibited. Not only did Commissioner Anderson rudely interrupt and consequently shorten the public comment period with his interruption, he pointedly ignored Glen {who approached Anderson afterward.} This routine has been played out often between Guemes Islanders and Anderson. Commissioners declared the Guemes Ferry will soon face higher fares because the ferry has had decreased revenue (in spite of increased fares) and higher costs. When GIFC questioned this, they were told Skagit County had had a six-year “rainy day” fund that the county managed to deplete in one year by purchasing a $ 4-1/2 million county-wide computer system. This is causing Skagit County to focus on Guemes Island for money. The “promised” fare increase will come from a ‘reduction in the “discount” fares not the basic fares”, according to Victor Garcia. The recently formed Skagit County Citizens for Professional Transportation Management proposal to extend the ferry hours at this time seems absurd. The system is not running smoothly and hasn’t been for quite some time. Expenses have been high, repairs often, schedules erratic. Is this the time to extend ferry hours? If 125 citizens of Guemes Island actually signed a petition to extend ferry hours, what is their reasoning? Will the boat be full on evening runs Monday through Thursday when it is not always full now on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Holiday evenings? If you want off the island so badly after 6:00PM, why move to an island? How long have you lived here? How long after you moved here did you realize the ferry only operates until 6:00PM Monday through Thursday? Were you shocked? Does it make sense to extend the weekday schedule when it takes a four-person crew to operate the ferry for an after hours school special now? Is the signed resolution by the Commissioners regarding the schedule worthless? The GIFC is strictly an advisory committee that has worked hard and long over the past few years to give the commissioners good, timely advice. They’ve advised, stayed on task and sometimes received the wrath of the Commissioners. Glen Veal said "not only can we take the heat {from commissioners} we can generate some heat”. Need any help fanning the flames? - MJ Andrak [5.28.5]
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