Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XXVIIII

Fudging Figures and Fig Leaves

They did it! The BOCC signed a resolution May 23, 2006 expanding the hours of Guemes Island Ferry until 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday, beginning July 1. About 50 people

showed up with signs this rainy morning to protest the proposal. All were invited into the BOCC chambers by Commissioner Dahlstedt. There were 20 minutes of public comment.

Gary Davis, FGI President, spoke as an opponent of the extended hours. He did his homework and compiled information packets with evidence against the extended hours proposal. There were five important opposition points:

The extension is opposed by a super majority of 2/3 of the respondents to the 2006 Ferry survey

The revenues from the extended hours are grossly over-estimated

The proposed resolution is in conflict with prior resolutions that have not been rescinded

Comp Plan Policy 4A-&.15 requires a community plan for Guemes to address the sole source aquifer issues and ferry service

There has not been a SEPA threshold determination

Glen Veal, president of GIFC, reiterated his ongoing arguments opposing the extended hours. All to no avail. Don Munks as much as implied that he had his mind made up on this issue at least a year ago. Dahlstedt, who voted against the resolution, expressed his concern for the additional costs to the taxpayers, questioning the accuracy of Public Works' cost estimates.

Ted Anderson constructed a populist fig leaf to hide behind as he voted to make it possible for his sister to move to the island. He sees the later ferry as allowing his constituents to come to Guemes and walk the beaches (though he complained of the beach public access signs being taken down) and access the County parks. This is a compelling argument if you believe that anyone actually wants to come to Guemes after dark. Ted provided no evidence of the public desire to do so. And why stop at 10?

David Wehrly made a very professional presentation. He quoted the USGS water study as saying that an ample supply exists on Guemes for growth. No one, including the USGS, knows how much rainfall actually reaches the aquifer and what the sustainable withdrawal rate is on Guemes. Did the USGS give a seal of approval for development?

Boshie Morris, 6th Street, Anacortes resident, asked “why an extended hours ferry”, and was documenting the information to take to her Anacortes City Councilman Nick Petrish at Petrish's request.

This is no different from choosing not to run a late bus run because not enough people use it. Are buses providing growth limits to Marblemount because they don't run after xx o'clock? Should we demand an expansion of SKAT service to Lyman and Hamilton? Just think of the injustice for Guemeians who can't afford to drive their own car to wiggle their toes in upriver mud.

There is about a month’s time before the proposed implementation of the extended hours. FGI {established especially for opposition to extended hours in 2005} will appeal to the State and Ted's fig leaf will fail.

Commentary by MJ Andrak

[5.24.6]

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