| Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XXXXVI County Balks, Money Talks Paid membership for Friends of Guemes Island {FGI} numbers over 225. {Some opposed to the extended hours are not members}. Operative word here being “paid”. On an island with a full time population of slightly over 500 full time residents, that is impressive. These dues-paying members are loudly protesting the extended hours of the Guemes Ferry. Many members opened their checkbook and wrote checks for much more than their membership dues. FGI president Gary Davis is credited with being the primary solicitor for the organization. Dialogue between the County and FGI has not been fruitful. So FGI’s membership supported their board when litigation with Skagit County was unavoidable. An environmental attorney was retained and paid for by FGI membership. Grants have been awarded to FGI to oppose extended hours and retain Guemes’ rural character. Many members sat through hours of hearings, meetings and trials. If time is money, lots of “money talking “ here. In addition, FGI members circulated, signed, and sent to the Skagit County Board of Commissioners petitions opposing the extended hours. Countless letters and emails have been sent to the BOCC. Protestors gathered at the ferry landing, carrying signs when Commissioner Don Munks arrived on the island to attend a community meeting. Many still boycott those late hours. Definitely walking their money talk. The BOCC has minimized the cost of extended service - to taxes, fares and our island character. The financial cost of this service [2006, 2007] has been exacerbated even more by skyrocketing fuel prices. While everyone else is cutting back because of concerns about the economy, the BOCC seems to be immune. The BOCC never responded to or addressed the concerns of those opposed to the extended hours. The BOCC never answered any letters or email, privately or publicly. That being said, it has been recently rumored that the BOCC has been “barraged” with letters from proponents for the extended hours. Will the BOCC listen to one set of letters when they have ignored another? Can that “barrage" of letters compete with the time and money expended by the opponents? I think not! If all the letters sent from both sides fail to have an impact, I would be inclined to think that “money talks” a language the BOCC understands. Commentary by MJ Andrak, [3.5.8] Send a message to the Commissioners, Public Works Director and ferry manager.
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