| LineTime Tries Again LineTime sent the following letter as well as the First and Second Implementation Checklists to Public Works and the Commissioners. So far, we haven't received an acknowledgment, let alone a considered response to the questions posed. March 30, 2005 Ted W.
Anderson, Ken Dahlstedt, Don Munks Chal
Martin www.LineTime.org began in December 2002 with the intention of fostering communication on issues of interest to Guemes Islanders. We have made many attempts since we began to improve communication between Skagit County Public Works and the Guemes Ferry ridership. We are currently very disappointed in the response we receive from Public Works and are writing to state clearly who we are, why this is important, and what we want from our Skagit County government. Who We Are LineTime has grown steadily into a significant resource for both islanders and off-islanders, particularly for ferry information during service disruptions and schedule and procedure changes. LineTime also includes a great deal of information about Guemes Island events and organizations. The Guemes Island Ferry Committee and The Guemes Island Planning and Advisory Committee are just two island organizations that rely on LineTime to communicate to their community. As you know, the Guemes ferry was in and out of service for two months last fall while dolphins were being replaced. We maintained a frequently updated web page with schedules and information which was viewed more than 1700 times:
During this period, ferry manager Steve Cox seemed to genuinely understand why ferry ridership needed timely information and diligently provided it, sending emails and leaving phone messages. Mr. Cox also arranged for a county emailing list to distribute information to those who signed up for it. Everyone on Guemes appreciated his efforts to let them know what to expect. While Mr. Cox kept ridership informed, Public Works did not at any time explain why the project was undertaken at this particular time or how it fit into some larger plan. Many wondered why the County was very expensively replacing what seemed to be perfectly good dolphins. While such information is not essential, it does help reduce resentment and anger brought on by the service disruption. As the previously announced date approached for the return to a three person crew (March 1) and the implementation of the Task Force schedule (by County Resolution), LineTime contacted Steve Flude and then Chal Martin. We asked about the procedural changes that would obviously be required. We were dismissed and ignored. Mr. Martin declined to respond in any way. When the ferry went out of service recently with steering problems, three times within a week, we did receive information but only at the very end of the outages, when the County’s failure to communicate reached the level of the ridiculous. Early on we recognized that we were not reporters and did not want to act as reporters. We would encourage all involved to communicate directly. We would not report what we think we remember what we thought we heard someone say. Instead, we would post their words unedited in their entirety. We would invite, in this case, Public Works to answer questions that we and others have and we will post Public Works’ response and statements without comment or edit. Why This Is Important More than two years ago, Berk & Associates wrote in their taxpayer funded $170,000 Guemes Island Ferry Operations Management Analysis:
Just whose ferry is it? Without a doubt the Guemes Island Ferry serves anyone and everyone who wishes to ride to Guemes Island and back. However, the vast majority of it’s riders are the residents of Guemes Island. We depend on the vessel and it’s crew for reaching places of employment, obtaining provisions, getting our children to school and gaining access to the rest of the world. We are also the ones most directly effected by disruptions in ferry service or changes in procedures. Timely information about Guemes Island ferry operations is a very practical necessity. As citizens, taxpayers and ratepayers, we have a right and a duty to know what our elected government is doing with our money and how they are fulfilling their responsibilities. Our requests for timely information, both as private citizens and as LineTime.org on behalf of our community are perfectly reasonable. Quite frankly, responding promptly to the citizens of Skagit County is part of your job. Yes, we did elect the Guemes Island Ferry Committee to represent us to Public Works and they certainly do understand the value and importance of communication between Public Works and the ridership. However, they are a group of volunteers whose available time is more than consumed with ferry operational issues. What We Want A Contact Person
Timely Response To Questions
Active Communication Berk and Associates also recommended that “Ferry management should take advantage of the Guemes Island Evening Star [this was written before LineTime] as a no-cost way to communicate with customers - the Ferry manager should have a regular column in the paper. The column should contain performance information as well as information on upcoming issues or projects.” Space in the Evening Star is not free.* A regular column on LineTime is. We have offered this opportunity to speak to the ferry ridership in the past and extend it once again. After the dolphin project outages and several recent service disruptions and now with a potentially extended outage again before us, anger and resentment toward Skagit County and ferry management have never been higher. Rumors are rampant. Skagit County has an opportunity and a responsibility to step forward and communicate with this community. In the coming weeks, we will again ask our questions and post them, along with this letter, on LineTime. We very much hope we can post your responses as well. Joseph Miller Sharon Schlittenhard Mary Jo Andrak Gary Davis cc First Implementation Checklist • Second Implementation Checklist *The Evening Star does not charge for news space. It is absolutely free for the publication of news and features and eagerly prints pertinent news releases from Public Works. Our meaning here is that there are costs - ink, paper and postage - that LineTime does not have. The Evening Star may generously offer Skagit County space but it is not free of cost. |
