Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales

Time : Money : Power

Another episode in the ongoing saga of the Guemes Island Ferry, the county that operates it, and the people on the island that it serves.

Guemes Island Task Force Meeting 9, Anacortes Municipal Court Room, October 17, 2003

Cast includes Ferry Workers, Guemes Island Resident, Members of the Task Force, Skagit County Reps and, of course, produced and directed by Berk and Associates. {The County commissioner role is unseen but omnipotent and omnipresent.}

The script is well written albeit slow moving and costly. The protagonist role varies with each episode and often times within episodes depending on the topic up for discussion.

The scene opens with all seated at a table facing one another. Before each is a bottle of water, pertinent notes, agenda, drafts of schedules, fares, costs. etc. Something sweet is placed strategically on the tables so as to be accessible by all.

Initially the climate is casual and civilized. Everyone seems pleasant, and there appears to be little or no tension.

Act 1 TIME

The commercial use of the ferry is dealt with expedientially. The propane and fuel trucks will have their own ferry crossing on Tuesdays.

Without provocation the climate changes, passions rise and tempers flare. Berk and Associates try to maintain control and finally back off and let the protagonists take center stage. They will eventually regain direction:

After considerable discussion the vote is unanimous to accept

Alternative to Address School Bus Arrival {Summer}

Alternative to Address School Bus Arrival {Winter}

A vote of 7 to 5 carried to embrace the 6:00PM ferry crossing policy as it stands.

Act 2 MONEY

Resolution 11939 passed as it stands

Act 3 POWER

Skagit County Commissioner has final authority (Yet another reason to vote for Freeholders November 4).

Next episode October 24 at 2:45 until …….{last ferry to Guemes} Open to the public at Public Works Conference Room, Mt. Vernon, WA.

Exit stage.

- MJ Andrak