Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XI

Pedaling Back

I could go through each of the 18 items on the agenda of the Guemes Island Ferry Roundtable Meeting held on July 9, 2004. I could elaborate on the plans and drawings that were presented by Public Works to the Ferry Committee about signage, traffic signals, and reader boards. I could comment on the discussion about the ferry traffic back up on July 5, 2004 on Guemes. {This due to a technicality in the definition of “holiday”}. I could refer to the current Frequent User Ticket Book fiasco. I could call attention to the corrected, color-coded schedule that will be available, none too soon. I could divulge how much time was spent on the possibility of off-sight ticket sales. All this would be informative and all will, ultimately, be covered in the meeting summary. [Summary will be posted on linetime.org as it becomes available.]

I will focus on two items of the agenda that appeared innocuous. These were agenda items that began with words such as “update”. These agenda items used the name of our august commissioner, Don Munks, and suggested reviews and evaluations.

Steve Flude, Public Works, stated that he had met with Commissioner Munks earlier in the day, and he was to relay a message to the Ferry Committee. It seems that our illustrious commissioner must have had an attack of the ‘vapors”. Why else would a man in his position not communicate directly to the FC?

GIFC put in more than a year and half of hard work, including countless hours sitting in meetings. Our venerable leader managed to convince Skagit County that it was necessary to spend over $350,000.00 of taxpayer’s money for a much-needed Guemes Island Ferry study. This study would fix what wasn’t broke. A consulting firm would be hired and a task force formed. Input from the Guemes community would be considered. Our esteemed leader made good faith promises to his Guemes constituency.

The final proposal/recommendation was submitted to the County Commissioners on December 22, 2003. The board requested time to review the document. On January 20, 2004 the proposal was unanimously approved and signed by the Skagit County Board of Commissioners. Munks approval was conditional upon the Ferry running until the loading dock is empty {as it has always done} instead of the 6:00PM cutoff. The second condition was “continuing dialogue between the GIFC, Guemes Island Property Owners/citizens and Commissioners." Dialogue would include issues/proposals brought up at a December Public Meeting on Guemes. The emphasis was on dialogue between GIFC and the Guemes Island Citizens. Don Munks repeated more than once, “that citizens, unhappy with the decision, should open up dialogue with the GIFC members that they nominated and voted on”.

Back now to the message that was to be relayed:

One of the good faith promises made by Munks was that the Guemes Island Ferry Committee would be chartered by Skagit County Board in recognition of their efforts. The relayed message informed the GIFC that the ferry committee charter will NOT be passed.

There were also other points in the unanimously signed and approved Task Force Recommendations that needed reviewing and re-evaluation, says Munks {through public works}. This message was met with stunned silence. “Munks threw down the gauntlet,” said Dixon Elder, “now let’s move on”.

There is still a faction of citizenry on Guemes that want extended ferry hours. These citizens have submitted yet another ["Revised Extended Service"] proposal. There are also citizens that want two ferries to operate. To my knowledge dialogue between these citizens and the GIFC has NOT been established.

What happened between January 20, 2004 and July 9, 2004?

Why does Don Munks feel confident that he can break promises, back pedal on approved issues and have someone else deliver this information?

Is it because he does not have a Democratic opponent in the upcoming election?

Is Munks in training for the new Olympic Event of Backpedalling?

- MJ Andrak