| Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XXXXI Spending Our Way to Prosperity
Is it because of this recent coverage in the SVH that the lines to board the Guemes Island Ferry have been so…long? Even if you drive Guemes Island Road at 3 pm, the line of cars and trucks reaches to Pheasant Run Road. {1-1/2 boats} It seems almost any time of any day rivals peak holiday traffic. One letter to the editor (August 9) comes to a point saying “the greater benefit is to folks shopping and entertainment desires. If you’ve lived on Guemes for very long you know we provide our own entertainment. Weekday restaurant dinners are not necessary because the food at our potluck gatherings is second to none." Another writer on August 9 seems to be pretty knowledgeable about the laws that apply to rural designated areas. He also recognized and took issue with the August 3 Herald editorial stating the lack of clarity on the amount of the county’s subsidy to the Guemes Ferry. “The county has its own accounting, which is disputed by a citizens group on the island. In the long run who is right about that {the subsidy amount} is beside the point.” Excuse me but that “point” is dollars and cents. These two separate accountings are not even close. A letter to the editor August 2 in the Herald states that the Skagit County Ferry system is part of the county’s” overall transportation system”. Not only do all Skagit County property owners pay for the ferry when they pay their property tax bill, They also must wait in long lines and pay an additional fare. Lines are eliminated, of course, if they come over on the 10 pm run. According to a second writer that day, for years there has been a “disinformation campaign” concerning the operation of the ferry. This ferry system ran, with a three person crew, on demand, without extended hours, in spite of that campaign. That information cannot be disputed. Did BOCC fix what wasn’t broken? I would like to know how many residents of Concrete benefit from extended hours and how. If one August 7 letter to the SVH is accurate, this is the “best, most reliable ferry schedule”. This improved and extended ferry service and elimination of “on demand” runs are successful and reduce overall expenses $200,000! Tell that to the people in cars waiting at 11 am only to board the 1:30 pm. The extended service has “benefited county coffers resulting in overall savings”. I would like to know what the weather is like on her planet. By next year Skagit county should be making enough money that they can pay everyone to use the ferry. Commentary by MJ Andrak [8.13.7] Send a message to the Commissioners, Public Works Director and ferry manager.
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