Skagit Valley Herald Pontificates: "We're still left with the impression that Guemes Island is a subsidized enclave whose residents want cheap access for themselves and limited access for everyone else."

On Sunday, June 12, the Herald published a rancorous editorial which has prompted the responses below. If you have sent in a response and would like to see it added here, please sent it by email to LineTime. Just click on this link: LineTime.org Your email program will open with a new message already addressed to us.

Voices of the Valley

"The Skagit Valley Herald's May 12th editorial scapegoats Guemes Islanders to mask the fiscal mismanagement of the Skagit County Ferry...No other county ferry system in the state chose to add a full-time crew person to solve a minor accounting problem. The cost of this crew person has added over $190,000 to the operating side of the ledger."

6.23.5

Tim Rosenhan

Is the Guemes ferry losing money because fares are too low? That’s the County’s current spin, but poor fiscal management is instead the culprit.

Even if fare revenues are doubled, the County ferry will still be losing several hundred thousand dollars a year. The balance sheet has been stable for two decades. Why do we now have so much red ink? Here are three reasons.

First, the ferry and dock system is 27 years old. It’s been “in the garage” and out of service 20% of the time over the last 10 months. The County repaired broken systems at premium emergency prices to get the ferry back in service.

Second, Skagit County has no ferry “business plan” to spread out the cost of predictable capital improvements (docks and parking lots) and system refits (engines and transmissions). Unlike Pierce and Whatcom counties, which use multiple sources of transportation funding and loans to help finance their ferries and keep them reliable, Skagit County spends on an as needed, per year cash basis from the county taxpayers. Neither has Skagit County set money aside in the form of a sinking fund for these predictable refitting costs. We wait for it to break and pay more.

Third, Skagit County has not controlled labor costs. In the last year the County added a fourth crewmember, to the tune of well over $100,000 per year. The virtually identical Lummi county ferry still runs with three crewmembers.

Let’s improve the ferry management and stop scapegoating the islanders.

[6.20.05]

Judy Thompson

It seems to me that there should be a point to an editorial but try as I might I can't find one in your Editorial on June 12th about the Guemes Island Ferry. I won't repeat the derogatory names you called the islanders but I wonder how many of us you actually know. That being said, I think you owe us an apology for your unprofessionalism.

Of course we know that our aging ferry (twenty-five years and counting) has had many problems this past year. Any type of transportation equipment wears out over a period of years. Shouldn't the Skagit County Guemes Ferry operating and maintenance budget address this? You know, first you can depreciate the equipment over a period of years.....(far less than twenty-five I would assume)....then you project for repair and replacement costs. The county should review the process and budget and take necessary action. If a fare increase is warranted so be it.

Humm..guess it is more fun to try to manipulate the situation by trying to turn people against each other. Toss out a few remarks to stir up animosity, mix it up then sit back and laugh at the stew you have created.

Responsible journalism, right!

[6.17.05]

Tim Fanton

Your editorial (June 12) seems to have followed a string of Guemes Island bashing that has been gaining momentum over the last few months. I'm especially offended by your statement that "Some Guemes Islanders act as if they live in a castle and they are entitled to pull up the drawbridge each night." Living here for 13 years, I can think of no one that fits that description. Sure, the majority of residents would like to see the current ferry schedule remain in place, but that has more to do with the costs of operating the ferry than with the elitist attitude you wrote about.

Here's a thought. Why don't your editors and the county commissioners get together and figure out how the county is gonna operate an aging, trouble-prone ferry even longer hours without costing more money than it does now. Extra wear and tear on the boat, extra ferry crew hours. You do the math. After that, do some serious fact checking before making your case on islander's attitudes. I suspect if you do, you'll find quite a different impression than that which you wrote about.

[6.13.05]

Joseph Miller

L. Stedem Wood, Skagit Valley Herald Publisher

The editorial in Sunday's (June 12) Skagit Valley Herald baffled me completely. I have been a resident of Skagit County on Guemes Island for almost 30 years. Never have I heard my fellow ferry riders complain about fares or about the prospect of fares increasing. We willingly accept paying those costs that are different than a bridge. I would remind you that a Task Force of county citizens, Public Works employees and consultants set the current fares, the fares policy and the ferry's hours of operation which were approved by the Commissioners a little more than two years ago. The Resolution also set out a mechanism for regularly reviewing and adjusting fares which was supposed to have occurred this November when all pertinent information is complete. Why is Public Works circumventing a well thought out process now? Why are you supporting that? Doesn't it strike you as odd and telling that the Public Works director stands before the Commissioners to say that an area under his almost complete control has chaos on the docks and is hemorrhaging money?

You mention our frequent user discount is 60% - clearly a dramatic number - but fail to ask 60% of what. The Skagit County discounted car and driver fare amount is, in fact, fairly close to the Whatcom county discounted fare (Whatcom drivers pay $0.77 more). No one here will argue, either, if that discount is changed. What we do care about are costs escalating rapidly. We understand fuel costs rising or maintenance costs of an older vessel. We have difficulty accepting costs rising due to poor management. The Commissioners spent close to $70,000 on an analysis that recommended many sensible changes in how Chal Martin ran his department. Were any of them implemented? The Commissioners then went on to raise the total to $262,000 and supported the Task Force process which set fares, fare policy and the ferry's hours of operation. Many County and Guemes citizens devoted hundreds of volunteer hours, along with paid County employees to reach the recommendations which the Commissioners formally accepted by Resolution and now are intent on undoing. It would seem the Commissioners and Mr. Martin have a very casual disregard for taxpayers' money and public process.

Commissioner Anderson has stated that the ferry should run later in order that many more people can live here. Both he and you seem to overlook our very legitimate concern - how will such an influx of residents effect an area with unknown but clearly limited water resources? Saltwater intrusion due to overpumping is already a significant problem. We would like to answer that question first rather than charge blindly forward.

The Commissioners and Public Works want to extend ferry service on week nights without apparent concern for the costs to the rate payers or the taxpayers. We have a vessel which is expensive to maintain now and they wish to increase its running hours significantly? Doesn't expressing an intent to increase service without fully understanding the costs and consequences suggest a troublesome style?

While Guemes Island is not an enclave or a private reserve, Mr. Wood, it is an island after all. It is a very distinct part of Skagit County. Such an extraordinary part that its citizens are passionate and involved. As a citizen of Skagit County and Guemes Island, as a taxpayer and a rate payer, I am offended by your remarks. Your closing sentence is quite arrogant in assuming that your perception is the only proper one. I suggest you look again.

I believe, Mr. Wood, that the Skagit Valley Herald owes the citizens of Guemes an apology. Your editorial was judgmental, prejudicial and accused us of attitudes and behaviors that you yourself put upon us. There is a great deal to this story that the citizens of Skagit County deserve to hear and I hope the Herald will tell that story in a fair and accurate manner.

[6.13.05]

Russell Moline

In response to "Guemes Islanders must get on board with higher rates"

I am a resident of Guemes Island and have been for over six years. I understand that rate increases are a normal part of running any type of business. If ferry prices go up ...so be it.

The question of whether or not to extend ferry service hours is entirely a separate matter. The reason I, and many others moved out to Guemes was the ferry stopping service @ 6:00pm on weekdays.

In your article you wrote, "Some Guemes Islanders act as if they live in a castle and they are entitled to pull up the drawbridge each night. Last we looked, Guemes was part of Skagit County and not a private preserve"

This is the way it has been out here forever! Those who live here like it that way, at least the majority.

"Service ends at 6 p.m. on week nights, which is fine with some residents and inconvenient for pretty much everyone else."

The above statement is highly biased and false.

Who is everyone else?

Why would they want to come to Guemes after 6:00pm on a weekday?

How would allowing them to come raise more revenue?

The Quality of life I enjoy here on Guemes is not convenient, and it should not be.

If you want a life that is convenient then live in a city.

If You want to got out and eat at 8:00pm on a Wednesday don't move to Guemes.

Here is what I am tired of.....

People coming to Guemes, liking it for what it is, Buying property, then realizing it could be more convenient if............

Don't be so naive to think convenience does not come at a price.

A resident who likes Guemes the way it is.

[6.14.05]