Sounder letters to the editor

Old fire hall — It would meet community needs

The following letter to the Orcas Island Library District Board of Trustees from the Friends of the Orcas Island Library was submitted to the Islands’ Sounder for publication.

Members of the Friends of the Library have followed with great interest all the developments relative to the potential purchase of the old fire hall adjacent to the library. We understand that you had originally decided to not pursue such a course with the normal means available to the library district, such as taxpayer funded revenue bonds. That was a well considered and responsible decision. Then, several members of the Orcas community approached you, asking if you might reconsider the acquisition if the funding were to come from donations from the community at large. Many felt that it represents a unique opportunity not to be missed, should the community vote with their checkbooks to make it happen. You determined that should sufficient funding materialize, you would accept it and pursue the purchase. You then requested thoughts and opinions from the public and held an open meeting to receive that input and to provide answers to questions.

It is clear from the public discussions that fire hall space could not supplant the ongoing requirements of the library building itself. However, many potential uses for the building consistent with the purpose and goals of the library have been put forward and are supported by the Friends of the Library. As the primary sponsor of several library activities, most notably the LifeLong Learning programs, the Friends of the Library believe the building could meet the demands for space for these programs. Therefore, in support of the Orcas community, should the purchase money be made available, the Friends of the Orcas Island Library by vote of our board of directors has committed to fund to the reasonable extent of our resources those necessary renovations to make the building suitable for library uses.

Leonard Wood, Chairman, Friends of the Orcas Island Library

Quilt — Thanks to all the volunteers who helped

We would like to say a huge thank you to Cheryl Jackson, Ruth Van Destraat and Keri Stone for sewing and quilting the beautiful literature quilt the K-6 students designed and created for our library. Poppies was so helpful, and the store’s “can-do” approach and generosity helped make this lovely quilt possible. Please drop in to see it; it will hang in the school library for many years!

Terry Hopkins and Julia Swanland, Orcas School Library

Montessori — A positive impact on the public schools

Thank you for the attention you have given to the Montessori Elementary Program. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the time for our program is “harsh reality.” The school board meeting of March 27 can just as easily lead this program in a positive direction. Now all the cards are face up on the table. True change is sometimes difficult, but we are not re-inventing the wheel here. Implementing any program into any school requires a certain amount of tailoring. Bringing Montessori and “traditional” programs together within public schools is happening across the country. We can now draft our implementation program specifically to fit Orcas Island Elementary School.

The dynamics of every community change periodically. The fact that one, possibly two, valuable teachers will not be rehired this September is felt by many, including every member of the “Montessori Elementary Program” committee. The loss of Martha Inch and possibly Laura Tidwell is directly and specifically related to the fact that Lori Oakes and Peggy Garcia return from sabbatical and that the number of kids will be fewer in grades K thru 6. This is not a tug of war between parents and teachers. Whether the Montessori Elementary Program is implemented or not, it will not change the fate of these two valued members of our community. All of the people supporting this program are compassionate in this regard.

For the record Bob Phalans comment was taken out of context. When Barry Acker expressed his moral obligation to rehire Martha and Laura, Bob commented that, “It is admirable that you feel a moral obligation to the teachers, but you also have a moral obligation to the parents and tax payers.”

Diversity in education is an intricate part of our community. Studies have shown the Montessori curriculum benefits all children from gifted to learning disabled. I believe it can help Orcas Island Elementary School more effectively meet its mission statement in working “in partnership with families and community.”

Becky Flint, Olga

Solid waste — Contract could cost us a fortune

It is sad that we are represented by two commissioners who deem it unnecessary to perform a cost-benefit analysis prior to signing a contract. The question is - can we afford to keep them in office?

I offer you but one of many examples to illustrate my point: the case of recyclables.

The recyclable part of the contract has a price tag of $45 / ton, of which $17.56 / ton represents the ferry cost.

For those of you mathematically inclined, I will go through the analysis below using last year’s tonnage. The rest of you may want to skip to the bottom of the article.

Total tonnage for recyclables during 2001 was 1364 tons. The contract stipulates a 19-ton per trip guarantee. Dividing the 1364 tons by the 19-ton per trip guarantee results in 72 trips. At $45 / ton, that number of trips, each with a 19-ton load, would cost $61,560.

The total ferry cost fee is estimated to be $150 / trip. However, if you divide $150 by $17.56 (the contractual amount per ton for the ferry cost), you realize that the $150 / trip estimate is based on only 8.6 tons – not the 19 tons guaranteed.

For the sake of discussion, let us make the weight 10 tons. If each container weighs 10 tons and not 19 tons, the calculation changes as follows:

The 1364 total tonnage at 10 tons / trip equals 136 trips. Since there is a 19-ton guarantee in the contract, 136 trips multiplied by 19 tons at $45 / ton equals $116,280. Divide that amount by the number of tons (1364) and the price per actual ton equals $85.25.

Using Waste Management’s own figures, the actual price per ton will be $85.25, not $45.

We probably only have four taxpayers in the entire county who did not approve of a financial analysis: Tom Huse, the timely departed Public Works director; John Shannon, the Solid Waste manager, who publicly denied ever being asked by Si Stephens to provide financial background material; and John Evans and Darcie Nielsen, who both denied the auditors’ repeated requests for time to do a financial analysis before the contract was signed.

Is this the kind of representation we want?

Ake Stroede, Lopez

Commissioners — They defied their mandate

One of the unique feelings I have about living in San Juan County is that there is a sense of community. It’s a feeling most of us have for the various lifestyles, our care for the environment and that our feelings and thoughts are reflective in our governmental policies.

Most recently those feelings have been shattered by the disregard of two of our commissioners, John Evans and Darcie Nielsen, who chose not to hear or even consider the feelings of a substantial number of constituents that have concern for our solid waste management. There are hard choices that must be made by our elected officials, and I applaud their willingness and perhaps their obligation to make these choices. However, I was appalled by the defiant manner in which the commissioners refused to just delay their decision by a month or two so that the asked for public discussions could at least be heard by the community.

Public officials, just like anyone, cannot be expected to make the right decision in every case. In our form of government they certainly cannot please each of us. However, they do have the obligation to hear us and encourage public discussion of important issues. When they defy that very important mandate and obligation, they should be turned out of office. How frustrating it is to wait to do this, but that is the way our democracy is and should work. The sad part is how little of us remember this when we are at the polls months or years hence. What has happened to our community’s lack of concern for public forums or town meetings? Where is the leadership in this community which, of course, should come from our elected officials? I am sick and tired of hearing one commissioner berate another. We have long since passed the time that we should have modernized our thinking and elect five or seven commissioners that give our community a more representative and open government. Commissioners can then privately communicate with their peers on issues that need weighted discussion. Of course, this would also be the most propitious time to install a county manager that could now easily be paid for by decreases in commissioners’ salaries to stipends reflective of any corporate board. There is something about public power that seems to eventually corrupt the thinking of the most well meaning of some elected officials. I think there is an upwelling of desire for change. I think that we can get better elected officials if we broaden the base and leave the day to day management of running the county up to a professional manager.

Walter Corbin, Olga

Education — Corbett, Breslauer will be missed

I was very disappointed when I recently learned of the resignation of Betty

Corbett and Lori Breslauer from the Orcas Island Education Foundation. These two remarkable women have devoted huge amounts of time, energy and creativity over the past several years to the mission of improving the

education of our children. Working behind the scenes, Betty and Lori have done much to energise the role of the O.I.E.F., as well as drum up more support for essential school programs.

Unsung heroes in our community, like Betty and Lori, have had an important

impact on the quality of all our lives. As a community, we need to honor them. So, Betty and Lori, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are truly

shining stars in our gem of an island.

Ian Van Gelder, Eastsound

Time change — Keep it the same all year

In order to redeem your printer’s integrity, you should repeat my suggestion regarding daylight “saving” time correctly. Advance (or decrease) all time pieces permanently one-half hour, thus compromising morning daylight and evening twilight lovers. This would eliminate the bi-annual confusion and inconvenience.”

Certainly your readers have enough common sense to know which.

Carol Clark, Eastsound

Decatur — Seek donations of art

Hello, my name is Morgan Jones. I am 11 and in the sixth grade. On May 22 I will turn 12. I have many pets such as chickens, five sheep, two dogs, two cats and four lambs. I live on an island up in the San Juans. It is called Decatur.

Seventy full-time residents and tons of people who just come here for vacations live here. Decatur is about 11 square miles. My mom owns nine acres.

On May 19 our one-room school will have an art auction. The money raised goes to our field trip fund.

We hope that some of you local artists will donate a piece of your artwork to our sale, and maybe come to (the auction).

Thank you for any help you might give.

Morgan Jones, Decatur School, Decatur Island

Letters policy

The Sounder has the right to accept or reject any letter. All letters considered to be libelous, obscene, threatening or in poor taste will be rejected.

Deadlines for letters to the editor are 5 p.m. Friday. Space considerations are such that we cannot guarantee that all letters will be published the week they are submitted.

Preference will be given to those letters that are timely, deal with local issues, and are limited to 300 words or less. The Sounder also will give preference to those submitting no more than one letter per person per month.