This was originally posted to: Guemes Island Ferry Committee

Meeting Minutes: Annual Meeting, January 6, 2018

Guemes Island Ferry Committee

Minutes of Annual Meeting

 

January 6, 2018

 Treasurer’s Report.  The Ferry Committee (FC) has cancelled its checking account due to inactivity.  The final balance was a minus $3.00 due to account charges.  Chair Steve Orsini cancelled the account paying the $3.00 to zero out the balance.  The next time that the FC has a contested election and must perform a Guemes precinct election (cost about $550.00), a new checking account will be open at that time.  Past contested elections have  been paid through donations.

 

 Election of new board members: The positions held by Allen Bush and Sally Stapp were open for nominations.  Sally Stapp has chosen to retire from the FC.  She is thanked for her diligent service the Committee and this island community.  Sandy McKean was nominated and seconded (Sally Stapp and Allen Bush respectively) for the position.  There were no other nominations.  Sandy McKean received a  unanimous vote for the position. 

 

 Allen Bush chose to run again for another three year term.  He was nominated and seconded for the position and received a unanimous vote from the meeting attendees to continue service on the FC.   

 

 The new Board is composed of Steve Orsini, Chair; Allen Bush; Bud (Carl) Ullman;  Tom Fouts and Sandy McKean

 

 Discussion of Skagit County’s Proposal for new ferry:

 

(Note:  at the time of this meeting the application file for CRAB funding of a new vessel was not available to the participants of this meeting, nor the financial package prepared PRM laying out the CRAB grant repayment process.) 

 The discussion centered around the cost for the new ferry.  Given projected pricing for the All Electric version at about $25 million, strong comments were made to refocus on the repowering (including new azimuth drives) of the existing Guemes.  It was pointed out that Skagit County based its decision on acquiring a new vessel on the Elliott Bay Design Group Guemes Ferry Replacement Plan, November, 2013.  The current contract with Glosten does not include further study of refurbishment of the current Guemes.  Nevertheless, given the cost estimates for a new vessel of 32 car capacity, several attendees were adamant about pursuit of refurbishment.  Other questions about the current design focused on the requirements to meet the safety requirement of evacuating all-island residents in a 24 hour period.  Glen Veal presented a letter of opinion from the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office dated December 14, 2006.  The letter stated in part that Skagit County has no duty to provide special or exceptional emergency response ferry services to the island.  This was contested by Tom Fouts of the Ferry Committee.  The FC recommended that letters be sent to the Skagit County Commissioners summarizing their concerns to date.

 

 The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:30 pm

 

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