Skagit County brought their big guns to Guemes Island Monday afternoon. Skagit County Board of Commissioners, Public Works Director, Engineering and Ferry manager, were all in attendance, along with over 100 Guemes island residents.
For the first time in my memory there were two security officers. Seriously? At whose request? Why? Are County personnel that afraid of Guemes Islanders? Even at the loudest, rowdiest Wood Choppers Ball there were no cops. When did we become so scary? Will this set a precedent for all future meetings?
Skagit County exerted a tremendous amount of time compiling info and directions in how to acquire and use the future electronic ticketing system. Info was posted onscreen (illegible to anyone past the first row) with step-by-step instructions that were clear as mud. Grace Kane* (Director of Public Works) spent 10 -15 minutes, on the introduction, avoiding clarity at all costs. No surprises there.
The electronic ticketing system implementation will be delayed. Too much info to be processed in time to meet their deadline of June 6. No new date issued.
The supposedly more efficient system will add hours to the 4th crew member position. Will it then become a full-time spot? The reasoning is still unclear as to why purser won’t sell to the cars in the ferry line. Tickets must be purchased from inside the terminal, not from your vehicle.
People were no less informed when the meeting was over than before it began.
Questions:
- What if I don’t have a cell phone?
- What if the ferry is out of service for a few days? Does the electronic ticketing system account for that in the expiration date?
- What about island visitors/laborers that don’t speak English?
- People without credit cards?
- Privacy issues? Will Skagit County be able to monitor who and how often ferry passengers travel?
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!
-Commentary by MJ Andrak
*Does anyone remember the last time a Skagit County employee asked if the Ferry meeting should open with a prayer? Me neither!