Letters to the Editor - Whidbey News-Times

Asphalt sidewalk in Oak Harbor prompts questions

On the Oak Harbor Street resurfacing project, it would be interesting to learn why, after mistakes forced the crew to dig up the concrete sidewalk on the west side, we wound up with a cheap-looking black asphalt sidewalk that doesn’t match anything. Who’s responsible for that, and how did it happen?

To do or not to do is the question

Now that Proposition 1 has been rejected, the hard work begins. Will department budgets be cut across the board? Or will some (such as the Sheriff’s Department) be given priority?

Island County jail’s no place for an older woman

I am embarrassed to live on an island that would put a 68-year-old woman in jail (Whidbey News-Times, Aug. 28) for a month for running into a transformer (the power was shut off) that was on her own property.

New Camano Island house, not Dean, caused tax hike

Camano Islander Dale Smith, in an Aug. 20 letter to the editor (“All was fine before John Dean”) reported that, before I was elected, his property taxes were half what they are today.

We’ll work to stay the best

It was such a pleasant surprise to be honored as the Best Accountant by the Whidbey News-Times’ “Best of Whidbey” voters at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Time card buck stops at the top

Officer Horn (Whidbey News-Times, Aug. 14) is “working his way back into a position of trust with the officers in the office,” said Chief Wallace.

Anyone can give to the county

I was dismayed to read that Proposition 1 was voted down by my fellow Island County residents. I fear deeply for the future of our islands and am willing to do my part to protect vital services. I have taken the amount of money that I would have been taxed had this proposition passed and donated it to Island County.

A new bridge won’t be cheap

I fear your recent story on the need for a new Deception Pass bridge may have misled readers as to the current condition of the bridge and the need for a replacement.

Provide charts, listen to taxpayers

First, print in the Whidbey News-Times in organizational chart format, the breakdown of every department in the county, then the position descriptions along with the position’s hourly pay or salary or contract wage and yearly totals for that position.

How about the Quest ferry dock?

How much would Quest or Safeco pay for the naming rights to a ferry terminal? You, the taxpayer, paid at least $41,000 in Obama money so the town of Coupeville could have the honor. The terminal, formally known as Keystone, had a name with cachet, a ring, but it didn’t have a champion to fight to keep its name.