Dear Editor:
I’m voting “yes” on the solid waste parcel user charge. The fee is fair and it assures that we control our solid waste system.
To charge an annual user charge and also reduce the per-container “tipping” fee so that the total income is limited to the amount necessary to keep the system working seems fair. Some may argue a fee based only on weight or volume is better but don’t vote against this just because the Council did not give you that option.
Should the measure fail, the Council will turn over the solid waste system to a contractor – perhaps from the mainland — even though that is not the question on the ballot.
No promise can be made that a contractor will cost you less or give you better service. It will be difficult to influence rates set by a commission in Olympia based on the information provided by the contractor. The contractor will be allowed full recovery of all costs to get the solid waste and recycling off-island to a landfill, and a healthy profit on top of that.
Self-haul rates are unregulated, and could be expensive, which will cause people to deposit irregular loads at vacant properties. A “yes” vote will keep the self-haul facility open on each of the big islands. Without self-haul, the reuse programs like “The Exchange” are sure to die.
I live on a private road, far from curbside pick-up. I’ll still have to haul garbage cans and recycling to the closest street on the day assigned.
I want the privacy of dumping my own garbage, I want to keep critters from the roadside trash, and I don’t want trash cans all over our rural roadways.
Join me and vote “yes” on the solid waste measure.
Randall Gaylord, Eastsound
San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney
Thank you, Randy, for this clear view of the issue. Waste disposal should be part of the “services” we receive, such as road maintenance, health, law enforcement, conservation, etc. If it can’t be rolled into our property taxes, the parcel fee is the next best avenue.
Our voting decision should be based on what is right and fair, and our mutual responsibility living here, rather than if it might cost the individual more or less in the near future.
Randy, While I support your right as an individual to express your opinion I wondering how you, as an elected official, can advocate for a position on an issue the Sounder just reported as perhaps having legal challenges–perhaps it is a tax in essence?