Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
Having read Marilyn Vaux’s latest letter dated June 30, I would like to respond again and add some additional comments.
She stated that she lives in Birch Bay although it is odd that in both of her letters to you, the city below her name was Blaine, not Birch Bay. Possibly she doesn’t realize this.
It is regrettable that she considers my answers to her questions vague. Since she did not make any specific comments, I attempted to answer her questions. I plan to visit the county and while there will look into her statements regarding the percentage of permanent versus seasonal/part-time residents which seems to be of concern to her.
I was recently informed that Marilyn Vaux resides in Birch Bay Village, whose residents I am told have always opposed incorporation. That is indeed sad to hear. For residents of our community to be closed minded before our committee even gets started on our feasibility study is disheartening.
What I want to say in closing is that Ms. Vaux and all members of our Birch Bay community are certainly welcome to attend our committee meetings. Our next meeting is on Monday, July 11, at the Birch Bay fire station on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
Please come and let us know your concerns and ask questions. I want to point out that we as a committee are examining the feasibility of incorporation. And if we are to incorporate, the timing of this event must be decided also. Our desire is for all residents to make an informed decision and not have a closed mind to the process.
In closing, I would encourage Marilyn Vaux to share with our committee, the so called “benefits to unincorporation” that she had emphasized in both of her letters to the editor.
Mickey Masdeo
Birch Bay

The Editor:
At an August, 2003 Blaine city council meting, then mayor Dieter Schugt recommended that a citizen’s “Blue Ribbon committee” be formed. The purpose of the committee would be to seek out facts regarding the costs of the airport versus the benefits derived from it and arrive at a conclusion that would reflect the best interest o the community as a whole.
Two years later, over 485 old growth trees have been destroyed, over $600,000 of tax dollars have been spent and probably wasted if the master plan is not approved and still no Blue Ribbon committee has been established. I commend mayor Liebert’s May 9 recommendation to establish a committee to consider alternative economic uses for the airport.
Mr. Tomsic convinced the Blaine city council to loan the airport $300,000 from the general fund to cover the costs of the superior court ruling. Then in May, 2005, another loan for an extra $50,000 was approved by Blaine city council; this time to pay the airport’s April and May bills. In the June 7, 2005, Bellingham Herald, quotes Tomsic as saying, “The airport has covered its operating expenses consistently, the only time they have had to incur any debt has been about a capital expenditure.” Did Mr. Tomsic make that statement because getting a $50,000 loan from the city is not incurring debt?
Do you think Mr. Tomsic has problems performing his duties as airport manager? If the airport was privately owned and Tomsic kept coming to the board of directors for more funds to balance his books instead of properly managing his department, do you think that his position as airport manager would continue?
Over the years, because of lack of income in the general fund, city council has had to reduce support staff at the city of Blaine creating a backlog of work for the community development department. Do you think that $350,000 could and would provide lots of support to help the various departments at the city of Blaine meet their objectives?
A reminder to all, regarding the July 18 city council meeting on the airport master plan.
Nicole McCaig
Blaine

 

Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com