GUEST COLUMN BY ISLAND REC BOARD

Island Rec Board responds to Evans' guest column

To The San Juan Island Community:

posted 08/17/04
We have read Commissioner John Evans' guest editorial and are surprised and disappointed by what he has chosen to say and not say. Unfortunately, he chose to repeat a number of misconceptions about Island Rec's intentions for the 55 upland acres of the Lafarge gravel pit property that we have tried very hard to eliminate.

First, the Board of Island Rec has made it very clear in every piece of literature that we have published about our levy renewal that we heard the voters very clearly … no tax dollars will be spent on the development of the gravel pit as a park. Further, no tax dollars will be spent on acquisition, planning, or any level of maintenance prior to public discussion about acceptance of the gift.

Second, the Board of Island Rec has stated specifically and repeatedly that the community will be involved in any discussion of a proposed use for the site. As stated above, acceptance of the gift of the site from the County will depend on public discussion of potential uses and achievement of clear community support for a course of action. Nothing precludes Island Rec from refusing the gift or returning the gift to the County.

Third, the Island Rec Board has made it very clear … particularly to the most vociferous opponents of the original gravel pit park proposal … that the development of athletic fields at the gravel pit is a dead issue. In fact, representatives of the Island Rec Board stated to Don Galt (and the District Superintendent, Michael Soltman) that we will willingly support development of fields on the Carter Ave. property. We have also made it clear to the School District and Mr. Galt that no tax dollars will be spent on that development without specific voter approval.

Fourth, the Island Rec Board has stated specifically in all of our levy literature that our present intention … IF WE DECIDE TO ACCEPT THE GIFT of the upland acres … is to hold the upland acres in the public trust until the community has determined the best use for the site. Despite last year's levy vote, it is unclear to us what the community as a whole wants to happen to that site. The purchase-sale agreement (agreed to and signed by John Evans) specifies that the County will buy the nine shoreline acres and Lafarge will then give the remaining 55 acres to the community for development as a park.

Finally, all of this information was available to Commissioner Evans through a simple phone call to any Island Rec Board member. He never called any of us. He did have a discussion with our director, Sally Kerr, on July 30, 2004 about Island Rec's intentions. Ms. Kerr stated to him our position that no tax dollars would be used to develop the site, that we would support the effort to develop fields at Carter Ave., that the site, if accepted as a gift, would be held in trust until the public decided its best use.

Commissioner Evans was honest about his opposition to the development of the gravel pit as a park, opposition which he has voiced to individual Board members in private discussions. He had an opportunity, however, to make that opposition public during discussion of the purchase-sale agreement. There were two or three public meetings before the agreement was approved and signed by the County Commissioners.

He had an opportunity to publicly oppose the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the County and Island Rec (the agreement which confirmed that the County would give the upland acres to Island Rec) during two more public meetings. Island Rec is the recipient of the gravel pit acres because all three Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Understanding.

Why is John Evans now stating his opposition publicly, ignoring facts of which he was aware, stating facts that he knows are not true, proposing a solution which he knew we had already publicly committed ourselves?

We sincerely hope that this guest editorial will end the confusion and controversy and make our position on the gravel pit absolutely clear. We want to emphasize again that all of the revenue raised by renewing our 10 cent levy will go to support our existing programs and to expand our programs for teens. In casting your vote, please remember that by supporting the Island Rec levy, you are voting to continue the existence of Island Rec and the benefits it provides the community.

Island Rec Board of Commissioners
Denise Brown, Roberta Crist, Bill Cumming, Ralph Hahn, Jim Ricks

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