LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Farm talks should be made public

Editor, It has become all too clear that Greenbank Farm, as we know it now, may change dramatically in the near future. Most of the business tenants have been leasing on a month-to-month basis for nearly three or more years, all the time hoping that issues between the Port of Coupeville commissioners and the Greenbank Farm Management Group would be resolved. For the past six months, port commissioners have regularly informed us that they were working on our new leases, which would be forthcoming “soon.”

July 2, 2015 7:52 pm

Editor,

It has become all too clear that Greenbank Farm, as we know it now, may change dramatically in the near future.

Most of the business tenants have been leasing on a month-to-month basis for nearly three or more years, all the time hoping that issues between the Port of Coupeville commissioners and the Greenbank Farm Management Group would be resolved. For the past six months, port commissioners have regularly informed us that they were working on our new leases, which would be forthcoming “soon.”

This position does not match what has come to light via the recently revealed private discussions between some port personnel, Washington State University and Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson. We do not wish to be misled any longer regarding the future for the tenants at Greenbank Farm. The time for full and honest disclosure is long past, and we feel that the truth will certainly be demanded at the upcoming meeting.

All the tenants at the farm have devoted many hard years to building viable, sustainable small business that serve our economic needs, employ and support more than ninety local residents, contribute to sales tax income, provide a destination for locals and tourists and are solid institutions that contribute materially to the existence of the Port of Coupeville. All of the tenants wish to stay, but the manner in which we have been treated is inappropriate at best, and unconscionable in truth. We are increasingly alarmed by public statements and innuendoes we hear regarding things said by at least one port commissioner, the executive director and our county commissioner.

Dependable, honest and loyal tenants are hard to find, which is what we have been. It’s time for the port commissioners and executive director to acknowledge this, and treat us with respect and honesty. If you enjoy Greenbank Farm, as it currently exists, please attend a public meeting of the Port of Coupeville Board of Commissioners at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8 in Barn A at Greenbank Farm.

Respectfully yours,

DM WINDWALKER TAIBI AND MARY JO OXRIEDER

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