To the editor:

I am pleasantly surprised to see the latest results of your unscientific poll. It suggests that one-half of the respondents are willing to pay a “voluntary fee” to use our boat ramps.

The problem I have with the language of the poll question is that I believe it to be an oxymoron. In my mind, fees are required and enforced. Voluntary means just that. A “voluntary fee” is, in my opinion, a donation.

I would recommend that those people willing to support ongoing maintenance and replacement costs of boat ramps simply show their support by sending checks to either Island County or the Port of South Whidbey and note at the lower left-hand corner of their check “Maintenance/replacement of boat ramps.” In this way, we can show our support for these facilities by the people who actually use these facilities, without engaging in some unenforceable scenario.

Count me in for $40 per year for the South End boat ramps.

One question involves how we determine who gets the money and for what. The port and the county will need to work out these details so it is equitable and fair.

Perhaps we can prepare an attractive sticker for users to put on their vehicles that could be sent to donors for them to show their pride in the community with the calendar year embossed on it. In no way do I support the idea that we should require users to display such a sticker.

Geoff Tapert

Commissioner

Port of South Whidbey