Puget Sound Rope working with Navy on safety
I would like to respond to a comment made in a recent column in the American. In “Terry’s Take: Big spenders need an earful on earmarks,” Mr. Christiansen wrote … “And our own Democrat rep Rick Larsen signed on with the ladies (Sens. Murray and Cantwell respectively) to get $1 million for our own Puget Sound Rope, right here in Anacortes, to test their new rope to see if it would break if the Navy pulled on it.”

Puget Sound Rope did, in fact, receive a government plus-up contract, but, literary license aside, it was for a lot more than breaking a rope and a lot less than $1 million.

The contract funded work focused on the design, construction, field testing and evaluation of a new type of reduced recoil rope construction. The rationale behind this contract was to come up with a mooring line design that would hopefully reduce the occurrence of injuries and/or fatalities associated with line handling operations on U.S. Naval vessels.

Break testing ropes was certainly part of the development process, but to sum up the contract by saying that its sole purpose was to see if our new ropes would break trivializes a very important safety concern on the part of the Navy.

The total maximum amount of the contract was approximately $1 million; however, about one-fourth of that went directly to the Navy for contract administration. To date, only a small amount of the remaining money has been paid out to PSR.

In accordance with the provisions of the contract, PSR receives compensation only for work already performed and field trials, the most costly element of the project, have not been conducted as of yet.

It should also be noted that the dollar value of the contract represents a maximum ceiling. Should the work performed by PSR total less than the maximum value of the contract, the remaining money is not dispersed.

Puget Sound Rope does not routinely solicit government plus-up contracts. However, in this specific case, a definite need was perceived on the part of the U.S. Navy for a new type of mooring line that would enhance onboard safety without sacrificing performance and PSR felt that we could meet that need.
Randy Longerich
President
Puget Sound Rope

Let city know motorcycles don’t belong in ACFL
I would like to call upon the public to express their views concerning the use of motorcycles in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. The public may submit comment in writing during April, or attend a public hearing on May 1.

If you feel as I do, that motorcycles riders severely impact the enjoyment and safety of trail users on foot, bicycle or horse, this is your opportunity to speak out.

For my family, motorcycles frequently shatter the experience of a peaceful walk, run or bike ride in the woods, and they create a fear of potential collision.

I can understand that riding motorcycles is a fun activity. I just don’t think it is appropriate for the city to sanction the enjoyment and recreation of one minority user group at the expense of all others.

In my view there are many reasons for prohibiting motorcycles, and not many reasons for permitting them.

Motorcycle riders place other users at risk of being hit on narrow, winding trails, they foul the air with exhaust and noise in a large area, they have repeatedly been used to tear up wildflower meadows, and they cause severe trail damage when ridden aggressively.

With such a list it makes no sense from any standpoint I can think of to continue to allow motorcycles use of the ACFL.

No other town in the area has a natural treasure like the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. The ACFL is not a park with ball fields, and mown lawns. It is a wild forest habitat, where one can still watch beaver at dusk, find the rare calypso orchid and hear the hooting of owls.

If we feel we must accommodate everyone, I am sure we can find a place for the motorcycles. We don’t have to use the ACFL for that purpose. Let the forest be a forest. I know I am not the only one who wants to enjoy the peace of wild things.
Leigh Olsen
Anacortes

Skills center a terrible use for port’s Parcel 1
It is time for our school superintendent and our port director to listen to Anacortes city officials, our business leaders, and ordinary citizens and stop their pursuit of Parcel 1 for the marine skills center.

I believe there are two overwhelming reasons why Port Parcel 1 is a misfit for this valuable learning center that our community desperately needs.

1. Parcel 1 is vital to the development of our waterfront with the proper mix of retail shops, restaurants and a hotel that will bring much-needed new tax dollars and jobs to our city. Placing a school facility, which brings in no tax revenue, right in the middle of this strategic property completely defies logic.

2. Parcel 1 was recently appraised at over $4 million and currently has an offer from the city on the table for the full-appraised value in order to allow retail development. For the port to reject a legitimate full-price offer and lease the land at well below market rates — and make a bad land use decision at the same time — is irresponsible.

The city has offered the district land to build the skills center at Sharpe’s Corner for essentially $1 per square foot per year plus infrastructure cost. City officials have received a grant of $300,000 to help place infrastructure on the property that would offset some of the cost to the school consortium to get this property to a suitable building condition. In addition, WSDOT is willing to shoulder part of the cost to provide access to this property.

Anacortes residents have just voted against two consecutive school bond issues. It is incumbent upon our school superintendent and the port director to take heed, and listen to the public they represent.

I suggest the port either accepts the generous offer from the city or finds other suitable and affordable land for the skills center. I suggest the superintendent of schools widen his vision of a suitable location for a skills center.
Jeanie Browne
Anacortes