Environment

Let’s show we’re serious about energy

Two months ago I read an article about a Willamette Valley farmer who, with state and public utility incentives, erected a 10-kilowatt windmill on his farm at a cost to him of $12,000.

Immediately, the windy hill in the middle of our vineyards came to mind. I thought here on Bainbridge Island with an educated citizenry and a congressman who probably was the most informed and motivated member of the House on energy issues, putting up a 10K windmill was a sure thing.

Guess again; most of the power-generation incentives in this state go to corporations and agribusiness. Puget Sound Energy has no programs like the Oregon utilities, nor does the state.

Still, I offer my windy hill in the center of 65 acres of protected farmland, more than one-eighth of a mile from the nearest neighbors as a site for real wind power and not the political kind. I also offer $12,000 as a challenge to the state, and to Puget Sound Energy, which is in the process of getting permission to sell itself to an Australian company.

Our State Legislature just voted for $200 million to study (not build) the construction of four new dams along the Columbia River. Each of them would consume more power than they would generate and cause great environmental damage. Should the legislature not reallocate that money to produce environmentally clean energy on this side of the state where it is most needed?

I see a Bainbridge Island windmill as a symbol of a community that does not just talk about renewable energy, it erects the windmill to show the rest of Puget Sound, that we live what we believe, that we as a community will insure a better, cleaner future for our children.

GERARD BENTRYN

Bainbridge Island Vineyards

East Day Road

Community

Islanders offered help when needed

Thanks to all the customers and employees at Safeway who helped our dad and husband when he collapsed at the store on (a week ago) Tuesday. There are some very nice and helpful people on Bainbridge Island who are more than willing to be there when you need them.

Thank you all again.

ANN, LISA, DYLAN and AIDAN SIEVERTSON

Bainbridge Island

Flower baskets

keep on growing

Many islanders have heard the downtown flower story: due to budget shortfalls, the city was unable to fund the downtown hanging flower baskets this year.

Because our downtown just wasn’t the same without these beautiful hanging baskets, Bainbridge Rotary provided the funding and along with the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, the Chamber, and many other community members developed a community-based solution. The hanging flower baskets were planted and installed downtown in July.

This summer hasn’t been too terribly sunny, but it is no small feat to keep those flower baskets watered. The Senior Community Center did a stellar job coordinating the volunteers to water the baskets all summer. Additionally, they were very creative in coming up with a truck and tank to accomplish this task.

On behalf of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and all islanders who have enjoyed the flowers along our main street this summer, we extend gratitude to the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center for their coordination. Thank you for your hard work, and kudos to you for your contribution to our downtown community.

TERRI BRYANT

President, Bainbridge Island Downtown Association

City

Bond is funding depleted reserves

As one who holds a contrary opinion and who also believes that the community is smart enough to connect the dots, I offer the following observations for consideration regarding the guest column by City Council members Chris Snow and Barry Peters (“Making sense of the city finances,” Letters, Sept. 10).

First: As noted, but not detailed, city general fund surplus in 2003 was over $8 million and was projected to not only be in negative territory at the end of 2008 but it also left no money in reserves (a fact not detailed).

After four years of substantial revenue growth the community has been shortchanged by overspending and lack of oversight.

Second: At first glance it might seem prudent on the part of administration and council to trim the 2008 bond debt from $4 million to just $1.7 million.

However, if you connect the dots you will note that this debt of $1.7 million is the funding source for those previously exhausted reserves, allowing the statement that the “city has not run out of money” to be technically correct.

The cash previously designated for the capital projects listed in the bond went somewhere else, but not into reserves. Essentially, we are funding these reserves with this $1.7 million bond issue!

Third: Maintaining flat operating expenses for the next year or so perpetuates the city’s higher-than-average operating costs as noted in the vaunted benchmark study, particularly when you factor in inflation.

I concur with the authors that it will be valuable for citizens to attend on Sept. 16.

BOB FORTNER

Summer Hill Lane