There are many reasons why the City Council should go ahead with the Winslow Way infrastructure project, so that construction can start in 2010.

The water lines are old and inadequate for fire protection, the sewer lines are antiquated and cracked, and the storm water runoff with toxic street pollutants now drains directly into Puget Sound. This project also means that the current narrow, cracked sidewalks can be replaced.

The Value Engineering study that was done for the city last year verified that the most efficient way to fix these problems is to replace everything at the same time, so that Winslow Way would be torn up only once.

This $11 to $12 million project will be financed by a $3.5 million grant to improve water quality from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, a $2.5 million federal grant, $1 million from Winslow Way property owners, and $4 to $5 million from the utility district.

To those who say that we cannot afford the Winslow Way project now, I respond that it does not cost the city general fund anything, it needs to be done, and it will never be less expensive.

If the city does not use the $6 million in grant money now, the grants will disappear and may never be available again.

To those who say that it will primarily benefit Winslow Way property owners and change the wonderful, small-town character of Winslow Way, I respond that the city Planning Commission has concluded that it is not desirable to increase the current building height limits and the FAR density limits for the Winslow Way core.

As a resident of Winslow, my utility bill will go up, but this project is an investment in the future quality of life for all residents of Bainbridge Island.

Herb Hethcote

Winslow