Comments on: Editorial Column: Let’s Get Out of First Gear http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Janet Brownell http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1018 Janet Brownell Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:56:26 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1018 Regarding my last post. It should have said $30 MILLION construction project. That would be a lot of economy generated by $30... Regarding my last post. It should have said $30 MILLION construction project. That would be a lot of economy generated by $30…

]]> By: Janet Brownell http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1017 Janet Brownell Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:35:05 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1017 And then there's this about the new Peace Health Hospital on San Juan (a $30 construction project:) "Mahlum Architects is expected to complete the design for Peace Island Medical Center by January 2011. Permitting should be done by April 2011, and construction, overseen by Seattle-based Howard S. Wright Constructors, is slated to be finished by July 2012, with the first patient being admitted that August... Anderson said at a public hearing on July 15 that the project will generate $500,000 in permit fees, $4 million paid to local contractors, $10 million in first-year revenue, and will create 24 new full-time-equivalent jobs and an annual payroll of $4 million." So when you talk about the "angst in the community about the money"...consider that we could have a similar impact on Orcas. FYI -- Mahlum is the firm selected to do the school project should it happen And then there’s this about the new Peace Health Hospital on San Juan (a $30 construction project:)

“Mahlum Architects is expected to complete the design for Peace Island Medical Center by January 2011. Permitting should be done by April 2011, and construction, overseen by Seattle-based Howard S. Wright Constructors, is slated to be finished by July 2012, with the first patient being admitted that August…

Anderson said at a public hearing on July 15 that the project will generate $500,000 in permit fees, $4 million paid to local contractors, $10 million in first-year revenue, and will create 24 new full-time-equivalent jobs and an annual payroll of $4 million.”

So when you talk about the “angst in the community about the money”…consider that we could have a similar impact on Orcas.

FYI — Mahlum is the firm selected to do the school project should it happen

]]> By: Justin Paulsen http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1016 Justin Paulsen Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:26:04 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1016 Ahhh... and there-in is the problem. There is a distinct division between those of us who have read the facts (which I have... over 1000 pages of reports, studies and scientific findings) and those of us who simply do not want to pay more taxes. If a voters' stance is to simply vote down taxes... then that position cannot reconcile with the facts. A proper assesment of the facts would yield that based on sound economic analysis the cost to run portions of the bond at different points in time in the future will undoubtedly cost the voters of Orcas Island more. That factual arguement can be made without even discussing the safety concerns that should also be included in the "factual" analysis. If we want to have a factual arguement, let's make sure we are dealing in the facts and in the end we will rely on the wisdom of the Orcas Island voters to help guide the future of the school. Ahhh… and there-in is the problem.

There is a distinct division between those of us who have read the facts (which I have… over 1000 pages of reports, studies and scientific findings) and those of us who simply do not want to pay more taxes.

If a voters’ stance is to simply vote down taxes… then that position cannot reconcile with the facts. A proper assesment of the facts would yield that based on sound economic analysis the cost to run portions of the bond at different points in time in the future will undoubtedly cost the voters of Orcas Island more. That factual arguement can be made without even discussing the safety concerns that should also be included in the “factual” analysis.

If we want to have a factual arguement, let’s make sure we are dealing in the facts and in the end we will rely on the wisdom of the Orcas Island voters to help guide the future of the school.

]]> By: Harvey Aldort http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1015 Harvey Aldort Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:34:31 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1015 It always amazes me that well meaning intelligent people when confronted with any facts that do not conform to their currently held beliefs on a subject basically respond with "Don't bother me with the facts. I have made up my mind". The real question is if these people who have completely misread the angst in the community about the money have misread the planning for the entire project. Come out with a bond for the most needed single item and the community will support it. Come back in 2014 when the huge fire levy will expire and certainly be reduced significantly and the public will support the balance as their taxes will not be going up as the fire levy will be cut a lot. It always amazes me that well meaning intelligent people when confronted with any facts that do not conform to their currently held beliefs on a subject basically respond with “Don’t bother me with the facts. I have made up my mind”. The real question is if these people who have completely misread the angst in the community about the money have misread the planning for the entire project. Come out with a bond for the most needed single item and the community will support it. Come back in 2014 when the huge fire levy will expire and certainly be reduced significantly and the public will support the balance as their taxes will not be going up as the fire levy will be cut a lot.

]]> By: Joe Thoron http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1006 Joe Thoron Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:13:11 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1006 Well put, Margie. Our kids all deserve a safe school building where they can reach their full potential. Well put, Margie. Our kids all deserve a safe school building where they can reach their full potential.

]]> By: Tony P. Ghazel http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-1004 Tony P. Ghazel Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:14:49 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-1004 Most excellent! Thank you. Most excellent!
Thank you.

]]> By: Justin Paulsen http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-539 Justin Paulsen Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:22:45 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-539 Thank you Margie for framing this in real terms that we can all relate to. Thank you Margie for framing this in real terms that we can all relate to.

]]> By: Kathi Ciskowski http://orcasissues.com/editorial-column-lets-get-out-of-first-gear#comment-538 Kathi Ciskowski Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:22:21 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7995#comment-538 This is really a well written editorial! This is really a well written editorial!

]]>