Road ends would benefit from ‘port’ | Letters | Aug. 26

Published 4:08 pm Thursday, August 25, 2011

A recent article in the papers touched on an unpleasant situation in which the city has found itself related to road ends.

The article mentioned the city was reluctant to use legal methods to enforce the use of a public road leading to the shoreline. It is, as the British say, a sticky wicket.

But it leads to other issues involving the Road End Committee and the city — lack of funds to assist the longstanding committee to do its work for the enjoyment of the citizenry and, more recently, insisting the committee pay, out of its pocket, for any permits needed to improve road ends.

Seeing as those “pockets” are not filled with city funds, it is asking unpaid citizens to use their own funds to do city work and pay for it themselves.

Which in a not so round-about path leads to another solution to this “wicket.”

The Port of Bainbridge Island, which will be on the ballot in November, will have funds and authority to help the Road End Committee put their long list of upgrades on our road ends into reality.

It will be just one waterfront venue that will benefit greatly from an organization focused on our shores, harbors, and potentially, future commercial ventures.

It will have the funds, although not huge, to accomplish a lot of items the city hasn’t handled in years.

And, we can all benefit from more easily accessible beaches from road ends which have needed steps, or a small parking area or signs.

Elizabeth Murray

Bainbridge Island