I recently read a letter that equated holding on to the water utility with home rule. I fail to see how what comes out of the tap, and from whom, makes for better representation here. We already have enough problems with favoritism in the land use process to be playing politics with water.

As a resident of the South end of the island, I’m happy to write a check each month to South Bainbridge Water. I don’t have to worry about its management or finances.

And that’s the same for Puget Sound Energy, the island’s park district and keeping the pool chlorinated and open at the right hours, the library district for friendly people and convenient hours, and the fire district and paramedics who come in the middle of the night.

Let’s leave behind these specious arguments about home rule and focus instead on how we can get more for our money from the city for basic services like road repair.

It is time to get this particular public agency to concentrate on doing a few things well, and send the other services off to providers with a proven record of doing a good job.

Rod Stevens

Bainbridge Island