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The Whidbey Examiner • January 2, 2014
viewpoints
Deciding marshal’s office fate should include public input For the past year, Town of Coupeville officials have been exploring options in dealing with staffing issues within the marshal’s office. Mayor Nancy Conard said the issue began a little more than a year ago with a sudden turnover within the department. Megan Hansen The town is looking at Some perspective two options, to keep its department with changes to staffing, or to contract with the Island County Sheriff’s Office. Regardless of which route they choose, the recently approved 2014 budget will accommodate the roughly $400,000 expenditure. And neither option will provide 24-hour, seven-daya-week patrol coverage. Conard said she plans on bringing a contract from the sheriff’s office for review to Coupeville Town Council Jan. 12 during its regular council meeting. The council has not made any decisions one way or the other. But what do citizens want? If both options cost roughly the same amount and have similar coverage, then one of the biggest issues will be identity. Conard said if the town contracts with the sheriff’s office, there will be a designated “marshal” and a set Coupeville deputy. They will also wear Coupeville uniforms and drive Coupeville patrol vehicles. But will it really be the same? Do residents inside town limits really care? Before making decisions on this issue, Coupeville officials need to ask. Sure they talk about it during regular council meetings. Those meetings are rarely attended. Representatives need to go talk to citizen groups, hold a community meeting and get input from the public. Lay out each plan in detail to the people and let them help the town decide which direction to go. It’s a town service, funded by the citizens and businesses, let them be a part of the decision. — Megan Hansen is editor of The Whidbey Examiner. She can be reached at mhansen@whidbeynewsgroup.com
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news@whidbeyexaminer.com The Whidbey Examiner, 107 S. Main St., Suite 101, Coupeville, WA 98239 ph. 360-678-8060 • fax: 360-678-6073 Online: www.whidbeyexaminer.com
Thankful for town’s response to snow Editor, Early in the morning on Dec. 20, I drove through falling snow to bake at our restaurant, the Knead & Feed, on Front Street. Less than an hour after arriving at work, the Town of Coupeville snow plow was carefully plowing our street and others. Shortly after that, town employees wielding snow shovels were busily clear-
ing the boardwalks and sidewalks. I want to thank the crews who responded so rapidly!
Doug Kroon Knead & Feed Restaurant
Town decorations much appreciated Editor, Thank you to the town employees
who decorated Cook’s Corner Park and Coupeville Recreation Hall. It’s a beautiful job and admired by many. We also have enjoyed seeing all of the snow people decorating our streets. Thanks to the person who started this tradition and to the helpers who have repainted when needed and placed them around town. The snow people are very unique.
Nancy and Bill Lane Coupeville
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Established in Coupeville in 1996, The Whidbey Examiner is published weekly by Sound Publishing on Thursdays. Subscriptions are delivered by mail (USPS 015-276) for $19.50 on Whidbey Island and $23 off-Island. Copies are available at newsstands for 50 cents. To start a subscription, call toll-free 888-838-3000. To place a classified ad, call 800-388-2527. Periodicals rate postage paid at Coupeville, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Whidbey Examiner, PO Box 445, Coupeville, WA 98239. Copyright 2013
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