Contributed photo
INSIDE
Stargazing 101 teaches islanders how the stars, planets, moon, sun and the earth move in relation to each other. Read more on page 4.
Letters to the editor
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Mentor spotlight
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SHARK REEF’s new edition
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The
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 36, NUMBER 7 • February 12, 2013
Audit cites high costs, limited bidders for ferry construction By Kylee Zabel
Reporter for the WNPA Olympia News Bureau
Lawmakers in Olympia have begun to address the measures that prevent Washington shipyards from participating in Washington State Ferry construction projects as the fleet continues to age.
in the
2013
This special section of The Journal, The Sounder, & The Weekly will be distributed to over 7500 readers throughout San Juan County and also online in our Green Editions!
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One-on-one Business Consults with Brian Jaeger Get professional, individualized advice for your small business, whether just starting or looking for new inspiration. 1 hour sessions available by appointment. Date: March 2 Location: Family Resource Center Fee: $30 if paid by 2/22, $40 after 2/22 Call: 468-4117 to register
Recommendations from the Washington State Auditor’s Office suggest that regulatory provisions hinder competition for construction bidding, among other limitations. A Vessel Construction Costs Audit, performed by the State Auditor’s office beginning in 2011, indicates costs are typically more expensive when WSF is the buyer, compared to other ferry construction projects around the U.S. How much more is noted in one comparison the audit illustrated, where the cost to build the Chetzemoka ($87 million in 2011 dollars), the first installment of the Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries in 2009, was double the amount it cost to build Wood’s Hole, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket’s M/V Island Home vessel ($48 million in 2011 dollars), upon which the design of the Chetzemoka is based. On average, state-constructed ferries cost from $7.5 million to $42.2 million more than comparable ferries built elsewhere, according to estimates made over the past 20 years, WSF concludes. Part of this cost difference, as stated by the audit and Assistant Secretary David Moseley of WSF, was due to the 18-month time period allotted to build the boat. An average of 27 months is typically needed to construct a vessel of that size, according to the audit report. Additionally, the audit recognized that, when ferries are constructed in a series, the cost of a second and third vessel significantly decreases. WSF has budgeted $279.4 million dollars for the first two Olympic-class vessels, Tokitae and Samish. The two boats, currently under construction, are on schedule and under budget, WSF reports. Their completion is expected by spring of 2014 and early 2015, respectively. Their service routes have yet to be determined. The cost of the first boat is set at $146 million and the second at $132 million. However, the audit found other reasons for increased costs to build WSF ferries. One major cause is the regulatory environment in the state’s shipbuilding industry,
See ferries, page 6
San Juan County Charter case transferred By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
The case seeking to invalidate the county charter amendments approved by the voters in November has been transferred from Skagit
County Superior Court to the Superior Court of San Juan County. The case, titled Michael Carlson, Jerrold R. Gonce and Jeffrey Bossler v. San Juan County and the State
YOU ARE INVITED to a SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, February 13th 5:00 p.m. in Lopez School Library
AGENDA:
√ Review community input on major capital projects Re: school renovation options √ Determine a preferred renovation bond option, To refer to voters for April 2013 ballot
Lopez Island School District Propelling you and your small business forward!
which includes the “Build in Washington” laws and the “Apprenticeship Act.” The Build in Washington laws are a series of stipulations created by the Legislature during the procurement of the Jumbo Mark II ferries in 1997 that required the ferries to be built within the boundaries of Washington state. Since these boats were completed, lawmakers have continued to add this proviso with each new ferry project. Among the other ferry systems the auditors visited, to compare with WSF, was the Alaska Marine Highway System. While Washington’s system is much more extensive, Alaska does not have the same requirement to have ferries built in-state. Instead, Alaskan officials express a preference for in-state construction, but have the opportunity to look outside the state if they believe they could receive a better price. Legislators here are currently looking at the other options revealed by the audit to help lower costs for future ferry procurements. “We want to keep our jobs in-state, if we can. And I believe in-state competition is super and we need that,” said Rep. Jan Angel (R-26th District, Port Orchard). Angel believes Washington needs to try to keep as many jobs reserved for Washington residents as reasonable and make sure that taxpayers’ dollars are spent in-state. However, if there is a better price out there, Washington should perhaps be open to out-of-state bids, she said, adding, “I think we need some flexibility.” Fred Kiga, Head of Government Affairs for VIGOR Industrial — the only company eligible to construct the new Olympic-class ferries in Washington — disagrees. “It’s not clear that sending vessel construction out of state would reduce the overall cost of our ferries,” he said. “It is undeniable that sending this work out of state would mean
For more information call the District Office: 468-2202 ext. 2300
of Washington, alleges seven causes of action and asks that the charter amendments be declared unconstitutional and that an injunction be entered terminating the current election for the three-person county council provided for in the charter amendments. Judge John Meyer in Skagit County has signed two orders, the first granting San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord’s motion for a “change of venue” and the second requiring that the six current county council members and the candidates for the three-person council be added to the case as “necessary parties.” In his order transferring the case to San Juan County, Meyer cited as one of his reasons that “satisfactory proof has been submitted that the convenience of witnesses or the ends of justice will be served by the change of
venue.” Meyer has informed San Juan County Superior Court Judge Don Eaton of his decision. Meyer has indicated to the attorneys that he is amenable to continuing to preside over the case. Judge Eaton has informed San Juan Superior Court Administrator Jane Hutchinson that he would recuse himself from consideration of the case. Stephanie Johnson O’Day, the attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, said she has no objection to Meyer continuing on the case “in the interests of expediency and judicial economy.” O’Day pointed out that the case file is over 700 pages, that the issues are important and complex, and that Meyer has indicated that he is prepared to hear arguments in San Juan County on Feb. 19 and decide the case before See charter, page 8