Editor,

It is my hope that you will publish this letter. First, I hope that Whidbey Islanders will vote “No” on the hospital bond.

We do not need more beds to drive up care costs when there are hospitals in the area with closed beds. Instead we need to pass a bond issue so that Sheriff Mark Brown and Island County Public Health can hire more people to enforce laws and health codes. Both departments are understaffed.

After visiting and talking with a health official recently because of neighbor’s illegally pumping a septic tank and dumping it elsewhere, and where there are two and three mobile homes hooked up illegally to the same system, and another mobile home with 7 to 10 adults living there with garbage piled up outside, I believe it to be a drug house with the number of cars and people coming and going. The health official said they have only one person to enforce septic rules and that she is the only official who handles complaints.

There are approximately 1,000 septic systems in Island County that are not up to code or working. Wake up, islanders, before we can no longer smell the roses. “No” on the hospital bond and “Yes” to get the county commissioners to propose a bond issue for Sheriff Mark Brown and Island County Public Health.

ED CLARK

Freeland