To the editor:

In response to your recent article about Holmes Harbor beaches perhaps opening soon, you stopped just short of saying the obvious: Freeland doesn’t need a $40 million sewer to clean up the harbor after all.

By identifying and cleaning up the sources of pollution in Holmes Harbor, the Island County and state health departments have saved Freeland taxpayers from infinite sewer assessments.

Careful monitoring is the key to protecting the harbor. To finally be able to say the beaches are safe without the need for a $40 million is vindication for all the effort put in by Freeland property owners to stop it.

The day the “closed” sign is removed from Holmes Harbor beaches, I hope to see a well publicized celebration on the beach to burn all remaining copies of the $40 million sewer plan. I’ll offer mine to be the first one on the fire. We’ll be mindful not to pollute the beach or the water. The cost of the next misguided plan resulting from the ashes of the old one could make the $40 million plan look like a walk on the beach.

Thanks to the Island County and state health department staff for their scientific expertise and diligence that may soon lead to removing the restrictions on swimming and clamming. Using a smart public awareness campaign and careful data collection is an example of tax dollars well spent and well saved.

Marilynn Abrahamson

Freeland