FREELAND — Members of the incorporation committee were put on the hot seat by a group of Freeland residents looking for proof that cityhood is a good idea for their community.

Roughly 60 people packed Gregwire Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church Tuesday night to hear the incorporation committee make its pitch for the incorporation of Freeland. It was the second meeting in as many days on the incorporation effort; county commissioners held a well-attended public hearing on the proposal the night before.

During the Tuesday meeting, Mike Dolan, Dean Enell and Chet Ross presented the facts the volunteer committee has gathered during its two-year incorporation effort.

As with previous meetings, those opposing incorporation said there isn’t enough money to operate the city without raising taxes, while cityhood supporters said the city will have plenty of money in the bank and have a healthy reserve, too.

The incorporation committee estimates the city of Freeland will have a budget of $2.1 million, with expenses between $1.4 million and $1.7 million.

Dolan, chairman of the Vision 2025 committee, emphasized that incorporation means more local control over land-use decisions and other issues.

“We can do a better job managing our growth than the county,” he said.

“The question is who do you want managing the growth of the area. Growth is occurring. We won’t stop it,” Dolan said.

Some members of the audience said they were pleased with county government and didn’t see a need for another layer of bureaucracy, however.

“I moved here so I don’t have to live in Fremont. I don’t see where I need more services than the county provides,” said Larry Christensen.

Sharon Embleton said she is concerned about the city annexing rural land once Freeland is incorporated.

“Oak Harbor’s boundaries have gone out 16 miles. A few city planners have made a mess of it,” she said.

Mitch Streicher, a member of the incorporation committee, said he wouldn’t expect the people on “the South End to screw up planning in Freeland like is being done in Oak Harbor.”

Nancy Walker wondered why the Holmes Harbor community should support the move to cityhood. She said Holmes Harbor residents will be paying more utility taxes without any benefits.

“The new city won’t add sidewalks and street lights to Holmes Harbor, and we have a sewer and water system in place,” she said.

w“I don’t dispute anything Nancy says, but do people realize we are in the process of becoming another Lynnwood?” Dolan asked.

“Do you want to have a voice, because Holmes Harbor will be impacted, city or not,” Dolan added.

Several people told incorporation supporters they were satisfied with county government.

“It’s easier to tell the county to back off than it would be the city,” Embleton said.