Some good news regarding several prickly issues came out of Langley this week.

First and foremost, city officials announced they are once again taking a step back concerning the ongoing saga that is the marina access project. Instead of blazing ahead with plans for a smaller funicular and waterfront walkway, the city will first work with the port to identify the actual need. While this has been a suggestion made repeatedly by some members of the public, it’s encouraging to see that city officials are taking this sage advice to heart.

It’s hard to prepare a meal without first knowing what’s on the menu or how many people to cook for.

Also, mayoral candidate Tim Callison informed The Record this week that he would not hold his Tuesday campaign fundraiser at the city’s old firehouse on Second Street due the appearance of a conflict of interest. We wholeheartedly support this decision.

The building is currently occupied by Callahan’s Firehouse Studio, and city leaders are currently in negotiations with business owner Callahan McVay to buy the building. As the legal leaseholder, McVay has the right to host such a gathering on the property and waive his customary rental fee of $90 per hour, but the issue is muddied by the fact that four of the city’s five council members have publicly endorsed Callison for mayor. That the very same people will constitute the majority of people who will decide the property deal — that includes Callison’s wife, Councilwoman Robin Black — is inappropriate at best.

Mixing money, politics and land decisions is simply a bad idea, and with so many other locations around town to hold a fundraiser, Callison showed good judgment in deciding to take the party elsewhere.

Finally, city workers last week removed up to 100 old tires from public property located in the greenbelt between Northview — Suzanne Court — and Langley Middle School. While it’s too bad the heap of old tires was not removed sooner, as a Langley resident told city officials they were there more than a year ago, we’re happy they are finally gone.

The area appears to be within the city’s well head protection area, and while regular water quality testing shows no contamination of the city’s drinking supply, their presence was and remains a source of concern for nearby residents.

Mayor Fred McCarthy has declined to order soil samples, per the advice of some state officials who say it’s unnecessary, but we feel that position should be reconsidered. Scooping up a few bags of dirt and sending them to the lab for testing seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind, especially if there’s nothing to be found. But if surprise does rear its ugly head, residents and city officials will be glad the extra step was taken.