Once again a public meeting cancelled. It doesn’t require much effort to determine something is amiss at the Port of Peninsula in Nahcotta.

One only has to attend a couple meetings (when they’re not cancelled), read the newspaper, and talk with people who do or have done business with or at the port to come to the same conclusion. A few examples: The State Department of Revenue lien from non-payment of taxes, potential millions of dollars of fines from the Department of Ecology, the purchases of property that may have little to no benefit to the port (one at almost double market price), meetings held in the weather and set up to discourage public participation, officials from the county being ignored, commissioners being shut out, fuel bills and moorage fees not collected, the appearance of collusion between the board chair and the port executive director. These are but a few examples.

There have been too many years with little to no public scrutiny that has allowed this debacle. It is time for the public to take notice and to start holding those responsible accountable.

ED VESSER

Ocean Park