With regard to the narrow loss of the hospital district’s bond proposal, it’s good to see that it is being resubmitted; an emergency clinic is a significant community asset.

May I pass along a complaint I used to have about the Ilwaco hospital’s maintenance?

When I would walk under the semicircular rain shield to enter that hospital’s front door, I would notice the condition of the metal brackets supporting that shield, and I’d grumble. They were rusting. It had been folly to use non-stainless-steel for those supports to begin with, and it was irritating now that they were not being properly maintained.

I said something to staff members several times over the years, but without effect. Perhaps that situation has been corrected.

Some years back, while I was up on the porch roof of our antique Oysterville house replacing cedar shingles which had fallen off in a storm, I would have dark thoughts about the people who’d done the original roofing: they had used galvanized staples instead of stainless steel. We all know that galvanized metal rusts in our salt-laden beach air.

Thoughtful maintenance is so important, and it is critical when the public sees failure to maintain their asset every time they walk through the front door.

Thanks so much.

NANCY LLOYD

Astoria