Ann Welsh’s July 23 letter (“What a waste of our money”) states “Dunce hats to the Port Orchard City Council.”
I do agree that’s true for the five that voted for the two Tremont roundabouts.
As Port Orchard Planning Commission chairman, I observed firsthand the roundabout votes, presentations by our police and fire chiefs and much public testimony.
Council members Jerry Childs and Jim Colebank not only listened to the people and respected these experts, but voted against the roundabouts, putting the health, safety and welfare of Port Orchard citizens first.
They are to be commended for their actions.
It is clear the other five council members — Robert Putaansuu, Fred Chang, Carolyn Powers, Fred Olin and John Clauson — continue to disregard not only public input but also the professional fire and law enforcement experts as well.
They instead focus on increasing emergency response times, spending an inordinate amount of your dollars (current cost $15 million) and increasing delays to those who will be impacted by emergency vehicles caused by transiting the two Tremont roundabouts.
The latest fire levy was based on a “Seconds Count” campaign. These five council members just stole these seconds from you and your loved ones and most likely added a few more.
Now is a good time to remember that Putaansuu, Chang and Powers are up for re-election next year.
Do you really want individuals representing you who so blatantly disregard your safety and your input?
Just as a point of clarification in Ms Welsh’s letter, the Planning Commission never had a say in Dr. Willyard’s chiropractic office on the corner of Tremont and Pottery.
I was as surprised as everyone else when the lowlands that were there were graded and filled, apparently the result of just a building permit granted by staff under the previous mayor.
Other than these two points, Ms. Welsh’s letter was right on and her questions, “What’s wrong with revised traffic lights that are in sync during peak traffic times?” and “Why are they so dead set on roundabouts?” are two great questions the public deserves and should demand to have answers to.
GIL MICHAEL
Port Orchard
