Tourist luring: Save money, take this advice

I write on behalf of the working taxpayer who funds the city’s endeavors. We would like to offer a little prudent advice before you formally vote and decide to spend another dime on “consulting fees” and “feasibility assessments” to lure tourism to the City of Oak Harbor. We will require that each of you, at the regular city council meeting, fill in the blank, for all of us to hear, to the following statement:

“The City of Oak Harbor has the only (blank) on the island worth making a stop to see.”

Is limiting the question to just the island too narrow? Let’s try this one: “The City of Oak Harbor has the only (blank) in the county worth making a stop to see.”

Still too narrow? How about in the state? In the nation?

If you cannot fill in the blank, then let’s just admit the City of Oak Harbor is a working person’s utilitarian city, meeting the needs of its residents, and move on with life!

People are not going to make a side trip from Highway 20 (no, changing its name will not make a difference) after leaving beautiful Coupeville, to see a static plane in a park next to a sewer processing plant. No, I’m afraid they won’t have Wal-Mart, Big Five Sporting Goods or Home Depot on their “Must See and Do During This Vacation” lists!

I agree with Councilwoman Sheilah Crider when she says, “We just sat in awe of him.” I too, am in awe of an individual who can milk this city, not just once, but twice, for huge sums of (our tax) money, to sit and offer advice no one is really intending to act upon.

I will save you five thousand dollars. Please send the consulting fee and feasibility assessment check, for this advisement letter, of $45,000 to my home address.

J. R. "Sonny" Starks

Oak Harbor

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