First of all, I want to say that it’s great to be back on the island after a year-and-a-half absence. This island and its people have been fantastic to me and my family upon our return. We missed this wonderful place and the lifestyle to which we had become accustomed.

That said, there is one thing which I cannot believe has happened in our absence with regards to the solid waste disposal site. And that is, in essence, nothing!

I was on the SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Council) for six months prior to our leaving the island. It looked to me at the time that things might be headed in the right direction, with talks about another site, reconfiguring the present site, etc. But, OMG, whose hare-brained idea was the configuration we find ourselves with now? What we have here is the biggest SNAFU (ask your parents what that stands for) that I have seen.

Come on, you people in the county and town governments, quit the fighting and use a little common sense here. From what I remember, there is plenty of land between the two entities for a real solution and one that flows! I can only imagine what the current “fix” has cost taxpayers, for it was time and money poorly spent.

Since we have been back, I have talked with some of the people that were on SWAC and they tell me that they quit in disgust at the lack of foresight and just plan pigheadedness that prevailed after I left. One person in particular stated they just couldn’t justify the wasted time after several years and no solution.

We need a place where we can recycle everything from wood to steel to plastic to glass and dispose of everything properly. Let’s not do another study, let’s just do something smart for a change.

Brian Pouillon

San Juan Island