Editor,

A recent letter appeared in the Whidbey News-Times expressing displeasure with the Island County Commissioners’ position of support for continued carrier landing practice training at OLF Coupeville, training that has occurred since March 1943.

Instead, the writer and member of the anti-OLF group would have yet another noise study with the ultimate intent of shutting down OLF as stated on their website or my guess to be personally paid by the Navy for the property they purchased most likely at a reduced price because of its proximity to the OLF and noise.

My suggestion for the commissioners is to add to their resolution the statement: “Whereas in recognition of over 70 years of continued carrier landing practice originating at OLF Coupeville and over 20 years of written notification by Island County title companies to any purchaser of real estate within a noise zone, the Board hereby recognizes the grandfathered nature of all noise impacts caused by 70-plus years of training at OLF and NAS Whidbey. Also recognizing that virtually all of the homes were built after 1943 or after the 1950’s when jets started training in Island County, the board recommends all homeowners that are dissatisfied with their purchased home’s lack of sufficient noise attenuation measures to retrofit their homes to provide additional noise attenuation instead of spending their money on lawsuits against the Navy, the base commanding officer and the latest efforts of the anti-OLF group to explore a lawsuit against residents of Island County by suing Island County government which receives its law and justice funding from County residents.”

Jason Wayne
Oak Harbor