Editor,

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard and the Island County commissioners know there is a growing realization that the county and Navy have a problem — what to do about the jet noise disclosure statement.

The current statement is obviously written to provide homebuyers with the least possible information so they aren’t discouraged from buying.

Its intent — to sustain business and Navy interests while heavily discounting impacts on homebuyers — can no longer be justified or sustained.

Island County must act now to provide real information about the OLF Coupeville impacts and, in so doing, protect itself from further actionable misrepresentation.

Remembering that past reprehensible and transparent back room processes have produced this problem, I recommend the political and business leaders and Navy reps not be re-charged with the disclosure revision.

Rather, this is a citizen-homeowner issue and concern, so their input is paramount to creating a contemporary, credible, and real disclosure.

That in mind, I suggest that the commissioners solicit names and, from those, appoint a cross-sectional citizens advisory committee charged with preparing and detailing a list of the impacts that should be revealed and a draft disclosure for the county to massage and promulgate into law.

While this suggestion may not be particularly welcome, it is likely the best in the spectrum of bad options.

Even heads-in-the-ground ostriches need to occasionally come up for a breath of fresh air and it seems that time is now theirs.

Of course there is a better option. The commissioners could get with the movement to move the Growlers to California and thereby preserve Whidbey Island Naval Air Station well into the future, neuter the growing likelihood of legal action against the county, preserve and enhance the economy of Island County, and eliminate the moral and ethical conflicts that must keep them awake trying to rationalize.

And while at that, they could get another win — turn the OLF into a historic monument open for varied public uses and without the cement block enshrinements, which the Navy could likely give away for bulkheading.

Robert Wilbur

Coupeville