Mr. Bolte (Letters, June 30) is extremely ill-informed. His statement that the mayor stated that “there were hundreds of building lots in Coupeville, enough for decades.” At what cost? My statement was that there were not enough “affordable lots.”

My statement still holds true. As of 5 p.m. July 3, 2004, there are fewer than 12 lots for sale within the Coupeville city limits. The bulk of these are near the $100,000 price. If this is what Mr. Bolte thinks is affordable, I suggest that he takes a good look at what the average household income is in Island County and what it would take for income to qualify for a home loan for a median home in Island County after picking out one of the ‘available lots” in Coupeville, then top it off with a fee of over $10,000 for water and sewer.

I am sure that the mayor has been misquoted or misinformed by some who would want to keep Coupeville only for the affluent. It sounds like a Mafioso method of control. (Coupeville Mafia? Could it be?)

On another note, Mr. Bolte, I am informed on the Friends of Krueger Farm. I am aware that the group have dug into their own pockets to purchase the farm. Keep digging, Central Whidbey has already had more than its share of taxpayer funds, as the commissioners pointed out. I am in favor of special interest groups getting what they pay for.

I am sure that if the rest of the “Friends” have the same views on what is “affordable” as you have, it will be no problem for all of them to dig a little deeper into their pockets and stay out of the other taxpayers’ pockets.

Larry E Ogle

Coupeville