Port and Bureau: a public service study in contrasts

The next time you tee up your ball at Banks Lake Golf Course, take a second and say a word of thanks to the three Port District commissioners who made it possible.

The three, Jim Keene, Gary Haag and Leonard Sanders, deserve some kind of award for how they see the Port District’s obligation to serve the public.

Commission President Jim Keene said it nicely when he stated: “The golf course is an important part of our community.”

The commissioners have run the course for the past several years, the last two profitably. The Port District poured a lot of money into the course to keep it open.

But this isn’t about the money. It’s about the philosophy on how to serve the public.

The commissioners have for several years volunteered their time to perform normal duties at the golf course, including mowing and running the course office.

If Keene could count the hours he has put in as a volunteer there, it would run into the thousands of hours.

This year, the course is being run entirely by volunteers.

Haag is in charge of outside activity like mowing, fertilizing and watering, and Keene is in charge of inside coverage.

The two have volunteer teams of local residents who have stepped up to the challenge of how best to serve the public.

So, take a second, and when you see one of the commissioners, say, “Thanks.”

It’s strange how different agencies see their obligation to the public.

Take the Bureau of Reclamation and the recent “geezer beach” decision.

The Bureau has decided to keep the “geezers” from driving down on the beach to fish above the dam. They have done so for years, but suddenly it is a problem.

One reason given is that the Tribes asked the Bureau to put a stop to the practice. That’s strange, because the Tribes are known for their care of their elders.

The “geezers” drive down on the beach so they can fish. Some are not able to walk very far, so their fishing days are probably over.

Someday, when those who make such decisions get older, they will understand what they have done.

It’s called stewardship. It’s the people’ beach, the ownership belonging to us all. It is a far cry from the Port District’s practice of the commissioners asking themselves, “What can we do to serve the public better?” Then they put themselves in the mix by taking part in the solution.

Maybe the Bureau would be better served by concentrating on how to get its fire station finished up. It would save people checking on their life expectancy chart to see if they might still be around to see the fire station finished.

This is not to pick on the Bureau. They do far more than they are given credit for to make visitors enjoy themselves when they come to the area.

They have the tours, the Laser Light Show, the Visitor Center, Banks Lake Park and beautiful flowers throughout the area. And much more.