Does Snoqualmie need a new fire station? Yes! Does it need a new fire truck? Yes! Is the current station capable of serving the needs of the city with regard to the fire department? No! Did the current fire department have water inside the building during the 1990 flood? Yes!

So why is the Snoqualmie City Council not 100 percent behind a new fire station and the subsequent bond needed to finance construction? Because there is concern that there is no plan outlining future uses for the old station or property. Hmmm, did I miss something here? Don’t we need the new station immediately? I do think it is fiscally prudent to have a plan for the old station once the new station has been completed, but does that decision or plan have to be in place now? No!

The idea of what to do with the old fire station and property can be decided at a future time. The safety of Snoqualmie residents should be foremost in the council’s mind, above and beyond fiscal prudence. There are many possible uses for the old facility and a committee could be created from community members to determine what those uses could be. But it is a separate issue, not one to hold up support for a new fire station. I think you should all fully support the ballot measure that would put a new facility in the city of Snoqualmie.

Now onto other things: The Si View issue is still very much on my mind. But I am somewhat amazed how quiet supporters or detractors of keeping the facility open have been. Maybe keeping Si View open is a nonissue. Maybe the best direction for the facility is for the city to take over the property and sell it as surplus for more high-density housing. After all, if it closes, who really cares? I am not in support of selling off the property, but frankly I feel there are only a handful of people out there who are passionate about it and that is not enough support to keep it open. So tell us how you feel and what you would like to see done. The city will need to make a decision soon or the facility will close.

Finally comes the looming baseball strike. I watched the news Sunday night after returning from vacation and listened to fans as they were interviewed outside Safeco Field. I have to agree with all of them and think the idea of highly paid baseball players going out on strike during these economic times seems laughable at best. As some fans are worry about making the next house payment or feeding their families, the elitist athletes want more. Maybe someone forgot to tell the bargaining folks that when the economy is dealing life-changing blows to the average worker, a strike of any kind will lack popular support.

I agree with the fan who said, “If they strike, I won’t ever come back.” Maybe a baseball boycott is needed. I have to admit, I watch them occasionally on television during the summer but once high-school athletics start, the television is off and my focus is on local kids doing sports.