I will be voting against borrowing funds to build an all-tide boat launch at Mitchell Field.
I participated in the brainstorming session more than 15 years ago that came up with the idea of building a ramp at Mitchell Field, which I supported at that time. A lot has changed since.
At the time, preliminary estimates placed the cost of constructing the launch, as envisioned at that time, at $350,000 or so, if I remember correctly. I’m not sure what it will cost now since, as stated in the Anchor, “the town ballot is a proposal to borrow up to $1,150,500, which the town would combine with funds on hand and state grants.” Let’s just say the price tag has increased significantly.
However, for me, cost would be a small consideration if I thought the ramp was necessary. It isn’t. It’s a luxury. If we’d needed it, we would have built it already. We have launches enough — and more to the point, we have launches that, due to the changing climate, will need repairs and upgrades. I suggest that the money we have already appropriated be applied to taking care of the infrastructure we have or need to replace, such as the town dock at Potts Point.
In short, I think the idea, after 17 years, ought to be scrapped. I respect the time and effort that resident volunteers have put into designing and planning the project, but let’s not fall prey to the sunk cost fallacy. We don’t need the boat launch, and we can better spend our resources responding to the challenges that coming decades will bring us.
Tom Allen, Lookout Point
