San Juan County Council approves letter to Washington State Ferries over service at fairs

San Juan County Councilors on Sept. 9 approved sending a letter to Washington State Ferries raising concerns about ferry service during the state fair and asking for follow-up.

The council voted to send the response after staff presented a draft and reported that comments from council members had been incorporated. Council members debated recipients, whether to include the assistant deputy transportation secretary and his supervisor, and whether to copy the governor—s office. One councilor proposed copying Megan Cotton and Jeremy Harrison Smith in the governor—s office; another said copying legislative delegation members was unnecessary. The council agreed the letter could be sent as an unsigned digital correspondence or via DocuSign if members preferred an electronic signature.

Council members also discussed the appropriate signatory line. One member said the draft could be sent with the councilors— names listed rather than a formal single signature line; another said the first communication of the 2025 council warranted a signature listing to show the body—s position. Staff said minor edits circulated by Jessica and Catherine Fuller were non-substantive and had been incorporated.

After discussion the council made a motion to approve sending the letter to Washington State Ferries and the motion passed by voice vote.

Council members said they want the letter sent to the assistant deputy transportation secretary (identified in discussion as John Vassine) and his superior, with a copy to the governor—s office staff specified in the meeting. Staff said they would finalize recipients and circulate the final text to councilors before sending.

The decision was procedural; no new policy or funding was adopted. The council directed staff to transmit the approved correspondence.