As a community, it is our job to keep informed about projects that are funded by public money – and to do so in enough time to have an impact if we want to make a change.

Opposition for the new Deer Harbor fire station has come too late in the process to make much of a difference, despite three public meetings held since the project began in mid-2007.

At least 50 Deer Harbor residents signed a petition expressing concerns about the proposed station. The petition was presented during the Conditional Use Permit Hearing on Jan. 7, which was to determine if the permit application complied with San Juan County Uniform Development Code and the Deer Harbor Hamlet Plan. It was approved and the fire station is slated to be built next to the existing Deer Harbor station.

The two primary issues are its location and the Channel Road Bridge. The location is considered by some to have poor sight distance from driveways and too much traffic on Channel Road. There is also the worry that if the Channel Road Bridge were to become inaccessible, those living in western Deer Harbor would be unreachable by emergency services.

The validity of these issues is another topic entirely, but one thing seems to be clear: while some voiced concerns at the beginning of the process, it appears that others did not present possible solutions at the right time. According to last week’s story in the Sounder, one woman says that years ago she offered to buy the department’s existing Deer Harbor property, which would have allowed the fire department to purchase a new piece. Yet when the department was actively looking to buy a new piece of land and sent her written notice of their plans, she never contacted the fire chief about her desire to buy the property.

Another Deer Harbor resident says he found the perfect piece of property for the site: it’s on a main street and has no visibility problems. The owner wants to sell it for a community purpose – and the fire station fits the bill. There could even be an easement purchased to develop access without the use of a bridge. Yet the fire department was never notified of this prospect by either him or the land owner.

We are not singling out Deer Harbor residents. Life is hectic, and we don’t always have time to get involved in something at just the right moment. But let this situation be a reminder to stand up before it’s too late. It’s our responsibility to attend community meetings, present our solutions, and not wait to speak up until the papers are signed and the ink is dry.