Letters to the Editor for Dec. 13, 2018

Spirit of giving ‘alive and growing’ in county

Clark County residents: Thank you for once again supporting Walk & Knock — the nation’s largest, one-day community food drive.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, more than 3,200 volunteers collected more than 255,000 pounds of food and toiletries from throughout our county.

If we missed you, visit walkandknock.org/donate/food-donation-drop-off to find our 80 barrel locations, including Les Schwab Tire Centers and Riverview Bank branches. Plus we gladly accept cash donations.

All of the proceeds from our all-volunteer effort benefit the Clark County Food Bank, recently ranked the nation’s seventh best.

While there are too many partners, sponsors and supporters to mention, I’d like to give special shout-outs to the semi-truck drivers who donate their time, Chuck’s Produce, which helps us in many ways and McDonalds, which provided the 130,000 door hangers — return them to McDonalds and they will donate $1 each to Walk & Knock.

Our biggest thanks is to you all. For 34 years, Clark County residents have donated more than 8 million pounds of food and tens of thousands of dollars to help our own. No one else has a food drive close to ours.

During this holiday season, the spirit of giving is alive and growing.

Again, thank you!

Justin Wood, President, Interservice Walk & Knock Food Drive, Vancouver

Camas and Washougal must learn to get along

I read with interest the article in the Dec. 6 issue of The Post-Record, “Camas down to wire on passing budget.”

Passing a budget for any municipality is a necessity. No one disputes this, but I also think it very wise that Washougal has decided not to dig into their own reserves for operating expenses.

The article explains that a sticking point between these two communities, and the JPAC, Joint Policy Advisory Committee both willingly joined, has risen concerning Camas’ belief that they need five more fire department members for the now very popular Camas-Washougal Fire Department and some doubt apparently from the Washougal side of this agreement. OK. I can understand this. I have not read the JPAC agreement nor know if it is available to the public, however any business agreement always contains a provision to work out differences amicably. This kind of negotiating is common. But what I do not understand is why some Camas councilors would make a statement while in session that alludes to the possibility of ending this popular joint venture over this issue. This kind of tactic is not in the best interest of a public who has joined together for mutual assistance to one another. If this was merely a power-related negotiating tactic, I do not approve. These kinds of discussions should take place under the operating conditions of JPAC — not come from one side.

If Camas is holding up on signing their budget over the fear that Washougal will not eventually agree, this is something that needs to be worked out together under the JPAC authority. I do not agree with bringing alarm to the general population. The city councils of both Washougal and Camas are there to represent all of the people, but we expect them to handle the public’s business with civility and with cooperation.

Mike Briggs, Washougal