Storms don't deter council
GRINDSTONE ISLAND — They were warned of a thunderstorm coming their way, but the municipal leaders of the town of Clayton bravely set sail Wednesday night for Grindstone Island to meet some of their constituents.
The same night, the Thousand Islands Land Trust had canceled its board meeting on the island because of the bad weather and fear of being stranded there.
"We have brakes this time," declared Councilman Lance L. Peterson to the other passengers of a rusty old school bus with a bad transmission. The bus is the Town Council's preferred — and only — mode of transportation on the island. Each July, it's put into commission to shuttle the board from the public docks to a meeting location.
The bus clunked and clanked when it climbed up the hills, but it took the board safely to Dodge Hall Community Center, North Shore Road, where some three dozen islanders were waiting for them eagerly.
The Grindstone crowd, usually boisterous and full of opinions, was uncharacteristically quiet Wednesday night, but a handful of residents pointed out that there still are problems with abandoned cars on the island and a shortage of docking space.
"If you're gonna bring your stuff, you need to be responsible for it," said Charles Matthews. "It's time we made a stand."
Mr. Matthews, who was born and raised on the island, said the town should charge people to bring their cars to the island and perhaps use those funds to get the vehicles removed when they are abandoned.
"There are about a half a dozen cars abandoned near the docks," said town Supervisor Justin A. Taylor. "But we're not in the business of moving cars."
Mr. Taylor said the town also does not have a good solution for the docking shortage. He said that the town could raise local taxes to build more municipal docks on Grindstone Island, but that he personally is opposed to further burdening the taxpayers in tough economic times.
Although the Town Council was unable to solve all of their problems, the Grindstone folks — an arsenal of cakes at the ready — made sure the members left with a full stomach.
