This barge is moored in front of the Bloedel Reserve and Agate Point homes. This is the largest they have moored here so far and it is humungous. As you can see it is moored very close to the low tide mark and the beach.

Here is another picture of the Barge.

Then later to day they brought another large industrial barge with a excavator tractor and moored it along side the other monster barge. All of this on a busy holiday weekend with lots of sailing traffic all around.

It is nice to see that the barge(s) have not been moored of the north side of beautiful Bainbridge, for the past few weeks. These ugly barges are such a safety hazzard for all the boaters coming in and out of Port Madison and all the childrens sailing classes that are taught here, where these barges come in and out. Can you imagine the faces of these young sailors when they see these barges coming at them!!!!! Residents who have lived here for many years say the barges never used to be moored here very often until the past few years. We need to stop this for the safety of the pleasure sailors and the children. It is also an eyesore and decreases the quality of life on this beautiful island, not to mention as also being and environmental nightmare of rusting barges.
Let's keep the barges away from this very populated area and keep Port Madison child friendly and safe.

Our community depends on the commerce associated with these barges and I happen to think that these barges enhance the scenery. They don't detract from the ambiance - they are part of it! All of these barges are working vessels and are all maintained in accordance with US Coast Guard operational and safety regulations. The tugboat Captains that move their tugs and barges around are all licensed by the US Coast Guard and know exactly what they are doing. To try and make an argument against these seamen and their equipment based upon the safety of the children who sail in these waters is nothing short of laughable. You people ought to adjust you glasses and attitudes so that this stops bothering you so much. This is the waterfront - if you don't like the waterfront, move to North Dakota.

The barge has been removed. This matter is now closed. Thank you.

This issue should not be closed because it is an on-going concern. I do not know who wrote "The barge has been removed." Nor do I know what "barge" they were referring to....or when they stated that the issue should be closed because "the barge has been removed."

Barges have been moored at the Port Madison buoy consistently throughout recent months. Some barges are there for several weeks, some are there for several days. A VERY large barge was moored there over the past weekend. It was removed on Sunday.....and today another barge returned. "The barge" has not been removed. A barge is moored at the buoy as I write this.

Most of the barges that have been moored at the buoy in recent months have been carrying cargo (sand, logs, boulders) and have stayed for a limited time. This is the practice of the company owning the barges (Boyer Towing Inc. ) during summer months. However, in recent years, the company Boyer Towing Inc., has moored large, empty barges at the buoy in Port Madison throughout the winter months without interruption. This is not part of an "active shipping process". This is a company that is avoiding the fees required to moor a commercial vessel in a commercial area over the winter months. Unless Boyer Towing informs the City of Bainbridge Island otherwise, I expect that they will continue to moor large, often empty, barges in a residential area for long periods of time throughout the winter months and on-going.

These barges are unattractive, rusty, an obstacle in the recreational waters of Port Madison, and apparently illegal. Boyer Towing has not provided evidence that the company has legal right to moor commercial vessels in Port Madison. The presence of these barges appears to violate not only state codes (Department of Natural Resources) but also City of Bainbridge Island codes and ordinances. Is moorage of these commercial vessels just beyond the low-tide mark consistent with current Shoreline Management Ordinances? Additionally, the barges are usually installed at the buoy in the middle of the night, and removed in the middle of night, always accompanied by much noise, bright lights extending into local residential bedrooms. The City of Bainbridge Island has ordinances regarding restricted days and times for commercial activity, with specific direction relative to noise and other noxious intrusuion into the lives of local residents. This company shows no regard or respect for the ordinances and codes of the City of Bainbridge Island.

I encourage the City to keep this case open.

Thank you.

I to am affected by these unsitely Industrial Barges in fornt of my home and yes they moved a humongous one out there last night with a large back hoe tractor on the back just to add to the thing. It was moved in last night at 10 pm and took at least 20 minutes of loud engine groaning and bright lights shinning into my bedroom. This is definetly NOT a closed issue to residents of Agate Point. This goes on daily for us and moving somehting around to avoid being seen at night is not getting rid of or solving the problem. If you'd like I am sure we could post a daily feed of photos of what is moved here daily. We have now turned into a very active spot kind of like moving your car around to avoid paying the meter fee!!!! Very convenient for the Boyers Company not so much for the residents who have to try and sleep while the Midnight moves are going on. I would hope the City would not ignore the residents problems with this ongoing situation because it has NOT been resolved.