Shelter Bay vote count coming

A week from today, ballots of Shelter Bay homeowners will be tallied to determine whether the community should go ahead with a proposal to negotiate a new 75-year lease with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

If 50 percent plus one vote “yes” in the non-binding advisory vote – the work to craft a new lease under the terms the tribe has set will move ahead. If the majority vote is “no,” the process might be slowed down.

The lobbying on both sides, “yes” and “no,” has been intense.

Besides the higher land lease cost, which everyone expects, one sticking point between the two camps is t...