Island ACKtion
GEOTUBES APPROVED!
May 23, 2013
Tonight the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the installation of geotubes along Sankaty Bluff. In a last-ditch effort to save the receding shoreline along Baxter Road, the board voted 3–2 to enter into a memo of understanding with the Sankaty Bluff Preservation Fund to support and help fund the geotube project.
“What bull*#*,” says lifelong Sconset resident and commercial fisherman Chappy Mayhew. “Complete and utter crap. I can’t believe those idiots voted for it.”
This news comes mere days after the selectmen struck down a hard armor measure, citing it as excessively detrimental to Nantucket’s shoreline. Naturally, town pot-stirrer Cissy Codman refused to take “no” for an answer. So while most of Nantucket thought Cliff House and its neighbors were down for the count, Cissy deployed the ever-popular “we’ll sue the pants off you” measure. It worked.
“I didn’t threaten to sue anyone,” she insists. “I simply had an attorney enumerate Nantucket’s legal responsibility to run utilities to that part of the island. The collapse of the bluff would cut off plumbing and electricity to most residents on Baxter Road. But, thanks to the wise decision of our esteemed selectmen, that won’t happen. I look forward to working together to ensure a successful geotube installation.”
In case the indomitable Mrs. Codman hasn’t gotten a hold of you by phone or by bike, geotubes are large sand-filled jute “burrito bags,” which will be installed in a terrace-like fashion along nine hundred feet of bluff. They’ll be held in place with anchors and covered in sand.
Proponents say geotubes not only protect the bank, but are compatible with the existing beach. As opposed to seawalls, they also minimize harm to downdraft beaches and do not adversely affect marine wildlife. What’s more, geotubes aid with storm damage prevention and flood control, enhance the view, and preserve recreation trails and public access to the glorious Siasconset beaches.
That’s what Cissy tells us anyway.
Shortly after the meeting, Mrs. Codman was seen at the Yacht Club drinking champagne with various cohorts including her sister-in-law Polly Bradlee. Noticeably absent was Cissy’s daughter Bess, who has reportedly taken up with a local. Mr. Codman wasn’t there but he never is. We here at Island ACKtion assume he’s still alive.
Listen, I’m the last person who would rain on Cissy’s parade. I don’t want to end up tied to concrete blocks and rolled into the harbor. But while the geotubes sound great and all, isn’t it ridiculously too late?
ABOUT ME:
Corkie Tarbox, lifelong Nantucketer, steadfast flibbertigibbet. Married with one ankle-biter. Views expressed on the Island ACKtion blog (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, et al.) are hers alone. Usually.