A group of Western students lounge in lawn chairs at the Viqueen Lodge, located on the southwest side of Sinclair Island in the San Juans. The lodge's dock was blown out last November, and will cost $1.2 million to replace. Photo courtesy of Associated Students.

After Western President Bruce Shepard announced another $1.3 million budget cut in a Nov. 26 e-mail, in addition to a previously announced $2 million cut, many financial burdens have been put on hold, including the Viqueen Lodge’s broken dock.

Director of Viking Union Facilities James Schuster said the Viqueen Lodge has been having problems with replacing the $1.2 million county dock, which allows people to land and bring in supplies in a timely manner.

The dock blew out last November, and Western needs to get approval from the Army Corps of Engineers for a plan to repair it since they are responsible for water-related issues, Schuster said.

He said they would also have to go through the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department and Skagit County engineers to make sure marine life is protected during the renovation.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will assist in financing the county dock because it is considered a bridge, he said

“If you have a bridge go out, you have an emergency,” Schuster said.

He said they will also apply to the federal government for money and hopes the county provides the rest through grants and loans.

“It is certainly not floating on the water like it should,” Schuster said.

The Viqueen Lodge is an Associated Students (AS) funded and managed lodge surrounded by more than 13 acres of land on the southwest side of Sinclair Island. The Western's Women’s Physical Education Association purchased it for $2,000 in 1928.

Schuster said approximately 350- 400 people use it every year, with April through October being the prime season.

The lodge can accommodate up to 10 people, and the price stays the same regardless of how many people stay overnight. This brings in an annual income of  $2,500 per year, Schuster said. Groups of students, faculty, staff and alumni pay $25 and non-students pay $50 per night.

Schuster said $2,000 is spent annually on supplies for miscellaneous hardware, equipment maintenance supplies, wood and tools.

Approximately $300 is spent on copying for forms and brochures for the lodge. Food costs $850 for the volunteer maintenance crews and $800 for water transportation to get them to the lodge.

Seven hundred and fifty dollars is spent on various equipment repairs for the generator, well pump motor, tractor, and other power tools while $600 goes to buoy maintenance, fuel for equipment and propane for the stove and fridge.

Schuster said this adds up to $5,300 dollars, which leaves the AS to fund the remaining $2,800.

Schuster said because it is a subsidized program, like many AS programs, the service and activity fees charged to students every year covers it and enables many other student government activities to be possible. This also allows it be affordable for students, he said.

“It’s better than a tent,” said Outdoor Center employee and Western freshman Keith Daniel. “It’s pretty nice.”

He said there are no taxes the school has to pay on the lodge since it is a state establishment. Western doesn't have to pay property taxes on it because there is no fire department there, which is what property taxes usually cover, and there are also no fees they have to pay to keep it there, Schuster said.

“It’s very unique so if they were to sell it, it would be a drop in the bucket [in the budget],” Schuster said. “I’ve been taking care of [Viqueen Lodge] for 35 years. There’s really no one else.”

Outdoor Center employee and Western senior Samuel Toshner said the Viqueen Lodge also provides a place for the Outdoor Center to organize sea kayaking trips. He said they go out to a launch point, go through two crossings, the first at Lummi Bay and the second at Sinclair Island and camp until the next day.

“All our trips are by reservation,” Toshner said. “It’s on a first come, first serve basis.”

Although fixing the broken dock has been on hold, this does not stop people from coming in through various ways such as water taxis, kayaking, power boating, sailing or even flying in using the county airstrip, Schuster Said.

Water taxis are a common way people get to the lodge. The taxi is capable of landing on the beach so the dock isn’t necessary, said Island Express Charters employee Rey Rubalcava.

Schuster said it would be a shame to sell the lodge because it has been a part of the school for decades. If the lodge was sold and the money obtained from it was to go into the school’s budget, it would only represent a short-term profit, while budget shortfall is permanent, he said.

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