Probably most in Del Norte County have learned Harbormaster Tim Petrick has tendered his resignation from the Crescent City Harbor District. It would not be a stretch to think that the role he played over the past three years at the harbor may have been most significant in the financial quagmire the harbor finds itself in, presently. Petrick’s questionable abuse of the Harbor credit card, including serial use of excessive Door Dash services while attending a harbor conference in Monterey, may have contributed to the harbormaster’s resignation. Make no mistake, Petrick ‘s indifference to the harbor’s dire financial condition was glaring. Commissioners bear responsibility for limited if any oversight on Petrick’s irresponsibility.Failed solar power fauxster Lemus development projects at the harbor’s RV parks, the solar panel debacle, Fashion Blacksmith and harbor dredging, the list goes on and on… Plus, the current list of Petrick’s future aspirations reads like the list of a child writing to Santa, Tim Petrick is not the only person who should be submitting a letter of resignation.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');For years the taxpayers have been fleeced by representatives, and government employees who spend money in dubious fashion over the course of their tenured careers without so much as a serious rebuke. Quite often these miscreants are protected from within, remaining hidden from the public. When exposed, suitable excuses are offered, and the uproar goes awayIt appears that Harbormaster Petrick was quite fond of whipping out the old harbor credit card to pay for goods and services while dubious at best, can hardly be associated with a harbor in desperate financial straits. The credit card statements, after lengthy bouts of stone- walling, revealed a pattern of carefree spending by the harbormaster that is often a characteristic of those in power with little or compliant oversight.Keeping in mind that the Harbor Commission, the Commission’s Chief Financial Officer, and the Grand Jury all whitewashed Harbor Master Petrick’s credit card behavior as perfectly legitimate, yet he still resigned. The obvious question perhaps should be asked is what is being swept under the rug by the now clearly lame duck Commission?Some of the explanations thus far have bordered on the absurd as the adventures in Door Dash were revealed. Accounts of lunches, liquor purchases, golf balls and airline tickets were just a microcosm of activities that raised eyebrows at the recent Commissioner’s meeting. Had the lame duck Commission been on vacation for the past three years and not met? Apologies to the public, but that clearly is how things work at the government feeding trough. It has become a regular phenomenon, where boards like the harbor blindly stumble from one train wreck to another wasting tax dollars like they are in endless supply. Often led by the nose, our representatives have no problem with the fantasy world offered by employees to save their proverbial bacon. This is how the situation with the harbormaster was allowed to be metastasized, unchecked for years.While the harbormaster is now gone and three of the lame duck Commissioners are to be replaced, there is still work to be done. It may be easier if the two remaining Commissioners were to resign, and changes were made at office manager, Chief Financial Officer, and legal representation before moving forward with a new board.Clearly that will not immediately change the financial challenges the new players will face, but hopefully those new faces will be up to the task of moving the harbor forward. The appetite for Door Dash grub should not expect any future business from the harbormaster, unless a personal credit card is offered. Samuel StraitCrescent City googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });