I have been trying to wrap my mind around the argument that some gas stations in Maple Valley want to  receive protection from competitors.

Most of us are aware that Eric VanRuff’s Chevron station and David Hall’s Shell station enjoy some of the highest gas prices in the state. The same could be said for the 76 station on state Route 169 across from the former City Hall.

While other stations in the surrounding area have prices comparable to the state average, those few Maple Valley gas station’s prices have routinely hovered around a consistent fifteen cents more per gallon than the stations in nearby Covington. Just this past week there was a thirty-four cent difference in price per gallon from a station in Covington!

Now the local gas stations are entitled to price their fuel at what ever the market will bear. That is what a market based economy is all about. They are not, however, entitled to be protected from competitors — that would mean that the city of Maple Valley would be acting as gate keepers; selecting certain businesses to receive preferential treatment.

VanRuff and Hall suggest that they will have to lay off employees if Fred Meyer is permitted to dispense gas. I will take that statement at face value but conversely, if they lowered their prices then is it not likely that more customers would drive into their stations and create a need for more employees? Could VanRuff, Hall and others renegotiate with their suppliers and/or with their lease holders to allow their stations to be more competitive in the market?

It has been alleged that since the inception of Maple Valley as a city, the council members have effectively kept competitors from our city. Meanwhile, Covington welcomed the business community and as a result much of the shopping, dining out and filling of gas tanks is done in the Covington area. It is even easier to mail letters in their drive-up mail drop.

The disclaimer to all of this is that I am not required to purchase gas in Maple Valley, and I don’t.  I am retired and drive a Prius and yet I have no qualms about driving outside this area to fill up my tank. But the citizens of Maple Valley deserve better. This is a “bedroom community”; people work hard and often must commute long distances to work places  outside the area. They should be able to purchase gas at reasonable prices in their own community and not have to subsidize local gas stations so those station owners can continue to do business as usual.

John Choco

Maple Valley