October 2015
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
New pot license rules take effect, page 7
Whidbey Telecom weighs in on radio towers
Fire district seeks higher certification, page 8
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
FREE
NEXUS proves useful, says study, page 15
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
A new crop of students
By Meg Olson Whidbey Telecom has joined a line of formal and informal complainants to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asking they only approve BBC Broadcasting’s application to renew station authorization for KRPI if the company abandons plans to broadcast from a new five-antenna array they are proposing for Point Roberts. In their August 27 objection, the local telephone and broadband provider stated that “inherent in that renewal would be the authorization for BBC Broadcasting to operate an AM station transmitter in Point Roberts, both daytime and nighttime, at the frequency of 1550 kilohertz and a power of 50 kilowatts.” The objection provides evidence to support Whidbey Telecom’s claim that the deployment of such an array “carries a very substantial risk of severely disrupting voice and broadband communications at Point Roberts, thereby not only threatening severe economic and social dislocation but also imperiling public safety and border security.” The company stated it was “extremely concerned over the threat to broadband service,” and that a source of interference such as AM radio waves would likely ensure diminished transmission, “thereby relegating businesses, residences and government facilities that have been able to rely upon such advanced DSL technology to a service rendered unreliable and potentially unusable.” In addition to the harm to the public good, the company also pointed out “material defects in the notice given to the public” when BBC Broadcasting applied for their license renewal, such as identifying their application to construct a new facility in a new community, operating at a higher power over extended hours, as a “minor amendment.” The FCC approved the construction permit for the new Point (See Whidbey, page 2)
s Another school year gets underway for students attending the Point Roberts Primary School on Benson Road.
Character plan review on back burner until 2016 By Meg Olson Buried under a pile of other reviews of the county comprehensive plan, the revised Point Roberts Character Plan, completed last month, will likely not be up for technical review by the county until 2016. “We’re on the back burner,” said Arthur Reber, member of the Character Plan Review Committee, speaking to the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee
(PRCAC) at their September 8, meeting. Instead of waiting for the county’s technical review to be complete to start the community review of the updated plan, Reber suggested they be done in parallel. “When we open it up to community input there will most likely be suggestions or objections which will likely lead to some changes, but those should not be technical,” he said. PRCAC member Steve Wolff suggested
See Spot. See Spot run. See Spot’s owner pay. By Meg Olson A sudden uptick in off-leash dog citations has taken many local dog owners by surprise. While traditionally law enforcement and county parks staff have been tolerant of off-leash dogs, local sheriff’s deputies and new ranger Aaron Johnson are making strict adherence a priority. “I know a lot of people have traditionally done it but a lot of people on the other side are coming up to me asking why all
Photo by Tracy Kelly
these dogs are off leash,” Johnson said. Johnson said he had brought the matter to the attention of local deputies Jason Loreen and Tom McCarthy, who began issuing warnings and $74 citations. “If it’s brought to our attention we tend to focus on it,” said chief Doug Chadwick with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. While in the past, deputies have not focused on animal control issues, Chadwick said the deputies have the discretion to take enforcement action in that realm.
Whatcom County Code 6.04.060 (A) states that “except in exempt areas, the owner or keeper of any dog shall not allow it to be at large and not under control.” According to the code, under control “means that the owner, by means of a leash, restrains the dog to the owner’s immediate proximity, preventing the dog from trespassing upon property or annoying or chasing other persons, animals, or (See Spot, page 3)
that PRCAC members review the changes to the character plan as a starting point. “After we review it we’ll schedule a public meeting,” agreed PRCAC chair Joel Lantz. Check the All Point Bulletin website for a link to the revised character plan following the committee’s review at their October 13 meeting.
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Church ............................................... 7 Classifieds ......................................... 18 Coming Up ....................................... 19 Crossings ............................................ 2 Library ............................................. 17 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors ............................................. 17 Tides ................................................. 12