November 2017
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Point moves towards trash system, page 2
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Hospital district passes state audit, page 3
FREE
New Point Roberts history published, page 11
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14 Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Voter turnout Fall apple harvesting key to park levy passage By Meg Olson
(See Parks, page 2)
s A dozen families and community groups came together on October 14 at the community center to press local apples. The new apple press was purchased by The Homegrown Co-op, Point Roberts Food Bank, Circle of Care and Garden Club. Next year they hope to hold a Point Roberts Apple Festival.
Photo by Rose Momsen
“Drastically aging” fleet requires funding choices By Meg Olson With another near miss on a grant application to replace aging fire engines, chief Christopher Carleton said the fire district needs to start planning on how they will fund equipment upgrades if grants aren’t available. “Our fleet is drastically aging,” he told commissioners at their regular October 11 meeting. In 2020, the ratings bureau will re-eval-
uate the fire department and set a rating to determine local insurance rates, Carleton said. Department improvements recently led to a lower rating, a positive improvement that saved some homeowner over $200 a year in insurance premiums. “Any apparatus over 25 years old is a minus and without changes in our fleet I can see our rating going up,” he said. The district has two engines. “Big Red” was purchased new and custom built for the department in 1991, paid for through
Despite dropping campaign, Meraw remains on ballot B y P a t G r u bb Whatcom County is typically awash in candidate nights as the elections approach and Point Roberts is no different. The Point Roberts Registered Voters Association-sponsored annual candidates’ night was held October 2 at the Gulf Road community center and attracted a large slate of people vying for public office on the Point and in the county. Of the 44 people in the audience, 12
were members of the fire department, most of whom were Canadian volunteers displaying a surprising interest in local American politics. The need for voters to approve the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District maintenance levy was articulated by Rhiannon Allen who pointed out that the district operates on a very small budget and has no employees unlike other taxing districts on the Point. The levy requires a super-majority of 60 percent approval and a minimum
of 40 percent turnout (322 voters) from the last general election. County council member Rud Browne made an appearance even though his new county seat is in the south Bellingham district, saying, “As you guys are still paying me, I thought I’d show up.” The only county council positions that Point Roberts voters will have a say in is the at large position being contested by incumbent Barry Buchanan and Mary Robinson. Rob(See Election, page 6)
a voter-approved bond. The small engine, built in 1994, was purchased used in 2012 with reserve dollars. “Even though they look nice they are [23 and 26] years old,” Carleton said. “Our trucks are working but we just had to replace the tank of (Big Red). The public needs to understand we can’t show up with equipment that isn’t (See Fire, page 3)
Church . . . . . . . . 13 Classifieds . . . . . 16 Coming Up . . . . . 15 Crossings . . . . . . 14 Obituary . . . . . . . 14 Opinion . . . . . . . . 4 Seniors . . . . . . . . . 4 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14 Library . . . . . . . . 14 Sheriff . . . . . . . . .18
INSIDE
With ballots ready to be returned and a healthy turnout needed, Point Roberts park commissioners want to make sure voters know what the park district’s maintenance and operations levy will and will not pay for. “Some people think our levy is paying for the library,” new commissioner Arthur Reber said at the October 12 meeting of the Point Roberts parks board. “This levy has other earmarks.” The district’s maintenance and operations levy provides the funds that keep the district running. The previous sixyear maintenance and operations levy is expiring, and the district is asking voters to approve another six-year levy; one that entails a substantial increase. The district is asking for up to 21.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, up from 8.4 cents per $1,000 on the expiring levy. At their June meeting, parks commissioners agreed the initial increase would be 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, doubling the district’s tax income to approximately $100,000 per year. The estimated tax for a $200,000 home would go from $17 per year under the current levy to $34. The board could approve annual increases over the next six years to increase the tax rate to 21.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which translates to $43 of annual tax for a $200,000 home. Commissioners’ plans for the money include hiring a part time manager for the district, currently run solely by the volunteer commissioners, expanding programs, building reserves, and improving facilities. If the levy is approved, the first step will be to survey the community about what they want to see in the park system and develop a strategic plan. Funds will also be used to keep doing what the district has always done, maintaining district properties: the community center and grounds as well as Bak-
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