June 2015
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www.AllPointBulletin.com
Earlier crab opening this year, page 6
Point Roberts Marina sold to overseas investors
Fire district rating improves, page 8
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Whidbey Tel talks about upgrades, page 13
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Get yer ya-ya clothing at the market!
By Meg Olson A group of Asian investors has purchased the Point Roberts Marina and former owner Steve MacKay is confident they are ready and able “to take the marina to a new level.” Representing the buyers, local developer Wayne Knowles would not disclose the terms of the sale but confirmed the May 11, 2015 sale of the marina to Boundary Bay Investments LLC. The Washington Secretary of State does not list governing persons for the corporation. The registered agent listed is PTSGE Corp, a legal firm representing a number of Washington corporations, perhaps most notable as the former agents for Microsoft Corporation. According to the Washington Department of Revenue, Boundary Bay Investments LLC shares the same address on Denman Street in Vancouver as Mengfa International Resources Inc. One of the principals of that company, Gao Zhu, is purported to be one of the investors in the Cottages at Seabright Farms. Bloomberg Business also lists Gao as the chairman of Inner Mongolia Mengfa Coal and Charcoal Co. Ltd. MacKay said they have been looking for ways to “bring in those with not only resources but a vision” to develop the marina and its properties into “the finest West Coast port for traveling and living.” After turning down offers from several potential buyers who were primarily interested in the marina as a “holding property,” MacKay said they were approached by the new owners, already involved in the “sporting industry,” and he was “intrigued by their vision.” After several weeks traveling to their homes and businesses in Asia he returned home convinced he had found the right buyer. “This transaction is good news for both the Marina and Point Roberts,” MacKay said. “It is time to take the marina and (See Marina, page 8)
s The Saturday Morning Market is off and running, featuring items by local designers, artists, crafters and collectors. The market runs every Saturday through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photo by Meg Olson
Local seats open up for November election By Meg Olson With the recent resignation of water district commissioner Bill Meursing, there will be one more opportunity to serve on one of the local boards. Meursing had earlier suggested he would retire but made it official via email on April 24. He did not cite a reason for his decision to resign. “It has been a pleasure working with you and the staff,” he wrote. “I wish the district all the best in the future.”
Candidate filing week for the November election was held May 11 to 15, with spots open on the boards of all the local taxing districts. Both Wayne Knowles and Arthur Reber have filed to be on the November ballot running for the position Meursing is leaving vacant. At a May 21 special meeting remaining commissioners Scott Hackleman and Madeleine Anderson put out an invitation to interested parties to fill the vacant seat until the election.
Fire district’s attorney has no concerns with contract B y P a t G r u bb In response to concerns that have been raised by the All Point Bulletin regarding the district commissioners’ approval of a new contract with fire chief Chris Carleton, district attorney Brian Snure reviewed the contract and expressed no concern with the terms. Dated May 1, Snure’s memorandum makes it clear that he had not reviewed the contract prior to the board’s unanimous approval at a special meeting that
was held on April 15, 2015. Snure noted he had received “two voice mail messages from Commissioner Meursing prior to the Board’s approval of the contract” but was unable to call back. There was no mention of his having received a copy of the proposed contract. Asked at the April 15 meeting if the attorney had reviewed the contract and raised any concern, Meursing had replied, “If there had been legal issues, he would have called me back.” He did not explain how Snure would have been able to review the contract by listening to voice mails.
The attorney noted that the contract is substantially based on the first contract that he “assisted the board” in negotiating when Carleton was hired. That contract had to be revised after it was signed when this newspaper pointed out it rewarded the part-time chief with six weeks of vacation at the end of the first year. Snure’s review of the 2015 contract noted that revisions “appear reasonable and ... have not generated any specific issues or concerns.” However, he did not address (See OPR, page 8)
“Now that we have found there are two people running for the spot we don’t think it’s appropriate to appoint one of them because it would show favoritism,” Hackleman said. “We are looking to appoint someone temporarily so that if one of the two of us isn’t available we can still do business.” The three-commissioner board can only take action if a quorum of two commissioners is present. Hoping to appoint a temporary (See Election, page 8)
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Church ............................................. 13 Classifieds ......................................... 17 Coming Up ....................................... 16 Crossings ............................................ 6 Obituaries ......................................... 15 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors ............................................. 18 Tides ................................................... 9