May 2016
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
200,000 gallons of water leak in break, page 2
Gulf Road building destroyed by fire
New fire commissioner appointed, page 3
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
FREE
Mulch your way to gardening happiness, page 12
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Warm weather brings the boaters back ...
By Meg Olson
(See Fire, page 6)
s New docks and other upgrades at the Point Roberts Marina are in the works. Story, page 15.
Photo by Pat Grubb
One-time library levy to be put before voters By Meg Olson With commission chair Linda Hughes opposed, Point Roberts Parks and Recreation District commissioners voted to ask voters to support a one-time levy to make up the funding gap for a new library. At a work session preceding their regular April 11 meeting, commissioners discussed what steps needed to be taken to get the project rolling. “We need to finalize the design, the foundation question, then we’re in a position to go to the county to
start the permit process,” said commissioner Stephen Falk. Commissioner Bennett Blaustein made a motion to accept the current design from architect David King, which transforms the existing Julius Fire Station into a new library with the addition of several “bumpouts” to add additional space for a meeting room and an expanded children’s area, and proceed with permitting. “The friends of the library don’t want any design other than what we have right now,” Blaustein said. “I think what peo-
ple expect is what they’ve been seeing for the last four years. I recommend we accept the current design with an improved foundation.” The current design without the additions had a preliminary cost estimate of $689,000, from design and permitting through construction and taxes. The estimate also includes a contingency in case the septic system needs to be replaced. (See Parks, page 5)
New port commissioner to speak at taxpayers meeting Newly elected Port of Bellingham commissioner Bobby Briscoe will be featured in a public forum hosted by the Point Roberts Taxpayers’ Association (PRTA) to talk about how Point Roberts benefits from the taxes paid to the port. “We hope this will be an opportunity for Mr. Briscoe to learn more about Point Roberts and for residents to gain a better understanding of the Port’s role in support-
ing community economic and recreational development, said PRTA president Mark Robbins. “In particular, the PRTA and the Point Roberts Lighthouse Society are interested in exploring possibilities for partnering with the Port of Bellingham to move forward the proposed lighthouse project in Lighthouse Park.” In 2015, the Port of Bellingham received approximately $172,300 from property taxes collected in Point Roberts, according to the county treasurer’s office. In 2016,
that figure is expected to be approximately $162,000. According to their website, “the Port of Bellingham’s mission is to fulfill the essential transportation and economic development needs of the region while providing leadership in maintaining greater Whatcom County’s overall economic vitality through the development of comprehensive facilities, programs, and services.” (See Taxpayers, page 2)
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By Meg Olson
2016
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Both Delta Fire and Emergency Services and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue were called to help put out a fire that destroyed the two-story building at the back of the Ridek Storage facility on Gulf Road. When the local fire department responded to the call at 9:30 Wednesday, April 6, the building was completely in flames. Assistant chief John Shields was first on the scene and immediately called for a second alarm, activating mutual aid and dispatching engines from Delta and North Whatcom “due to the size and involvement of the structure,” said chief Christopher Carleton. “You could see it from the border when I came across,” Carleton said, with flames rising 50 to 100 feet. An aerial unit was also requested from Delta but was turned back when the fire was brought under control from the ground. Within an hour “we had only spot fires,” Carleton said, but the building and numerous vehicles inside were a complete loss. “We were defensive the entire time. It was just too unstable.” Several vehicles, including the RIDEK electric vehicle prototype developed there by Dr. Gordon Dower, were destroyed. Three recreational vehicles suffered extensive damage, one crushed when the building’s back wall collapsed, and at least three boats were damaged or destroyed. “There was a lot of value in that structure,” Carleton said. “It’s a total loss.” Whatcom County fire inspector Will Anderson said he is completing his report on the fire, and the cause will remain undetermined. “I can rule out natural causes, but I can’t rule out accidental and I can’t rule out incendiary causes, so it remains undetermined,” he said. Eight members of the local fire department were joined by four firefighters from Delta and three from North Whatcom. “I can’t say enough about the firefighters,” Carleton said. “They worked really well