MARINE GRADUATE
KEEP THE BEAUTY GOING IN THE GARDEN
APEX BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Ferndale native graduates from Marine Academy in Kings Point. News, A2
David Vos writes about dahlias in this month’s In Bloom.
18U team wins national championship in Dallas.
COUNTRY LIFE, B3
SPORTS, B1
JULY 10, 2024
SINCE 1885
FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50
Summer meal program feeds area’s children for free
Prioritizing funds: Ferndale City Council continues discussion on ARPA money Also heard presentations from Puget Sound Energy, Ferndale Food Bank By Racquel Muncy For the Tribune
“So it’s usually a few major components,” Pollock said. “There’s a fruit and a vegetable, there’s a milk or juice and then there’s an entree, which makes up the three components. It’s
FERNDALE — On July 1, Ferndale City Council continued discussions on where to send the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds. Council also heard presentations from Puget Sound Energy and the Ferndale Food Bank. Council Member Jon Mutchler said he has made it no secret that his goal in joining council has been to find ways to impact utility costs. “I can’t impact electricity. I can’t impact natural gas. But I do have some influence over three utilities: water, sewer and stormwater,” he said. Mutchler said he would like to see the remaining ARPA funds returned to the citizens in the form of something they may help reduce future costs. For this reason he said he would like to see the remaining funds go toward the new well. He also recommended some funds go toward the new stage at Pioneer Park, a project the entire town could be proud of and utilize. According to City Finance Director Danielle Ingham, the stage is projected to cost about $1M and the well is projected to be about $2.3 million after contingencies. City Administrator Jori Burnett said the city has about $900,000 left in ARPA funds. Mutchler brought forward a resolution from himself and council members Erin Gunter and McKenna Pinto-Gonzalez that would split the remaining ARPA funds between the two projects. Council Member Herb Porter asked what the impact would be on the future utility price if the city were to utilize ARPA funds. Burnett said it would not reduce the cost of the utility and due to the projects being more expensive than the original estimates the rates will likely have to increase. “There will be an increase in order to absorb this additional cost, unless we are to be
See Meal program on A6
See ARPA funds on A6
Since June 24, the Ferndale School District has offered a free meal service that provides breakfast and lunch to students across Whatcom County. (Photos courtesy Ferndale School District) By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — Since June 24, the Ferndale School District has offered a free meal service that provides breakfast and lunch to students across Whatcom County. Although the service is mainly meant to serve Ferndale summer school students, meals are available to anyone under 18 years old. From Monday through Thursday, Eagleridge Elementary serves breakfast from 8:45-9:05 a.m. and lunch from noon until 12:20 p.m. Ferndale School District Administrative Assistant of Food Services, Renetta Pollock, said the Summer Meal Program is more than just a place where summer school students can get a snack in between meals. “With this Summer Meal Program, we feed all kids,” Pollock said. “Whether it’s the kids who attend summer school here or any other student in the community who wants to walk in and eat either breakfast or lunch.”
According to Pollock, the program is a part of a larger USDA initiative to feed young people throughout the United States. Pollock said each meal must follow USDA guidelines that determine what qualifies as a suitable “reimbursable meal.”
Fire District No. 7 searches for new fire chief By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 is looking for a new fire chief. On June 28, Larry Hoffman retired after seven years as chief and 38 years as a firefighter with the district. Traditionally, whenever a fire department needs to find a new fire chief, the district hires a consulting firm to help them find suitable candidates. According to WCFD7 Division Chief of Medical Services Ben Russell, the department has hired a consulting firm based out of Snoqualmie named GMP Consultants. Russell said that GMP offers a wide variety of services to more than just fire departments. “So basically, they specialize in not just helping out fire de-
partments,” Russell said. “You’ll see them used by other agencies or departments such as the police department or by other cities if they don’t have some sort of HR department, they’ll oftentimes use a consultant to try to find really good candidates.” According to the GMP website, the consulting firm offers its clients “experienced subject matter experts with a solid understanding of local government coupled with decades of experience.” The website also states that the company works in city and county management, public works, management information systems and finance. Russell said that a consulting firm can be a great help in guiding the district toward finding its new, permanent fire chief, especially when they have limited ex-
perience hiring outside of themselves. “We haven’t had many chief replacements over the years,” Russell said. “So they’re just aiding in the process, making sure that it’s all being done well.” Although it may expand into other parts of the country with time, GMP and District 7 have confined the hunt for a new fire chief to a statewide search, Russell said. Russell also said that the projected timeline for the search should be around 3-4 months, although it’s “definitely subject to change.” As it stands, the search is currently in its earlier stages, with District 7 fire commissioners set to discuss its advancement See Fire chief on A3
Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 is searching for a replacement for Larry Hoffman, pictured, who recently retired as fire chief. (Luke Seymour/Ferndale Record)
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