Remembering the ones who died for their country
Baylor Larabee just misses another state title
Annual Avenue of the Flags ceremony on Memorial Day in Ferndale. — News, A5
Ferndale golfer finishes second in 3A state tournament. — Sports, B1
MAY 29, 2024
SINCE 1885
FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50
Ferndale council talks population projections, water By Racquel Muncy For the Record
FERNDALE — Ferndale City Council discussed a variety of topics during its May 20 meeting, and ultimately approved 20-year population projections for the 2025 comprehensive plan and the drilling of a new well. Community Development Director Michael Cerbone presented council with population
projections options that were put together with the help of Leland Consulting Group. These projections included low, medium and high numbers, as well as adjusted highs and lows. The projections were based on the previous 10 years of growth, according to Cerbone. Over the past 10 years the City of Ferndale has seen an average population growth of 2.6%, according to
the state Office of Financial Management. The low-end growth projections equaled an increase of 4,883 people for the city. Cerbone said staff did not recommend this option, as it is always better to plan for more people. “I don’t think that low is really an option for us,” he said. “In general I think what we need to do is accommodate growth.”
The staff recommendation was the adjusted high, which accounts for a population increase of 10,691 people and an increase of 3,337 jobs. This amount is less than the previous 10-year population increase average, but is due to a larger older generation and the younger generation having fewer babies, according to Cerbone. Cerbone said the population increased faster than
expected compared to projections for the previous comprehensive plan. Due to this, he said it would be prudent to go with higher population growth rather than the medium amount, which would have been an increase of 7,262 people. Council passed the adjusted high, although Council Member Erin Gunter voted against it. Gunter said she moved to Ferndale from the Seattle
area and did not want to see the city turn into Seattle. Council also approved the award of a contract for the drilling of a second deep well on cityowned property on Douglas Road. The approval came with some contention from council. Council Member Ryan O’Larey questioned whether there would be less costly alternatives. According to council’s consent agenda, this second
Ski to Sea to Ferndale
well is to capitalize off the success of the first well that was drilled in 2017 into a deep aquifer. The original deep well was dug at a depth of 1,037 feet and underwent several pumping tests. The bid for the drilling and well construction came over the anticipated amount and the city only had one bidder at about $2.3 million. Public Works Director Kevin Renz said
staff attempted to solicit other bids from qualified bidders, but came up unsuccessful. Due to only having one bidder and the bid coming in higher than expected, O’Larey questioned whether this project was an immediate need or if there was a less expensive alternative and time for the city to wait for more competitive bids in order See Water on A2
Ferndale Schools celebrate retiring teachers More than 500 years of experience By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
The sense received in two months of signature gathering, Butenschoen said, is that “people are just drowning in taxes.” They say that properties are valued too high, that school levies and bonds may be suffering as a result, and there is now a jail-construction bill to pay for 30 years, and some folks are still in flood recovery, Butenschoen reflected from comments heard where signature gathering took place. “Not a good idea, let’s try again,” she paraphrased. On a $600,000 house, the Children’s Fund tax portion is $114.
FERNDALE — Education employees of all stripes were honored at this year’s Ferndale School District’s retiree celebration. This will be the school district’s second time holding the celebration as they seek to recognize the careers and accomplishments of 23 district staff members. According to a post published by Ferndale School District’s Facebook page, the retirees share a collective 531 years of experience serving the district. The post also thanked the retirees “for helping generations of Ferndale students reach their potential.” During the ceremony, Ferndale School Superintendent Kristi Dominguez gave a speech that commemorated the retirees for all that they have given to both the parents, the students and the administration, over the course of their tenure at the Ferndale School District. “From classrooms to cafeterias, from school buses to playgrounds, every space in our district has been touched by your dedication,” said Dominguez. “You’ve turned these places into vibrant and engaging learning environments, proving that every moment and every interaction had the potential to be educational. “Your commitment has shaped the lives of countless students and has left a lasting imprint on our community. I want to personally thank each of you for bringing out the best in every student, for seeing the potential in every moment to teach and inspire. Your dedication and passion have not only met but exceeded every expectation we could have set.” One of the many Ferndale employees honored during the ceremony was Terry Saunders, an interventionist who has worked for the Ferndale School District for more than 17 years after applying for the job in 2006. Saunders, who had been working at an in-patient facility center for adolescents in Bellingham before working at Ferndale, said that he wanted to reach kids at an earlier age before they would begin to be influenced by substance abuse and mental health issues. “The biggest thing for me was to help kids before they got to the point of needing in-
See County on A3
See Schools on A2
Cyclocross Leg racer Kort Maeda, helps her teammate pull the canoe out of the Nooksack River as some fans cheer at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale. Each year, Ski to Sea is a multisport relay race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. In the following photographs, shot on Sunday, May 26, Ski to Sea participants make their way through various legs of the annual race, pictured in Ferndale. Visit skitosea.com to learn more about Ski to Sea. More photographs on page A5. (Dennis Cairns for the Record)
County’s Healthy Children’s Fund repeal could be on ballot Petition drive challenges measure that passed in 2022 by just 20 votes By Cal Bratt For the Record
WHATCOM — In 2022 by just 20 votes across the county, a Children’s Initiative Levy was passed providing a tax of 19 cents per $1,000 of property value for early-learning programs, childcare and support for homeless or
vulnerable children. This fall, voters are likely to see a chance to repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund, as it has come to be called. A repeal petition campaign in April and May has gathered more than 9,300 signatures when only 6,392 valid ones are needed to qualify as a Whatcom County initiative measure, said Ashley Butenschoen, campaign mobilizer and spokesperson. Signature gathering will continue right up to the last day possible, Monday, June 3, and then about noon that day at the County Courthouse all the signed petitions will be brought in to the County Auditor’s office — an event anyone is invited to attend, she said.
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12 pages • Volume LIII • Number 14
Thursday 43°/61° Friday 48°/65° Saturday 51°/65° Sunday 52°/62°
Calendar • A6 Classifieds • B4 Forum • A4
Legal Notices • B3 Memorial Day • A2 News Briefs • A2
Obituaries • A3 Puzzles • B4 Sports • B1
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